There is so much controversy over new mums transforming their bodies so soon after birth. Being a mum who did just that, I’d like to share my opinion on this topic. I applaud all mums who take any step to improve their body image and lifestyle, however big or small. I feel it’s extremely important for women to feel confident in their own skin. When you experience insecurity over a body hang up after birth, this can lead on to ignite various other issues in the future. · Effect relationships with partner and baby · Self-loathing · Daily negative mind-set · Comfort eating · Depression · Anxiety Before I go any further I wish to make it clear that a post baby body transformation should never have a time frame placed upon it. The key focus should always be on the health and happiness of the mum, her baby and the rest of the family. I believe it’s possible to safely restore your body’s function while at the same time getting healthy, strong and waving goodbye to the maternal fat gain. My first pregnancy wasn’t an enjoyable experience, despite sailing through with very little aches and pains. Yes, I was delighted to be expecting a baby but found myself struggling to embrace the changes which my body undertook. After my son arrived, I only felt worse about my appearance and felt this enormous pressure to snap back into shape like all the celebrities on TV and also given how I looked prior to pregnancy. I hated the body I was left with. Some mums post quotes on social media saying ‘I earned my stripes’, I would read these empowering words but simply unable to identify with them. I was fortunate not to gain any stretch marks through pregnancy, but the extra maternal weight gain, deflated spongy bump, larger butt and wider thighs were definitely making me feel down and not myself. I missed my abs so much (as vain and terrible as it sounds). For my post baby transformation, I employed the help of an online coach who I had met the year previous at a fitness expedition. If I was going to get back in shape I needed a solid support network, someone I could be accountable too and someone who would be my voice of reasoning (knowing all too well how harsh I can be on myself). Online coaching is also much more cost effective than meeting a personal trainer for a one to one session in the gym. The biggest tip I could give to anyone who is struggling with fat loss after having a baby, is to pass the responsibility and planning over to the professionals. I signed up initially for a 12-week online training and nutrition package to get me started, which then saw me completing a subsequent 8 weeks to achieve a level of happiness with my physique. I made my gym debut 6 weeks post birth, however had already been doing light resistance training 1-2x per week at home, along with long daily pram walks. Throughout my 20 weeks of online coaching support, I only trained 3 sessions per week at the gym, alongside 1 cardio session which was added in around week 7 on plan. I would prep my meals for the week ahead every Sunday evening, and I would religiously stick to my set food intake. I was hugely judged on my healthy lifestyle during my post baby transformation, which still astonishes me. Making small social sacrifices to create happiness within my own skin was an easy choice for me to make. In the early days, I did avoid local mother and baby groups, but just so I didn’t have to make excuses for not eating cakes and biscuits and being singled out by those happy to indulge in tasty treats. I will admit for the first 3months on my plan I banned my husband from eating chocolate and crisps in front of me. If he wished to indulge in treats then he had to go into the kitchen and be discreet about it. That might sound crazy to most or even a little extreme, but the theory of 'out of sight out of mind' really worked for me. Being the supportive husband he is, Clark happily obliged and supported this request and I thank him hugely as it was a great help and a key to my success. Always limit temptations! I didn't become a loner as I did still met up with my friends, but usually just for coffee dates, as I found it so much easier to avoid deviating from plan by avoiding eating out. The nutrition plan was fully flexible, which meant I could select my own food choices as long as I hit my set daily macronutrient targets (protein, fat and carbohydrates). I won’t lie, being organised and following a plan so soon after birth was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done, but also one of the best decisions I have ever made. I felt so confident seeing the physical changes in my body each week and feeling happy and positive daily, despite the sleepless nights. It wasn’t the plan which challenged me, as everyone has the time to exercise and cook (despite what they say), it’s the sleep deprivation which is the biggest barrier for new mums and was definitely my main struggle. When you’re sleep deprived you become irritated, emotional, fatigued and generally just become an all round Debbie Downer. No one likes a Debbie Downer! The main negative I experienced on my first post baby transformation was the judgement of others around me. I was not prepared for how uncomfortable my eating habits would make others feel. I was eating well over 2000 calories per day through a healthy balanced intake of wholefoods, yet still asked when I would be eating proper food again and informed I made others feel bad about themselves for losing my baby weight so quickly. People seem to think doing very low calorie diets and doing copious amounts of cardio will get them that skinny beach ready body, but in fact this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes a low calorie intake will inevitably bring about a big initial weight loss but this isn’t a sustainable healthy way of eating or living. Results will quickly plateau and the only way to push things on further is by doing more exercise or eating even less food which becomes dangerous. Its not calories or carbohydrates that make people gain weight, you just simply need to eat healthier, watch your portion sizes and move a little more daily. Finding a balance between energy intake and energy output is crucial. There’s a huge lack of basic nutrition education out there. Personally, I’d like to see schools educating young children in the importance of nutritious dense foods in their diets, but that’s a rant for another day. When clients contact me looking for support to get back into shape soon after having a baby, I fully support their decision and help them achieve their goals. Just because you become a mum doesn’t mean you can no longer achieve the body you once had or want. There are personal trainers out there that don’t promote quick post-natal body transformations, but when you have a support network in place, a flexible plan, work within your own limitations and don’t set a timeframe, then I see no issues at all starting a plan when you feel ready to do so. We are all different, no one size fits all. A post-natal plan should be fully customised for everyone based upon their personal circumstances. Generic plans won’t cut it. It can take as long as 6 months to 1 year for a lady to feel like herself again after giving birth so not everyone is physically well or ready to commit to making changes so soon. We hear so much about fat shaming in the media but very little on body shaming and bully that goes on for people who are in good shape or currently living a healthy lifestyle. I feel people that eat healthy are singled out way more than those who choose not to care what they are putting into their bodies. I found this personally was the case for me when I worked in an office environment for many years. It gets annoying when you’re constantly asked why you don’t want pizza, a pie, or cake when there’s a birthday or someone leaving, as a simple no thanks never seems to be a satisfying answer. I think it made those around me feel a bit guilty regarding their own eating habits hence why making me seem odd for not having, may have made them feel better about themselves. My advice is to never start a plan if you are not ready to fully commit. Have a precise goal in mind but also lots of little achievable smaller goals ones along the way. Find a personal trainer that you can connect with, who supports your goals and proposes a sustainable plan which will support your home life and commitments. I plan on getting back in touch with my coach before summer to pre-secure my online monthly coaching space post baby number 2. To me this is just as important as the birth itself. If I’m not happy, then baby isn’t happy and neither is the rest of the family. Be kind to yourself and those around you. Never judge or body shame, you don’t know what battles people are going through or their personal circumstances. Roll on Post Baby Transformation number 2. Its going to be so much harder this time with having a 3 year old and also battling with winter months, but I know I will give it my all. Sharon x
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September 2017
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