My Postpartum Fitness Journey – Part 2
June 20, 2016What Have I Been Up To?
Hi everyone! I hope you have all been enjoying the amazing summer weather. Remember last June? Chilly and rainy. Yuck. It’s nice to take advantage of the pool so early this year!
Anyway, I wanted to touch base on how my “road back to fit” is going. As mentioned in an earlier post, I had my son via c-section on April 11. I started walking with both kiddos and the dog after taking it easy for two weeks. (Always discuss returning to your workouts with your doctors! Remember, we are all different). I never clocked my miles, but I would walk for about 30-45 minutes each day. Once I was cleared by my doctor to do all exercise, I was more than ready to go. I was up bright and early the next morning, set the interval timer on my phone and completed my first, very sweaty, post partum tabata style workout. Challenging? Oh yeah. It felt so good to push myself again, however. I missed the feeling of catching my breath and burning muscles. Sure, I was slower and my push up number had decreased significantly. But, that’s the thing about fitness – the journey back is a fun challenge that I am so ready to take on.
Since my days are filled with love (and requests. Lots and lots of requests) from a 2 ½ year old and a 2 month old, finding the time to workout can be tricky. While my daughter’s routine is very predictable, my son’s is not. I have found that working out in the morning works best for me. Will the workout get interrupted? Sometimes it does. I perform HIIT workouts because they are super effective and quick. My apartment complex does have a gym that I visit randomly throughout the week when my husband is home and I can sneak away for a bit. I usually do full body strength routines or lower body one day and upper body the next. Honestly, I don’t have any set schedule. I do what I feel like doing that day and that is what works for me right now. I still put both kids in the stroller most days so I can reach 10,000 steps. The kids get fresh air and my dog gets exercise. It’s a win, win!
Sitting down to a meal these days is almost non existent (except dinner around 9 p.m. when the little one is finally asleep). I usually find myself standing over the kitchen sink eating a cold chicken breast while preparing food for my daughter and/or holding my son. Why is it that babies always get fussy when you are about to eat? Sunday mornings have become “meal prep” time in the Krusko household. Taking the time to cook lean meats, roasting veggies and sweet potatoes, cutting fruit and making hardboiled eggs before the week has started has saved me. I have healthy food ready to go when I need it all week long. Remember, exercise is only part of the equation to losing weight/leaning out!
I never posted any of my stats in my last post (starting weight, BMI, etc.) because I just don’t feel like it is necessary. I also didn’t know most of the answers. No new mom, or anyone as a matter of fact, should be comparing themselves to my numbers. The most important thing is to get moving again safely, exercising smart and reaching YOUR goals.
Some people wonder how I am finding the energy to workout with a newborn and day to day grind of being a stay at home mom. I have found that there is just no time to feel tired with two children…the more I move, the better I feel. Strong coffee every morning doesn’t hurt, either.
I’d love to hear about other workout routines/goals from new mom’s!
