Postpartum Fitness: Not a Myth

Postpartum body “bounce back” is a lie. Postpartum fitness is a journey you should take at your own pace. At least it is for the average mom. Unless you have a nanny, personal chef, housekeeper, and personal trainer…there’s no “bouncing back” within the first year. Especially for a first-time mom.

As someone who worked out regularly prior to having a baby (but let’s be real here, I never had abs), getting back into a routine of health and fitness after having a baby was HARD.

First-time (& All) Motherhood is Hard

As a first-time mom, in the early days of motherhood, I was just trying to figure out how to care for my new tiny human. I’ll admit, that initial weight loss that happened after delivery was awesome. For me, it was true that breastfeeding burned major calories. The hunger was real. I loved the “excuse” of eating more calories to keep up production.

However, it’s definitely not a sustainable plan. My life was consumed by feedings, naps, playtime, and all the other mom stuff in between. Postpartum fitness was the last thing on my mind.

Once I got into the swing of things, I tried to work out at home during my son’s naps. Some days I got a workout in. Other days, he’d inevitably wake up as soon as I was starting my workout. It was very hit or miss.

Finding a Postpartum Fitness Routine

My son had just turned one and I knew that I needed to find something that I could stick with. I finally felt ready to get back into a postpartum fitness workout routine. With my son more and more on the move, I knew that I would have to keep up with him. I needed to increase my energy and strength.

That’s why I’m so thankful I found Burn Bootcamp McKinney. Back in July 2019, they had their grand opening and offered a free 30 day-trial. I thought that I would give it a shot; I had no expectations to like it. In fact, I told myself that if I hated it, I could just stop.

But I didn’t. In fact, by December 2019, I had completed 100 camps and I’m on track to complete 250 camps by my one-year Burn Bootcamp anniversary.

So what made the difference for me? It’s the amazing community of women, nutrition support, the free childcare (this is SUCH A GAME CHANGER!), and the personal training in a group setting was everything I didn’t know I needed.

There are definitely days when I want to quit. When the trainer calls for burpees, I sigh in annoyance. When we have to hold a wall sit, my legs shake at just the thought of it.

But there is just something different about this place that lit a fire within me. Part of the membership includes “Focus Meetings,” where you meet with a trainer to discuss your goals, track measurements, and decide your “why.” Your “why” is the reason you go back when you feel like giving up. For me, my “why” is definitely my son and the hope to give him a sibling.

Give Yourself Postpartum Grace

Becoming a mom is hard. It’s probably the most challenging, yet most rewarding, thing I’ve ever done. And society’s expectation that moms will lose the baby weight right away is both unrealistic and unfair. It causes unnecessary stress and striving when we’ve already got a full plate.

So if you’re in that place in postpartum life, wishing you could fit into your pre-baby jeans, give yourself some grace. You grew and birthed a tiny human. Start when you’re ready. Go slow. Take it at your own pace. There is no deadline to fit into your jeans again. Postpartum fitness is ready when you are.

I never thought I would look forward to going to camp every day or feel bummed if I was going to miss a day. I literally said, “WHO AM I??” I’m so thankful for the transformation.

Mom life is hard. Running a business is hard. Getting back in shape is hard. I’m thankful for all the hard things in my life. They make you stronger.

Here’s to the next 100 camps and beyond!

(This post is not sponsored by Burn Bootcamp McKinney. I just love the impact it’s had on my life and wanted to share.)