June 3, 2021
May 16th, 1 week 1 day postpartum
To go for walks is basically the only “workout” I’m doing these days. I have my postpartum checkup in three weeks and up until now I’ve been mostly just focusing on resting, going for walks and wearing belly bands to help with diastasis recti (which I don’t know if I have or not, that will be checked at the 6 week appointment, but my doctor knows that I’ve been a little worried about it so she told me to wear a band until I see her the next time).
I do miss moving my body around every day and I would like to do something easy, but the question is…when? Lily is like I’ve said before a pretty easy kid so far and we are so happy that she sleeps through the night which gives us a good night sleep every day. But, most days she doesn’t nap for more than 5-10 minutes here and there throughout the day unless we hold her. So if I’m not stuck breastfeeding, then I’m stuck with her sleeping in my arms. Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally signed up for that Lily will take up most of my time and that cleaning the apartment, cooking and even showering will happen if I have a moment over these first weeks. But, it’s honestly hard to even imagine that I will ever have a moment over for my daily practice of yoga or for pilates and ballet.
Exercise, any kind, is so good for your overall wellbeing. Moving the body is like a happy pill, not only does your heart thank you but also your brain. So, when I’m stuck on the couch or in bed holding my child all day, the only thing I add to my heart and head is love which is wonderful of course but not enough. Us humans need to be active every day in order to function. We need muscle strength, balance, mobility in our joints, help to digest what we eat, blood pumping in and out to our heart and a mentally happy brain caused by endorphins from a workout.
So for now walking is ok, but I do need more than that in order to stay sane. Postpartum depression is a real thing and it can pop up at any point, and it can happen to anyone. By staying active, to go outside and enjoy the nature and to laugh together with your loved ones will help reducing the chances for someone to get PPD. I do have tougher moments where I let myself cry, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, that’s just part of being human. But I’m luckily nowhere near a PPD, as of now. But it can change so to avoid that I would like to do something nice for and with my body. I hope I can figure something out:)
Of course I also would like to lose the baby weight and go back to my “normal” body size again. My body will never look the same after this pregnancy, it’s been going through huge changes. But I never expected it to either. Nobody should get pregnant and expect things to be the same after having a baby. I don’t really care about what the scale says or how big my body is. My reasons for wanting to work out again and losing the baby weight is simply because 1) I need strength to be able to care for my child and 2) I don’t feel like throwing out all my clothes and buy new ones hahah. Plus I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to look a certain way. I like how my body feels and looks when I’m a bit more fit. But the looks is not what I’m striving for, it’s the strength and looking good will be a bonus.
So I have a few goals:
* Build my muscles back so that my joints don’t give up
* Get my now stiffer body to be more flexible again
* Lose 12 lbs, or possibly a little more
* Fit into my jeans
I wonder how long it will take me to reach these goals. I don’t want to stress about it, it will take the time it takes plus I am breastfeeding so to lose too much too fast or go on a diet (which I would never do, I even hate the word) is just not ideal. Moving my body and eat my greens will take me to the finish line of my goals:)