Getting Back Into Shape



When I was first pregnant with Andrew I spent a lot of time worrying about how I would get back into shape after delivery. If I remember correctly I started setting aside money monthly to hire a personal trainer to help me get back in shape post-partum.

39 weeks pregnant with Andrew

 



I think around 8 weeks post-partum

After losing Andrew I realized that getting back in shape was really NOT that important in the big scheme of things. I couldn't believe all the time I had spent worrying about how I would get back into shape. On the contrary, I remember one particular time while checking out at Publix, really wishing for my belly or some sort of proof that I had been pregnant just a few months earlier. But instead I walked around as if nothing had ever happened.

Now I think getting back into shape after having a child is a very good thing. It's good for our health, our marriage relationships, and in keeping up with our active toddlers, for our confidence, and the list goes on and on. But somewhere along the way it's easy to lose perspective and give it too much of a priority. 

After giving birth to Jack I was not in the same rush to get my pre-baby shape back. I remember a wise mentor telling me at the time that I needed to redefine my idea of ‘Working Out’. While in the past a workout may have looked like running a few miles and then doing weights for 45 minutes (while working up a good sweat) now with a newborn it would look like just going for a walk outside the neighborhood to get some sun for vitamin D.

 

38 weeks pregnant with Jack

 

6 weeks postpartum with Jack

 

After giving birth to Jack I started doing yoga- I took classes in South Tampa and started this awesome DVD ‘Yoga for Stress Relief’ (Best purchase I've ever made!). It helped me a lot with my sore back and neck, which had gotten worse from the weight of carrying a baby around.

When Jack was around 6 months old I started working out at the gym in my workplace and that worked well for me. I still wasn’t  quite able to go back to my 'sweaty' pre-baby workouts, but they were good enough to keep me in shape.

After giving birth to PalmerI have taken things very slow to give my body a chance to heal well. With this being my third c-section in less than 4 years, and after seeing the complications that can happen from doing too much too soon. Steve felt the same way and so for the first 6 weeks I didn't venture out with the kiddos on my own just so I wouldn't have to lift too much weight. Yes a little a lot extreme, but again we wanted to give my body time to heal.

39 weeks pregnant with Palmer

5 months post-partum

I am feeling ready to get back into shape, and it is just hard with two kiddos. Palmer is still not sleeping through the night, so I rarely get up early in the mornings before he awakes. By the evening I am just too tired to workout and usually end up catching up on emails.  So I've had to get really creative here...

Some mornings I got out for a jog with Palmer (Thankfully the weather is getting cooler!!)

Other times I rent cheesy workout DVD’s from the library (They are actually pretty good AND entertaining).

I love my one Jillian DVD (and plan on trying her Yoga DVD with my friend Laura soon)

And this one is my favorite- on the days when I don’t have time to workout, I do these 10 minute ‘core’ workouts by Tiffany Rothe. They are SO fun! Saw her being interviewed on tv and just loved her.

Tiffany Rothe (Internet picture)

When I’ve done her videos Jack will join in and shake and bounce around too- He is quite the hoot!! And if I can manage to do this and make silly faces at Palmer he often laughs at me too. I just hope Steve never, ever finds me doing these workouts because he would fall on the floor on how ridiculous we look.

How have your workouts changed since having children? Let me know if there are any good tips or good DVD recommendations. I am slowly figuring out how to work out with two (still so very out of shape) and it has been quite the challenge without a gym to go to.