Get yourself back in shape for your little one.
A dear friend of mine who is nearly two years postpartum, recently got congratulated by an acquaintance for expecting another baby. She’s not pregnant.
Ouch!
Now my friend looks fabulous, as far as I’m concerned, and although she isn’t at her lowest weight ever, she’s in a healthy range. What actually inspired this blog was not her unfortunate experience, but the comment of one of her friends on Facebook after she posted about her embarrassment. Her friend said it took her 6 years to get ready to get rid of her pregnant-looking belly.
Hmmmm….
Finding the Motivation
I guess she made a good point in a way. It took her 6 years to “get ready to” get rid of the damages of child birth. She lost the motivation to do anything about her body after having kids. She then went on to say that it then took her 6 months to lose 4 inches off her waist (back to its original size). Fair enough. So if she’d just found the motivation sooner she could have been back to her pre-baby body in about 6 months? Maybe.
Have Appropriate Goals
It’s not like you have to look like Heidi Klum after having four kids. Did you look like Heidi before you had babies? Don’t expect that having kids is going to give you the genetics, discipline, and motivation of a millionaire supermodel businesswoman, unless that’s what you are.
YOU First!
Yes, having kids makes it harder to keep your nutrition and exercise in check. You sleep less, have less time, and maybe you don’t see yourself as a priority anymore. The latter is a big mistake. If you’re not at your best, you’re never going to be able to give your best to your children and husband. Taking care of yourself is part of how you take care of your loved ones. What children need most is a happy, healthy mother.
Be a Role Model
Don’t you want your kids to exercise and eat nutritious meals? Do you want your kids to be overweight, unhealthy, and have low self esteem? What type of role model are you for those things?
If you want your kids to eat right, then eat right. If you want your kids to exercise, then exercise. Even better, exercise with your kids when you can. Make physical activity a part of their lives.
Lifestyle, not Looks
This isn’t about being a size zero. It’s not about starving yourself to achieve some unrealistic ideal. This is all about taking care of your health and making a healthy lifestyle (which if done correctly will result in post-partum weight-loss) the norm for you.
You deserve it…and so do your children.
Ivana Chapman
