Disclosure :: This post is part of a series for World Breastfeeding Week and is sponsored by Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
Work In Progress :: Breastfeeding and Working Out
Before having my daughter Poppy, you could find me in the gym everyday. It was my escape and I loved it. Running, dancing, weights, whatever it was, I was in for it. I religiously worked out throughout my pregnancy and couldn’t wait to get back at it. But this time around the bouncing back part was SO hard.
The saying I hear the most when I say that I’m breastfeeding is “You’ll bounce right back and lose all your baby weight if you’re breastfeeding.”
Yeah no.
Sadly, as great as that sounds, it doesn’t always happen that way. Some mommas breastfeed, and they bounce back 100 percent within a few months and that’s awesome. But in reality it takes other moms longer. Personally, my body bounced back fairly well, but the last 5 pounds were just there to stay until I quit nursing. It’s been a source of frustration for me if I’m being honest.
I’m really blessed to have an amazing group of women that I work out with and they support me. They get me. They understand. Several of them were pregnant the same time as me, and we’ve walked this road together. I’m reminded everyday by these beautiful women that just because my body doesn’t do the things it used or doesn’t look like it used to, doesn’t mean it’s bad.
It’s a work in progress.
It’s just different. My body is going so many more things right now that takes so much of my energy. It works night and day to give nourishment to this little person that I’ve been trusted with and that’s okay. My body is doing the best it can to keep up with very little sleep. I keep reminding myself that it’s a season I only get once in a lifetime, and I’m doing my best not to rush through it.
But let’s be honest, just because my body wants to hold onto these last few pounds to help feed my baby doesn’t mean I’m going to quit. I have a million reasons to want to quit and do nothing but being active and fit is so important! Just moving and getting all the good vibes and hormones flowing is worth it. I need the good energy and vibes that working out brings to me whether I lose the last few pounds or not.
I need to make it a point to take care of myself.
To love myself.
To remember that it’s okay to do this.
To remember that my body is capable of doing hard things along with nursing.
To surround myself with people who get it and encourage me.
So if you’re breastfeeding and struggling with weight loss, don’t quit nursing and don’t quit working out. Trust the process. Surround yourself with women that support you. Love your body through it and focus on doing the things with in your control. Make your body stronger, eat appropriately, and the rest will follow when the time is right.
