I gave birth exactly 9months ago. This period has been the most rewarding time and hard work of my life, where no words can describe the true meaning of unconditional love. But apart the beauty of being a mother, raising up a child and building up a family, there are loads of compromises and changes.
The reason I decided to write this post is to share my priority in this new phase, and to say that if you stay truly focus on your needs and believes everything falls in to place naturally.
I have being a physical educator for almost two decades, for me exercising and training are not only activities to keep myself healthy and fit but it is also part of my work, a way to practice what I teach.
Since my son’s birth my perception of time has changed, meaning that the days feel shorter and I AM NOT the priority any more, my baby is! Consequently my ability of maximising time and multitasking has improved tremendously as I now got to make sure that all my son’s needs are supplied, our family/house organisation is in order ( we moved house with a newborn baby!), my schedule at work is running smoothly( I went back teaching part-time since 2 months postpartum), and that I keep myself fit and pain free to coupe with it all.
In the past 9 months I have given priority to my baby and family and want to make sure I stay as present as possible. I have to admit that I thought it would be much easier to go back to my ‘old self’. Meaning that I would go back to work easily, keep my regular daily training, but hey, reality is different. Even if you are a very determined and disciplined person it is very hard to get ‘things’ done when you have a baby at home. Specially if you don’t have much help, which is my case, we have a part time nanny whom comes when I am at work, but apart that it is all up to me and my husband.
So how could I drop off all my pregnancy weight and get my body fit?
The answer is: Balance yourself and have a better understanding of all you are doing.
Did I follow a restricted training plan?
No, I didn’t at this stage of my life. I make sure I move my body intelligently in all degrees of movement to decompress tensions and do exercises to strengthen my weak areas.
Did I follow a restricted diet?
No, I didn’t. I simply eat real food. With no restrictions.
So being a mum, wife, teacher, CEO business partner and a Mover is my reality. I fit my exercises routine when I manage time, and I gotta say that in these days I don’t ‘train’ as I used to, but I ‘move’ much more. I say I move as I am not in my restricted training programme ( not yet!). I use my intense daily activities to generate greater body awareness, paying attention on ‘How’ I move, making sure I move efficiently, decompressing my body in many ways to feel good and to stay pain free.
Having a baby changes your body. Some things will never be quite the same again. For example, some woman have stretch marks, which will fade, but they will never go away completely. But other changes don’t need to be permanent. We all know that you can ‘get your body back’ by exercising and eat sensibly, and any weight you’ve gained will gradually drop off. It won’t happen overnight. It took nine months to generate a baby and it could take at least that long to get back into shape again.
One of our greatest virtues as humans is our desire to constantly improve. But in the same way that women can have it all, the notion that instantly stick-thin figures after birth are normal is untrue.
Doctors seem as interested in pregnant women keeping weight down as the celebrity magazines are. New moms are advised to workout and breastfeed (it burns fat!). But we’re also told to take it easy and eat more. Part of the reason it’s confusing is because everyone is different. But part of the problem is that we’ve lost touch with what it means to have a baby.
The culture acts like once the baby is out, it’s all over and you should be back … in your office, in your jeans, etc. I work with new moms all the time and can plainly see that making a baby is NOT DONE when that little one comes out. You are still very much in it — physically, emotionally, chemically — for many weeks, if not months, after the birth. If we want to balance ourselves, we need to have a better understanding of all that we’re doing. Then we’d be more likely to feel damn good about our accomplishments, and to stop obsessing over erasing all signs of them.
After saying it all I am so truly happy to have been giving priority to my ‘new me’ and to my family. I am letting my new routine and perception of time set naturally and consequently my body and mind are adapting to it.
My main advice for new mums wanting to get back into shape is simple: Move, move, move! Following an exercise routine that makes you reconnect with your inner power and awareness. Eat nourishing real food. And give yourself time and permission to enjoy the new phase which passes very quickly.
I am looking forward to keep discovering my new-self and to get better as I whole. It is all about changing!
Danielle Kleber
CEO & Movement Exercise Specialist