Hi all!
How is your week going so far? So far, so good..but once again I will give my rice maker high praise for saving us from take out last night. (Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with take out…but when you spend a boat load on groceries and have food to eat in the house there’s no reason to do it!)
I keep thinking about my post pregnancy journey. As I was running on the treadmill I couldn’t believe I’ve only been back to running for about 8 weeks. It amazes me how time flies so fast, yet feels like forever ago since I was pregnant. I am very grateful that I’ve had a very easy journey getting back to fitness and running.
I definitely attribute the ease to keeping up with my workouts while pregnant. I didn’t push myself or ever make myself uncomfortable. I listened to my body and allowed myself to do what was challenging but COMFORTABLE for me. I knew it wasn’t a time to hit new records or push the limits. As I recovered I followed the same plan. I wanted to heal and give myself the time I needed. I took the full 6 weeks before I thought about running.
I have to say although I’m not lifting the heaviest weights I ever have and I’m certainly no where near my fastest mile I feel GOOD. This past weekend I ran 3.5 miles. I wanted to do 4, but my IT band started to get tight, so 3.5 looked and felt like a great stopping point. I have also told you I’m doing Best Body Bootcamp. My number 1 favorite thing about this is that ALL the workouts are done within an hour. I am at the point where 30-50 minutes is a great amount of time for me to exercise. Some days more, some days less, but never more than that. I don’t need to spend my days exercising…especially since my time is so precious.
I feel like in this blog world post pregnancy goes hand in hand with announcing you’re going to run some type of really long race. Well, that is NOT happening for me anytime soon. As much as I LOVE running, I’m pretty much obsessed with being on the treadmill for less than an hour. And cold weather runs…well that doesn’t interest me AT ALL right now. Call me not a real runner…I don’t really care. I also would rather be spending my weekend with my family. There is nothing sweeter than waking up to a smiley baby and my husband. The last thing I want to do is lace up and head out the door for a really long time. (And please, please, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to or actually doing a half marathon…I just know for me it’s not the time right now. But in a year or 6 months from now..maybe it will be.)
I’m trying to focus on less cardio. I’ve always been a cardio queen. I love cardio. Anything..give it to me…I’ll do it. But on days I don’t run 3-4 miles, (which is only 3 days a week..anymore for me my knee gets wonky) I’m just doing 20-25 minutes of incline walking.
I am proud of how my body recovered from pregnancy. Fitness/exercise/healthy eating is certainly the reason for that.
What’s my point? Well, mostly is that you need to have your own fitness journey. Don’t worry or focus on what others are doing. What’s healthy for you, isn’t necessarily for the next person. We all have to be our own people. Just because it seems like everyone is running a half marathon/marathon or cross fitting doesn’t mean you need to worry about hopping on that train. Enjoy life. Enjoy your family. Do what makes you HAPPY, really HAPPY. Not what you pretend makes you happy.
Other posts/things I’ve enjoyed and been inspired by this week:
Charlotte posted this today and it sparked me to finally get this post written (which has been in my head for a week now!) Jumbled Thoughts: How Blogging Fueled My Body Image Issues.
Image Is Powerful: But it’s not everything: A Model’s honest opinion. Caitlin posted this on facebook and I enjoyed watching it.
Leave Margins: Carla nails it again.Do you overload yourself? Carla’s figured out she needs to leave room (margins) in her life to lead it happily,
Be Your Own Runner: Michele wrote about her journey as a runner and what works for her. Same kind of idea as me, but this mama is AMAZING. She is a ridiculously badass runner.
What is your fitness schedule right now?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post Nicole! I think everyone’s goals, post-pregnancy or not, are different and you have to keep that in mind when reading blogs or comparing yourself to others. Not everyone’s journey is to be the best or the fastest or to run a marathon. Some people are okay with just exercising to exercise or for fun. I know I have a goal of eventually running a half but it’s still along ways away and my goal will be simply to finish. I have no interest in ever doing a marathon though!
good for you girl! you’re such an inspiration for being true to you!
I hear you! I am 6 months out and about 3-5 pounds away from prepregnancy weight. Although I was doing activity 2 weeks post-partum, I too took my time with recovery and enjoying my baby! SO much more important, especially since looking back, I don’t remember the workouts, I remember the memories I made with my daughter!!!!
so true. I am also 5 pounds away (i think? I haven’t weighed myself) and I’m happy here.
I randomly clicked on this post from Twitter (but clearly I need to start reading your blog!) and I feel like I posted the exact opposite thing from you tonight (I’m pregnant and I’m having to give up running), but yet we are both in a similar place. It’s kind of freeing to admit what has been creeping around in the forefront, isn’t it?
I agree that you have to find your happiness! Life is too short and our babies grow up waaaay too fast.
thank you so much! I agree – they do grow up too fast!
hi nicole,
i’ve been reading your blog for quite some time. i just have to say you are an inspiration when it comes to pregnacy and post pregnacy. i have a son who will be two in march and i wish i seen a healthy fit role model like you when i was pregnant. i was very fit when i got pregnant but was worried about excercising so i did very little (big mistake, i know it seems obvisious now i should have kept it up!). i’m getting back to excercising like my old self now but it’s thanks to you! (I hope this is not too cheesy) but you are such a healthy role model to women and mums alike!
hugs to oliva, she is so cute.
also a little off topic, but i want to invest in a good bread maker, i’d love to make my own breads. what one do you use? or what would you recommend?
wow, that is such a nice comment, thank you so much. You will totally get back to where you were and be a fit mama and role model to your son! I have a cuisinart breadmaker and use it multiple times a week and have for almost 5 years now. I LOVE it!
I love your honesty about what you are ready to do. I think there definitely is the expectation to announce something major post-baby. I was THIS close to signing up for a marathon for mid-Dec. Felt like “man, wouldn’t it be cool to say I ran a marathon 3 months post-partum?” but then I realized that I would be doing it for ALL the wrong reasons. There’s no rush for me. I’ll take the extra few months – Ryan will be 7 1/2 mo when I run my first post-baby marathon and that is perfect for me.
Thanks for the shout-out btw, pretty mama! xoxo
This is such a great post Nicole. There’s so much pressure, especially post-partum, to jump right back into things and run a marathon! Do an ironman! Or whatever it is. It’s too much. It took me a while to get back to where I was before I was pregnant. My body needed that time to heal and to get stronger. And you’re absolutely right – it’s your OWN journey. Not following someone else’s journey.
I really like this post. I totally agree that there’s this unsaid pressure out there to get right back to pre-baby body shape. And its everywhere: celebrities, bloggers. With my own journey post-postpartum I feel like I’ve wanted to be right there with people who are running marathons right away, but my body had different ideas. I’ve had to slow down and in so doing I’ve realized that it’s best to let your body dictate the pace after baby, not pressure from the outside.
It’s all on a spectrum. You’re not “running a half-marathon” … only one week behind you postpartum, I’m not even working out consistently! My darling son will not sleep longer than an hour at a stretch unless he is being held, which has turned me into a cosleeping Mommy by default. I could get up at 5 to squeeze in a workout before work, but in all likelihood, D would wake up, and he needs his sleep. And by the time I get home from work, get dinner on the table, feed him, and get everything ready for the next day, it’s usually time for bed.
I’ve just gotten a couple of mama-and-me yoga videos, so I can at least get in a stretch—and have some play and bonding time with the boy. But I think regular workouts are on hold until we can get D sleeping reliably on his own.
Naturally, I’m still 15–20 pounds over my pre-baby weight, but I’m not stressing it much. My milk production is meager as it is (we’ve had to supplement since D was 4 days old; it still breaks my heart), and I don’t want to jeopardize what little I’m able to produce by slashing calories.
Good for you! There’s so much ridiculous pressure these days on women to jump back into everything asap post-partum. You’re taking care of yourself in every way with your approach, and that’s where it counts. Well done!
thank you so much!
I almost feel like “what did I do?!” since I actually DID register for my first half post-baby. The most I’ve ran so far is 2 miles and that was 2 weeks ago!! I’ll do what I can, and have to just let my mind be ok with that. I think you’re doing pretty good with what you have right now!!! I actually kinda love your workout routine!
you will do what you can do – and I know you’ll give it your all! just don’t spread yourself too thin and you can ALWAYS back out and it will be OK! <3
YES Love that you are being honest and respecting your gut, rather than doing what you think others might expect.
Extra time spent with your family — nothing compares!
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