You just had a baby, you feel all these changes in your body, and would like to start working out postpartum. But where do you even start?
Pregnancy and child birth bring on so many changes for our bodies. Whether you are someone who avidly works or not, your body will undergo so many changes when bringing life into this world. And working out after having a baby is a while new ball game as well! You might feel almost like you’re restarting. So where do you start? How can you safely approach working out postpartum and do it in a healthy way?
This is a post all about how to start working out postpartum.
How To Start Working Out Postpartum
A Healthy Body Image
You just had a beautiful baby. You body created life, carried it, nurtured it, and now brought it into the world. Your body has done a miracle and will never be the same again. Even the women who seem to “bounce back” and look like they never had a child, still have changes (perhaps that only they can see or feel) that make it different from prebaby. I felt some of this after my first baby. But after having my second baby? I truly felt like I no longer recognized the body I saw in the mirror. Not in a “my body is ruined” kind of way! Simply, wow I’ve never seen (or had to dress) this body before.
As I started to move and ease back into working out postpartum, I realized how much my body had changed in terms of strength as well. Not to mention, the healing your body is doing! Changing my body image to view my body as a “new” body really helped me in giving my body the grace and care that it needs postpartum.
Start Slow
I can not stress enough how important it is to START SLOW. I was cleared to work out, after both kids, at six weeks postpartum. However, it may be longer for depending on how your delivery went! Now, I wasn’t cleared to go start throwing weights around and running a 5k. I was cleared to safely start moving my body again and doing very gentle strength/ toning exercises. This might look like postpartum yoga, gentle pilates, going for walks, etc. One of my favorite resources for workouts is from Pregnancy and Postpartum TV on youtube. She has so many great workouts that are safe in pregnancy and postpartum.
Your workouts do not have to be long, intense, or anything crazy. Taking the baby (or all the kids) for a walk is a great workout! It benefits everyone both physically and mentally. Doing workout videos that are a reasonable length also helps you in being able to actually complete workouts. I know for me, it is so challenging to find the time, and I am sure that goes for any moms! However, you can do a 20 minute workout that is not only reasonable but effective in helping you take care of your body.
Give Yourself Grace and Have Fun
Postpartum is not the time for you to try to push yourself to your limits in your workouts or to do some intense program. It should be viewed as a resource for your mental health and a way to care for your body and aid your healing. Your body has done so much already! Yes, you do need to move and exercise (perhaps have some extra weight to lose) but your primary focus should be the health and healing of your body. Listen to your body like never before! Start extremely slow.
Also, do something that you really enjoy! Postpartum is such a demanding time as it is. You are being depleted in every way. Use your exercise or workouts as a time to refresh yourself mentally and emotionally and care for your body physically.
I hope this can be a help and encouragement to any new moms who are looking to start working out postpartum.
This has been a post all about how to start working out postpartum.
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