Even before becoming a mom, I have always been physically active and enjoy a good workout.
I participated in competitive sports in high school and enjoyed fitness kickboxing throughout college. Moving my body always makes me feel better.
Working out became a stress relief tool and something I just had to do. My motivation didn’t lie in trying to fit into a certain size or looking a specific way but to feeling healthy.
Postpartum, working out became even more important as I learned that working out helped me cope with and manage my anxiety. But just like everything else, after having a baby my workout routine changed. I needed something flexible, something that could be short and sweet but still effective. That is why I love my on-demand workout streaming service.
My Post-Baby Workout Routine
Pre-baby you would find me at a gym in a team-based class. I was never one to work out on my own. If I was solo, I would show up at the gym and get easily overwhelmed. I felt like I didn’t know what to do or how to do it. My competitive nature and team-oriented past thrived with being “instructed” and “coached.” I kept my gym membership and attended classes right until my daughter was born. But when I was ready to get back into my fitness routine I was overwhelmed with trying to figure out the details of going to a gym.
The rigid schedule of class times didn’t line up with nap and feeding times. It felt like a burden trying to plan who was going to watch the baby while I was at the gym. And the financial aspect of the cost of membership had to be considered now that I was working part-time.
A big battle for me was deciding how to divide my “free time.” Should I go to the gym, or get some rest? Let’s be honest, our free time as moms is precious. While I had no guilt about taking time out for myself, when I added up commute time to and from a gym it just didn’t seem worth it.
On-Demand Workout
A coworker introduced me to Beachbody. It just made sense for me to make the switch. For an annual fee (which is totally reasonable by the way) you get access to an entire library of workouts. It’s literally a Netflix for fitness.
I can take yoga or intense cardio and everything in-between. All I need is an internet connection (or you can download videos in advance) and a little bit of space. I purchased a few free weights and a yoga mat and had my own at-home gym. Now I am able to work out anytime. I can easily tailor my workout to the time I have available from a quick 10-minute ab session, to a 45-minute total body workout. No sitter required.
I suppose what works for me about this “routine” is the flexibility of it. I am not held to a set schedule or penalized when things change. And best of all, I don’t have to leave the house. This approach for sure takes some self-disciple. It can be easy to skip out when you don’t have others to hold you accountable. But for me, the benefits outweigh the occasional risks. Because I am able to work out on my time (or more like my daughter’s time) I have seen results and positive changes in my body. That makes me feel good, and motivates me to keep it up!
As moms sometimes we have to get creative in “figuring things out.” Being active is important for me, for both my physical health and mental well being, so I made a change to accommodate my circumstances as a mom. Maybe one day you will find me back in the gym environment, but for now, I’ll sweat it out in my basement while baby sleeps upstairs.
Do you have a work out routine?
