Getting back to working out after delivery can be a challenge. Both physically and mentally. Physically for the obvious reasons and mentally because things never happen as quickly as we’d like.
First off make sure you’re cleared before you start working out again. If you’re anything like me you’ll be itching to get back at it before the mandatory 6 weeks of recovery. I have always been someone that enjoyed working out and I worked out throughout all nine months, both times. I was fortunate enough to have easier deliveries therefore working out before I was cleared didn’t hurt me. That is not always the case for everyone so make sure you listen to your body and your doctor before getting back into anything too crazy. Once you get started you want to ease back into it. Having a child does a lot to a woman’s body and you want to make sure you’ve allowed yourself time to heal.
Where you start will all depend on your fitness level and the kind of workouts you do. Someone who does yoga or other light exercise may be able to do a little more than someone who does CrossFit when starting up. Lack of sleep and if you’re nursing will also play a role in this journey so make sure you listen to your body and do what it needs. That is so much easier said than done, especially with the modern culture pushing which celebrity lost her weight after delivery the fastest. You should do this for you, to be healthy and to be a role model. It has taken me a long time to get to this state of mind but I am much happier with my workouts and have a much better relationship with food.
Make sure the food you’re fueling your body meets your needs. It’s hard sometimes to eat healthy when you have a little one and you just grab and go. So make sure you have quick and easy healthy snacks on hand.
Finally consistency is key! It can be hard to get into a routine but once you do it so many days it will come more naturally. Also remember to give yourself some grace. It took 9 months to grow a new life and it’ll take about that long for things on the inside to move back to normal so don’t get frustrated or give up. When done the right way, getting healthy and toning up can take some time. But you got this! Do it for you and your new addition!