Getting back into shape after baby. Is it really as easy as many celebrities make it sound? Heidi Klum did the Victoria's Secret fashion show just a few months after the birth of her third child. Denise Richards posed for Playboy when her daughter was 5 months old. I had a baby 11 weeks ago and gained a healthy (but not excessive) amount of weight during the pregnancy. I was also active and still running (okay, waddling) regularly the week my son was born. But am I ready to strut down the catwalk in my underwear for the whole world to see? Heck, no! I'm still struggling to fit into some of my jeans and hoping I can look a little more toned before the shorts and swimsuit season begins. It's hard to look in the mirror and not be happy with what you see. But for me it's not just about appearances. I'm also struggling to get my running back to where it was before the baby. Right now I'm slower; I don't have a lot of endurance and just want to feel strong again. I know it will all come back in time, but when you see the media's images of the fit and toned new mom, it's hard to be patient. Because I am a personal trainer and fitness professional, some people assume that I know all of the tricks to slim down quickly. Sometimes I feel like I'm held to a higher standard because of my profession. But I know that it's important to lose weight in a slow and healthy way. I'm also breastfeeding and don't want to do anything that's going to compromise my milk supply (like cutting calories too drastically). I'll admit that some of my food choices lately haven't been the best. Lack of sleep and the stress of a newborn make the chocolate temptations much stronger for me. But I'm trying. It's tough to find time to exercise with two little ones, especially since I'm the food source for one of them. I can't imagine how those of you with many children do it! I get a lot of help from my family, who knows how important it is for me to exercise--both physically and mentally. Sometimes I miss the days when I could spend an hour or two in the gym: running, taking a Spinning class or lifting weights. The reality is that I don't have that much time anymore, so I make the most of the time I do have. I might not be ready yet to pose in my bikini for a magazine cover, but eventually I'll get there. Honestly, I didn't have the "magazine cover body" before I had kids, so I don't really expect to have it after. But least I'll get to a point once again where I'm happy with my body and my fitness level, even if they aren't perfect. Did you struggle to lose weight and get fit after pregnancy? How did you do it? Do you think celebrities and the media make it seem easier than it really is? |
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