Yup, that’s right, we said AFTER baby! With some hard work and motivation, you can have your best body ever…post pregnancy and birth! Rebecca and Erin, two honest (and super fit!) moms, explain how they disproved that “inevitable-post-baby-disaster-body” and how we can too! These two moms, one a long-time fitness fanatic and the other turned ‘fit after 40,’ share some inspiration on having your best body after baby!
Rebecca’s Story:
“I have always struggled with my weight. Not huge weight but that never-ending last five (ok, sometimes 10) pounds. I’ve really never been much of a ‘work-out girl.’ I always liked the comfy clothes better than the actual use of the clothes.
Fast forward to a busy mom of three running a small business and managing a house… who now always finds time to exercise! Yes, I’m busier now then I was in my 20’s, but I’m also more fit, have better body-confidence, and look better then I ever did pre-kids.
My secret? Putting myself in my ‘Top 5.’ And, trust me, you should too! No matter how busy you are, there is one hour a day that you can dedicate to yourself. Seriously, there is, you’ve just got to find it. We all deserve it. I deserve it. And you deserve it.
Taking this time for myself doesn’t just benefit me; it benefits my kids by setting a good example, which is why I make working-out a priority. Three years ago, I did my first sprint-triathlon with the goal of: just finish. I did finish and I hated every single stroke in the pool. Not only did I finish, I did a second one the following year. Even better, was how proud my kids were of me. When they went home and started to “work out,” it registered with me the profound impact I have on them.
Exercise was never a habit for me, but I’m making it a habit for my kids. They know that I go to the gym five days a week and they see me go out for a run, and now, when they see me doing a work-out DVD at home, they join right in!
My kids, ages 3 ½ , 6 and 8, asked me to give them a morning work out. Now, each morning when they get up, they do jumping jacks, toe touches, wind mills, and other old-school gym class exercises. My older two boys even have an ongoing competition to see who can do the most military-style push-ups!
So, on the days when I don’t feel like going to the gym or my legs kill from Kettlebells, I remember the example I am setting for those little eyes that are watching my every move! Usually, that’s all the inspiration I need to get moving! Oh, and wearing a two-piece bathing suit for the first time ever isn’t so bad either! :-)
Rebecca is a Macaroni Kid Publisher Mom, who’s clearly mastered balancing her family life, career, and making fitness a priority, for the right reasons. Let's all make a commitment to put ourselves in our "Top 5" and set a better example for our kids, because they certainly are watching!
Erin’s Story:
I’ve always been into fitness. I teach aerobics classes and I’m a personal trainer; however, after I had my first baby, I was scared because I HAD to get this weight off! It’s not like I could claim that I didn’t know what to do, I mean, I work in this profession! I wanted results…fast!
I was going to do P90X after I had baby Ellie, but I was nervous. I knew there were lots of pull-ups and each workout was at least an hour long - YUCK! So I tried something totally new called “ChaLean Extreme.” Friends told me that the plan was similar to P90X, but that there’s NO pull-ups (YES!) and each workout is only 35-45 minutes! Yay!
Guess what? It wasn’t easy. I was SORE!! I used muscles in ways I hadn't before. Sitting down on the toilet after doing a leg work-out was a challenge! But I also felt great. After each workout, my body felt whipped, but in a good way. It felt like I really pushed myself and I needed to replenish my muscles. I honestly didn’t expect to see the results I did. Not only did I lose ALL of my pregnancy weight, I lost an additional 10lbs and dropped almost two full sizes!
I was AMAZED, INSPIRED! From that point on, I wanted to do more to help others get fit and stay fit, and feel the satisfaction I felt for myself. I actually started my own fitness business and now I help people all over the country with fitness ideas, accountability, and food suggestions. I run a free-fit club on Saturday mornings at my church for anyone who wants to come and work out with us. I inspired my husband to hop on the bandwagon too; he’s now on his second round of P90X. Our daughter even “works out” with us. She loves to stretch with daddy, do cardio DVDs with me, and participate in my Stroller-Fit Class at the YMCA.
Not only did fitness change me physically, but this job has allowed me to quit my full-time job and stay at home with our daughter, which has been such a gift. And guess what? I’m back for round two! Yup, I’m pregnant again, but this time, I know what’s possible and I’m as active as ever!
What are my secrets? Most importantly, I stick to my workout schedule and am mindful of my eating!!! There are days I struggle (who doesn't?) but I do weigh myself once a week and allow for a 1-2lb leeway. If I go too much above that, I really try to push harder in my workouts and watch my late night snacks!
Staying motivated is hard. I think everyone struggles with this. My best suggestions for success include:
1. Schedule exercise and make that time non-negotiable, like you would a doctor's appt, work, anything that's important to you. Stick to your guns!! I don't care if you don't feel like working out, if you're schedule says it's time to work-out, do it. I'm sure people don't feel like going into work, but they do it anyhow!
2. Pick a workout you LOVE to do. That's HUGE! If you like it, even if you don't feel like it that day, you know you'll enjoy it once you get started and will be happy you finished.
3. Have ‘accountability people.’ Make sure your spouse knows this is important to you and have them respect your non-negotiable work-out time as well. Get some friends to hold you accountable too.
Erin’s got a passion for fitness and helping others, like you, by providing exercise ideas, nutritional tips, a work-out program, and motivation to reach your goals. For more info on Erin, visit her site: www.ErinGrieger.com or find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/erin.grieger1.
