You know one of those people who’s had a baby, you look at them and say, “I want to look like that! When I haven’t had a baby.” I am notorious for saying that. I have friends around me that are blessed to have bounced back so fast. Either naturally, from diet alone and/or exercise before, during and after. That is basically one of my goals. To be able to have a natural birth, not to worry, I am on it! Kegels!!!! And to also be able to work out during and after so I can take a picture of myself 14 days post-partum and look like I’ve just eaten ugali! We see you! And sometimes I wonder whether the goal is realistic. I think it is! To be a certified MILF!
And when I think of this woman, this mother! I want to work doubly hard in the gym and pour a libation to the fitness gods.
Here’s her story.
Hmmm…I started working out a few months before I actually got knocked up, I think it was 5 months at most…as a beginner I can’t say I was doing anything extraordinary then. A typical beginner who did some light lifting and aerobics twice a week, then go hang out in the sauna or steam bath and eat some garbage to reward my effort.As soon as I got preggers, I had the absolute WORST case of all day sickness for 12 weeks, lost 5kgs and was left with a weak 45kg frame. I lost all my gym gains.
Looong story short, I didn’t manage to keep up with the gym life during my pregnancy, but I still kept relatively active by walking almost daily and I’d jav everywhere (God bless immobility). I believe that the walking was my only saving grace because Lord knows I gave into all the cravings that came my way, luckily for me, I’ve never really had a sweet tooth, but give me salty treats I will wolf that shit down, so I super indulged in chips, two sausages and coke daily for 5mths straight for lunch.
Fast forward to a few weeks to delivery, 16kgs later at 61kgs, I would intentionally walk approximately 5kms and I almost always took the steps wherever I was as I was super keen on delivering naturally, however, that didn’t happen, I had to have an emergency CS as she was in distress, ten days overdue and only 2cm dilated.
I have three sisters who had all delivered before me (one delivered both her kids naturally, the other two both had CS; one had the CS because her daughter was in breach, the other one had her first CS because her baby was too big and the delivery was taking so long)so it was safe to say they all gave me some tricks and tips that I have to admit helped with my bounce back, thank God!
I used both a CS belt (belly bandit) and a steel boned waist trainer to get my body back, as a younger mum, I suppose I was a little fixated on getting my body back to ‘normal’ and I suppose in retrospect I was more aggressive than most Because of that I returned to the gym asap…like 10days after giving birth. Not for any strength training, just some basic cardio on the cross trainer. Six weeks after that, I’d say due to breastfeeding, wearing the corset and being 24 years old, my belly was gone.
When I think about it now a few years later, I have to admit that my approach might not have been the safest but it did work. I breastfed straight for 1year and I swear by the slimming effects of breast feeding. I also don’t advocate for a bunch of foods and drinks encouraged by many while lactating like black beans, fermented uji….instead I had more bone soup and black Bournvita, and ate as decently as possible I suppose. Kept on hitting the gym to strengthen my back, or rather my general core area, as post CS I used to have epic back aches which apparently is a very common problem…
As they say the rest is history…I’ve tried to remain as consistent as possible with my training 7years down the line and I have no intention of stopping…and in future I hope and pray to be able to have a fit pregnancy and make more informed decisions.
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