Becoming a new mom is a transformative and joyous experience but it often comes with its unique set of challenges. My personal fitness journey began only as a new mom amidst the sleepless nights, diaper changes and endless baby snuggles but also - with excess weights (at my heaviest 196 lbs). I found myself grappling with a pervasive emotion - guilt. One area where this guilt often surfaces is in the realm of self care, particularly while taking time out for myself.
The New MOM guilt that I experienced was characterized by feelings of inadequacy and self doubt in different aspects of motherhood and life in general. Common triggers included taking time for myself, pursuing personal interests and YES you guessed it taking time to Move/ Exercise regularly. My mental conditioning and standards of a GOOD MOM also had a bit to contribute to this phenomenon.
Exercise is the one thing that has helped me the most in improving my self confidence, my mood, improving my self esteem, promoting a positive body image and helped me become more resilient and confident. Yet at the time I struggled to make it a part of my daily routine because of my MOM guilt.
Here are a few things that really helped me Incorporating exercise into my NEW MOM routine:
Start Small and Gradual : Begin with short, manageable exercise sessions tht align with your energy levels. For me it all started with a 15 min walk with my baby in the jogging stroller. It was simple, doable and I didn’t feel I was leaving my baby behind. Win win.
Involve the baby : Incorporate your little one into your exercise routine by including them. It all started with a walk with by baby and in the cooler months it was an indoor mommy and me fitness class
Prioritize self care: It took me sometime to understand and accept that taking care of myself is not selfish, it’s ESSENTIAL. Scheduling dedicated time for self care, including exercise, time with your girl friends, taking a longer nap and communicating your needs to your support network is important.
Embrace Imperfection : It’s ok if you miss a workout or if things don’t always go as planned. Self care is an ongoing process. Do it because it makes you feel good and only when you feel good you can take better care of others.
You will only set an appositive example for your child by taking care of yourself. So lace up those sneakers, put on your fav playlist and take a step forward towards a healthier, happierYOU amidst the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
YOU GOT THIS.