How did you get back into shape after having kids?

[WhenSunnyGetsBlue]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so apologies if it's in the wrong place.

My little girl is 3 months now and I really need to get back into some sort of exercise routine. For context, until I got pregnant I'd never been bigger than a size 8 (currently a size 12). I used to run 10km most mornings but when I tried to jog with the pushchair last week I did maybe 20 metres and thought my legs were going to crumble!
I eat healthy and walk between 20-30k steps every day with my girl in a sling. (On a really sunny day I can get it up to 35,000).

I actually put on weight after giving birth
( because I was very active before, so my activities are down and I was eating maybe 500-800 more than before because I felt soooooo hungry (my appetite is only just starting to get back to normal!)

I actually saw the GP for some advice but it didn't go well because the female doctor was very overweight and I didn't want to make her feel bad. So I tiptoed around the subject and brought up a couple of non-issue before backing out.

I'm a qualified PT and ex-military so youd think I'd know what to do. But let's face it, workouts when you are fit are fun, workouts when you are out of shape are bloody hard. I'm a single mum with a velcro baby so it's hard to squeeze the home workouts in. Ive been doing a very silent midnight dumbbell routine, but can only do 15 mins before my daughter starts to stir.

Am I expecting too much? What did you do to get back into shape? I know how to lose weight, that's the thing. But my go tos (morning run, 30min hiit workout at home, trip to the gym, intermittent fasting) all seem impossible with a baby. People don't talk about this enough!!!! They just expect you to bounce back. If I were to do any kind of bouncing at the moment, my boobs would knock me out 🤣

You keep doing that 20m jog until it becomes easy, then you do more.
Keep doing those weights when you can, some squats while the kettle boils etc. just keep doing what you can, when you can.

Are there any mum and baby exercise classes in your area? I did a couple after I had my youngest, one at the local gym and one that was outside! She’s now 4 and at school so I finally have a solid gym routine 😂

@DustyLee123 i think you're right, little and often seems to be the way forward. I don't think I'm ready to run yet though, I pretty sure I'd get injured!

Wow you're only JUST post having a baby. Honestly take it easy for a bit longer. Your body is still re adjusting to not being pregnant. If you're desperate to exercise - cycling / spin might be better in terms of low impact on joints but getting heart rate up?

I am/was not at your levels of fitness or slimness but pre pregnancy I would run a lot. After giving birth I put on weight (PND and just trying to cope). So it was a massive 'culture' shock after pregnancy to feel like I'd gone back to square one.

Anyway, at about 6-9 months post natal I started gently running again (interval running , running for x minutes, walking for 1 etc) and built that up. Lost weight pretty quickly.

FWIW I'm now 2.5 years post birth and the slimmest and most active I've ever been - I'm saying this because I'm still amazed I have managed it given how I felt at 3 months post birth!!!

But yes, slow and steady. Finding ways to integrate cardio into my day (when I went back to work I started running to and from work which required going up a massive hill both ways).

Please be gentle with yourself. You have a very high base level of fitness and you will get back to where you want to be ❤️

@notagainnotnow thank you so much! That's exactly what I needed to hear - a realistic success story! Well done you. I have so much respect. As someone whose always been fit it is a huge huge shock (and also very humbling). I tied up a lot of my identity with fitness, so I really don't feel like myself. Where I live, I see so many very slim ladies pushing newborns around in expensive pushchairs and so was starting to think I was doing something wrong. My legs feel very strong from walking miles with a weight that cries if you stop moving. Hopefully once I get back into a proper routine i will be even stronger. At the moment it does feel that years of hard work and consistency has all been erased. Thanks again!

Oh gosh I hear you. I have felt all of these feelings big time.

Remember you are comparing your fitness now to a VERY high base. Most people won't have that. Also remember your ligaments and joints are all still loose from pregnancy and your pelvis will have adapted to hold the baby etc. so it's definitely a learning curve, but the body doesn't forget the fitness and the walking will be brilliant for everything (also for keeping small one content!)

Losing weight after birth is one of those unfair things in life I think. Some women have bodies that do just snap back - one woman I know said breezily oh yes three days after birth I was back in by pre pregnancy clothes (took me at least 9-12 months). She didn't do anything special she was just lucky lol. Also one thing I love about fitness is that it's a super power. Some people are very slim but I know I'd leave them for dead running up a hill ;) and I'm sure you would too.

I also do do some pram running - started this when little one was about 18 months tho. So happy to chat on that (do DM if you want)