Exercise after pregnancy: Fitting it in to get fit

Is this me – is it hell!

I am not that close to “after pregnancy” really. Six years, is most definitely pushing the post baby routine excuse to its ultimate limit.

However, I have no shame, so I am still using the same old excuse that I don’t have time to get fit since I had kids; they take up all my time and THEY are more important than anything else. Except perhaps Twitter *joking*

Actually, that’s simply not true. I don’t have the motivation to exercise. I work during the day when I could be swimming up and down the local pool and losing all that post baby weight (ahem). In fact, exercise this far after the pregnancy could perhaps be called exercise before the next pregnancy. Though that isn’t ever gonna happen here!

Women need to prioritise their fitness; that’s the crux of this problem, isn’t it? I am prioritising it at the bottom of a very long list that involves working, spending time with my husband, going on Facebook and emptying the dishwasher. It isn’t high on my list of things to do.

However, it should be. Finally, I have realised that I MUST make sure that I spend time getting the right kit, and getting out there so that when my kids are growing up, I don’t find myself slowing down. Even worse, fading away when they have kids of their own. Not a pleasant thought, but one us mothers shouldn’t be so scared of. Now we have the power to control that, but in ten or twenty years time, we won’t.

I have started to swim; and I can swim 50 lengths without too much stopping; lots of gasping, but not a lot of stopping.

Exercise after pregnancy should involve something gentle, and there is nothing more supportive that the water when you are swimming. Strictly, I am exercising after having been sat on my bottom for years too, so it should even more definitely be gentle. For those of you a bit closer to the B-Day;don’t worry about that post-pregnancy body either, just get back in the water and swim, or pull on that running kit if your prefer. Being worried about how you look won’t be a worry for long. Run when there is no-one around, or swim in ladies only classes if you want. Find a time that you are comfortable with flaunting it.

Yesterday, I even thought of going for a run. I know; not sure my pelvic floor is ready to agree with me yet.There is an exercise after pregnancy regime that might just help with that, though. Most ladies could do with some assistance here to prevent the need for a quick dash whenever we cough ;-). Alongside the requirement for strength down below, is the need for a bit of containment up top too.

Come on ladies, hands up whose more top heavy than they used to be post pregnancy? *raises hand* A primary example of making sure you have the right sports equipment for your, erm. equipment before you run. I used to run before I fell pregnant with my little girl. I spent many a lovely morning running around the marina where we used to live in London. I would like to make sure that, should I decide to start running again, I have the right sports bra so that I don’t end up knocking myself out *we live in hope*.

So come on ladies, follow my example and fit your fitness it. Don’t flunk out, get yourself in shape!

How are you getting exercise after pregnancy? What tips do you have? What are you doing? What have you avoided? Do let us know below.

This is a sponsored post with Tony Pryce Sports as per our disclosure policy.

Helen

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!

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