Monday, February 4, 2013

The Post-Baby Body

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It's great to have my body back again after the pregnancy, but sadly it's not the body I started out with. It's all a bit wibbly wobbly and there are quite a few extra Kilos that appeared from nowhere. Whether the packet of TimTams I consumed every night contributed to the extra weight gain, I really couldn't say.

Mustn't be too hard on myself. It took me 11 months to put the weight on if you include the Pregnancy, Christmas and the week I overindulged on Granny's Hedgehog slice. I'm quite happy to give myself a good year to get back into shape. No pressure.

The thing that I'm missing though is some regular exercise, the type of exercise like a brisk walk along the beach in the fresh air that makes you feel good. It's not about looking good but feeling good. I had the annoying "Elvis Pelvis" to deal with during the pregnancy which prevented a lot of activity and then we've had School Holidays and there have been 5 little peeps around my ankles which has made exercise tricky. I've also had to contend with a massive separation of my stomach muscles and I need to get them sorted out before I can do some decent exercise. My muscle situation is so bad I still have to perform the "log-roll" to extricate myself from bed in the mornings.

The muscles will likely 'knit' themselves back together over the course of time ("the long route") or I can do some little exercises to speed the process up ("the shorter route"). I told the Physiotherapist in no uncertain terms that unless the exercises can be done while I'm sitting in the car at the traffic lights and required the use of no more brain cells than it takes to flick on a light switch, then I just won't do them.

So she handed me an A4 sheet of paper with the following instructions:

Sit on a Fitball. Try to balance. Breath in. Tighten pelvic floor muscles. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times. Keep 1 leg on the floor while hooking a large stretchy elastic band around the other foot. Don't fall off. Bicep curl both arms together. Proceed to lift that foot 30cm off the floor while exhaling. Don't fall off the ball. You still holding those muscles in? Count to 10. Foot back on the floor. Don't forget to breath in at some point. Head up. Shoulders back. If you manage all that, repeat a million times and then swap feet. Rub your stomach with your left hand and touch nose with right hand. If the stars align and the cosmic forces allow it then proceed with the "Cat Stretch". And pigs might fly........

You can imagine where the sheet of paper ended up, can't you?

So I'll be taking the long route then.

I actually prefer to do exercise that naturally fits into everyday life anyway. Things like a walk along the beach, a bush walk, a hike up a mountain or a bike ride. If brisk walking morphed into a slow jog then that would be nice but my body would currently fall apart if I performed that number. And I'd like to be able to do exercise that I can still do when I'm 90 and I can't see myself donning the lycra and doing kickboxing when I'm that age. And you never see the Downton Abbey ladies sweating it out at a Gym. Although, maybe they didn't over-indulge in sweeties like me.

I don't like the gym. I don't like paying to exercise, having to dress for exercise, hopping in a car to get to the place of exercise and then being in a sweaty room full of other sweaty people staring at a blue wall or those big mirrors. And then you have to keep going to the Gym to retain your fitness for the Gym, if you know what I mean.

If there are no other options for exercise then the Gym is a good choice, especially if you care for children full-time. I completely understand. The only time I have joined a gym is after the birth of my babies when I needed to lose some extra kilos and a stroll with the pram and a toddler in tow wasn't really going to do the job. However, it's interesting that the local Gyms are also switching their methods to this more "functional" exercise as they call it. My local Gym no longer runs classes at all but instead offers group exercises that mimic activities you do in your day to day life. Interesting.

So I will wait for my muscles to knit back together naturally. The Kids will be back at school this week and for the first time in 6 years I do not have a toddler as well as a baby at home with me. I'm looking forward to getting out and about with Flynn in the pouch or the pram and slowly starting on some gentle exercise. I want to be fit for life, not gym fit. And if it takes that bit longer to lose the weight  then that's OK.

How do you all go about exercising?

28 comments :

  1. I too believe that exercise should fit into the everyday routine. I've never been to a gym and don't intend to.
    Asides from all the different movements and exercises that I naturally do whilst carrying out farm chores, I take Rilla for a 40 minute walk, twice a day, and then I've just started going for a third, really late in the afternoon, after I've exercised her.

    I find walking early in the morning gets me ready for the day ahead, and the late afternoon walk clears my head and relaxes me, especially if things haven't been going so well on that day.

    Have a lovely week!
    Sarah x

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    1. I love walking too and the Whippet usually ensures it's a rather brisk one :-)

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  2. I suppose it's a case of each to their own but I am a bit like you (minus the children). I have gone to the gym in the past but I cannot see it fitting in my life now. With our dog still recovering from surgery our walks are rather short, though hopefully we can build distance up in time and that will hopefuuly help my fitness. I did buy Zumba for the wii but have only done it the once - it got the dog too excited and she started attacking me!

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  3. Walking was definitely the best option post-kids for me 'cos it is something you can do with everyone. I have tried one of those mini-trampolines, they're pretty good but can make you feel extra jiggly at first. I love swimming at the moment, but not so good with little ones unless you can get the minded. I found it very gentle on joints and a no pain way of getting stronger and moving. As you move around looking after kids and cleaning and gardening I don't think you will need a huge exercise programme.

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  4. Hi Mel
    I firmly believe that pram walking is fabulous - outdoors, educational, easy company and its fun (and you can stop at coffee shops!!...maybe not near you so much?)
    I joined a gym for the first time about a year ago because my baby was out of the pram and I wasn't finding time to do anything much of anything at home.
    So I try and swim and do a stretchy class and maybe one other ..and no, I don't love it, but I do go (or was til I hurt my knee on my summer break!)
    Still not convinced the opposite sides of my abdominal muscles have met each other again...not sure they ever will. And I think some wobble is here to stay..
    xx

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  5. Elvis pelvis love it. Well I dont...didnt. Had it and hated it and still get grief from it 6 years later. But love the name and your attitude/approach to this too. Hard to fit it all in hey but feel so much better when you do

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  6. The best exercise I did for my 3x cesarean tummy was just to hold it in nice and firm, whilst standing straight, shoulders back tummy & bum held in. I did it all the time, while waiting in the playground, the shopping queue etc. Having said that I still have some weight to lose from my 1st pregnancy... he'll be 17 in 3 weeks time! he he! x

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  7. Can so relate to this post Mel. I polished of a huge bar of caramel chocolate most evenings during the first year of my youngest ones life. He will be 2 in March and I have yet to shift the post baby weight. I need to make time to do more walking especially as we are in the country and there are loads of space to run about in. Seems to get harder to shift with each baby. xo

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  8. Mel, I would have imagined a few turns pushing the pram up and down your driveway would get you back on track! Laughed about the Tim Tams...when I was pregnant with number 3 every day my car drove to Jackman & McRoss for a white choc muesli slice....they would see me walk in get it ready, I didn't even need to ask...the day before my caesarian I had to tell them that I wouldn't be back and now they don't make it anymore! Bit of a different story to when I gestated and gave birth in France with number four and the obstetrician put me on the scales and told me in no uncertain terms that I had to 'reduce'....not much cake that pregnancy and disappointingly don't think I looked any better afterwards for going without. You'll get there, it just takes time....if you fancy a heavy duty pram push along the SoHo Rivulet let me know! Rx

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  9. I can relate to the mystery weight gain. Never has anything to do with what I am actually eating!?! I don't want to be a downer, but make sure you keep an eye on your core and that those muscles ARE coming back together. You really want to avoid my awful surgery! Having said that, slow and steady is always best. If it is any consolation, I still log roll! x

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    1. I was actually thinking of your surgery as I wrote this Post, so yes I'll keep an eye on it. x

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  10. In all the gyms here (new york) there are only skinny people. No one in the gym is even slightly out of shape. I also like walking. Your very busy you will be back to your body soon enough.

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  11. I think that gorgeous little boy is worth a wobbly tum!

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  12. I am sure just running around after the kids will take care of it. Just don't feel pressured to push yourself.

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  13. Oh exercising is such a tricky thing Mel... and I only have 2 little people to consider. Can't imagine how little time you have with your 5 to consider. I'm with you on the gym though. I used to be quite into the gym, this is pre-children though. Now, by far my favourite exercise is either power walking or running. I also like to hit the sand at the beach or look for a massive flight of stairs near the beach and do laps of the stairs. Other favourite is running around the park, 5km once around, which is a good distance for now.
    In saying that, I have only just resumed some form of exercise, after a big hiatus around end of last year/New Year.
    But definitely pop Flynn in the pram and go for a brisk walk once the kids are all back at school. Good luck lovely xo

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  14. I'm so not a gym junkie either :) And like you, have found exercise in recent years tricky due to having Grace in tow as well. But with her at kindy this week, I'm going to walk her to school and then continue on with Sophie in the pram and do some brisk walking. I need to ease myself back into exercise after not having done any for so long. I'd like to try yoga soon too if I could work out a way to have Sophie minded... have fun exercising! x

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  15. It was swimming for me as well before and after my first, the c-section, but even with the two I can't find the time (much less with your handful!). The easy way out would be to overfeed my husband to get him a matching belly, but that might not be the best solution :) We're lucky to have some terrain nearby for our walks, but I have a feeling most of the wobbly is here to stay for me. It's hard work on the body, growing those children, isn't it?

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  16. I love this post! I love how it makes me feel like it is okay to take some time to get back into shape and not have to bounce back instantly like the celebrities. I must admit after I had Imogen I felt like I needed to get back into shape and do it now! A lot of that pressure I think I put on myself and I think next time I probably won't be as stressed out about it. My first 6 weeks were stressful not only because of the hormones but also because I felt I should have lost weight by then that I hadn't. I still have bad days where I hate myself and wish I was skinnier and can't find anything to wear. Then there are the days where I love how I look and am really happy with my progress. I am still a couple of kilos away from my prebaby weight and have about a quarter of my wardrobe that I still don't fit into. I am going the eat healthy, cut down on sugar and carbs route. I also go to the gym with Corey twice a week. I am lucky that Corey's membership allows him to take someone for free with him every time he goes so I don't have to pay. I also signed up to do a 5km run in April so I need to start training for that.

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  17. Can I just say that I LOVE your attitude to health and exercise. Life fit not gym fit. Yes! I like that.

    I sort-of run/jog now and then and recommend that. Go really gently with a gentle jog for a minute then walk for a minute to begin with. Running was the only thing that gave me back my waist after kids. Yoga and pilates will both help with your "core" which in turn will help your stomach muscles.

    Good luck though, you've had five kids so you have my total respect!

    Gillian x

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  18. oh dear mel, i could write a book or two on this subject, but for now i'll just say exercise dvds played on the television at home helped me tremendously after the birth of my fifth child. it does get easier, i promise. by the time hannah my youngest was five i was back to competition racing (triathlons). till an injury suffered trail running, but thats another story!

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  19. Hi Mel, I have been going to that local gym of which you speak and doing the functional training for a few months but it's not much like any other activities I do in my day to day life - thank goodness, too sweaty! I am really not a gym person either but needed to do something and having the creche there makes it possible. I don't love it but feel better afterwards. And I enjoy my very loooong showers there in the solitude before picking up the kiddos! I say find a different physio, one who works a lot with mums, that one doesn't sound very helpful at all! x

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  20. Hello Mel! I understand completely! My youngest was born three years ago (yes, yes, she had her birthday last week!) just weeks after I had turned 41. Walking saved me and the art of patience. It took me a year and a half to lose all the weight but I knew by then then that breastfeeding did NOT help me shed those extra kilos.

    You know better than I (there are 'only' three children in this household, plus the dog ;-) ) that you have to give your body time. I'm sure you look MUCH, MUCH more beautiful than that acrobatic elephant ;-)

    Stephanie

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    1. Breastfeeding tends to make me very hungry too Stephanie :-)

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  21. wonderful and insightful post baby body post Mel! It's been 4 years since I was pregnant so this was a poignant reminder about how far my own body has come. Make time for yourself to nurture your body, but I agree...only do it if it feels right, and you enjoy it. I had the muscle separation and the unstable pelvis...it repairs, but all in good time - if any thing, just do your pelvic floor at the traffic lights. I hate gyms too - so we bought a treadmill and hubby and I do a run each morning. When we move to the country I hope to be running around much more pleasant surroundings ;-) xx

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  22. Once I was down to the last little one at home I found very long walks pushing the buggy did wonders, for both of us ... he was a grumpy baby, that one! Good luck.

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  23. I tried to get into the habit of deliberately exercising during the summer holidays - and wasn't terrible at it. But now I'm back to work and things are very different! The good news for exercise and me is that I have to regularly (at least three times a day, most days) cross from one side of the school campus to the other - it's a fair distance! And there are uphill bits! So I'm thinking (I'm hoping) that will take care of quite a bit of exercise for me this year. I should probably cut back on the sweets as well though :/

    And I don't even have the excuse (I hate that word, but you know what I mean) of procreating for the state of my body! Double :/

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