I'm not going to lie, it took me 9 months post-baby to get motivated again to work out. Here is how I did it:
Let's do this!
- Identify your motivation- Why do you want to start working out again? Mine was to lose the baby weight and feel more like my pre-mama self.
- Find a workout you like- What is the criteria for your workout? Does it need to be short, low-impact, cardio, strength, upbeat, relaxing? Here are some ideas you can do at home:
- BBG- This is the Bikini Body Guide Plan by Kayla Itsines. It is an app on your phone that takes you through a 12 week program of high intensity circuit-based workouts, 6 days a week. The pro about this workout is it is under 30 minutes per day. The con is it is 6 days per week. I did this program for about 4 weeks and did notice muscle tone and a flatter tummy, but ultimately it was not the workout for me. The high intensity was too much for my lower back.
- Peloton- Spinning has always been my go-to and post-baby it took me awhile to get back on the bike. Once I finally did, it felt great. What I love about Peloton are the high quality classes and instructors. I always know it's going to be a good, fun workout. I choose workouts based on the playlists, so I know I will enjoy myself. In addition to spinning, there is also yoga, barre, high intensity, walking, running, and yoga classes. You can also utilize Peloton classes without purchasing the bike. There is a huge library of classes that you can do without equipment or you can use a regular stationary bike. #Pelotonmoms
- Mirror- My mom has the mirror, similar to the Peloton classes sans spinning. This is great if you prefer more strength based or yoga classes.
- Walking and Running- There is always the most budget friendly option of walking and running. I cannot run due to my lower back, but if I could this would be my go-to. I love the fresh air and you can bring the baby and dog and kill 3 birds with one stone!
- Set small goals: This could mean 3 active sessions per week to start, which can translate to just Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Make the goal something you can commit to. The frequency will increase naturally as you become more motivated.
- Hold yourself accountable: This is the hard one. In the end, you are the only one who can hold yourself accountable. You can enlist a friend and text her to join you on a virtual spin class or walk, but let's be real, that still requires you to be accountable. I schedule my workout for the morning, that way if I miss it I still have an opportunity after Harper goes to bed to fit one in!
- Enjoy yourself: Lastly, enjoy yourself once you are working out. The hardest part is getting there, now that you are there, relax and rejoice in the moment to yourself. Like I said before, I choose workouts based on the playlist so I can get lost in the music. Find your inner zen and use it to your advantage!
My closing thought about exercise as a mama is you may not get "back" to your pre-body baby. It has changed for the better in more ways than one! The most important part is feeling good about yourself and having a healthy lifestyle so you are able to care for your family mentally, emotionally, and physically.
XOXO,
Nichole @ Little Peach Sleep