Monday, October 17, 2016

Getting Back Into Shape After Pregnancy ♥

I've had two babies within three years and I'll be completely honest here, these pregnancies and new baby days have not been kind to my body. I look at myself in the mirror and I don't recognise the person staring back at me, my body is so much different to how it was in my early twenties and I won't pretend here, I absolutely hate how I look.

My weight has been an issue ever since I had my eldest son, a mixture of post natal depression and agoraphobia contributing a lot to my weight gain - I mean you're going to gain weight when you don't leave the house aren't you?

Thankfully, this time around after giving birth, I'm much happier, active and focused on improving myself and I'm so determined to become slimmer, fitter and healthier, not just for me, but for the two beautiful boys I want to be around to parent for many, many years to come.

So today I thought I'd share how I'm getting back into shape after pregnancy and I'm very happy to say that these things are really working for me and I'm seeing some changes which are really making me feel so much better and confident in myself.

For the past 11 weeks I've been having protein shakes for breakfast. These really help to set me up for the day and keep me feeling full. Also, due to the high protein they have, they've helped me to lose weight and inches off my body - 35 inches since I began having them on July 30th. It's been great to see my body becoming slimmer, clothes feeling a lot looser and I love seeing the number of inches lost going up week after week - it keeps me motivated and eager to lose more. You can read all about my weight loss so far and the reviews of the shakes I've been having here.

Beau and I out on one of our woodland walks
However, now that I've lost weight I could really do with toning up and have been looking at ways to do this, other than just going for my normal walk pushing the pram up and down hills of course. I see on my social media some of the girls I know going to boot camps and training sessions in the gym such as cross-fit etc.

I don't know if these would be for me though because I prefer working out on a one-on-one basis and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be mortified taking my out of shape self along to a training session... I think building a workout routine is so important though and you can read more on this page. Building a workout means that you're challenging different parts of your body each time you workout to get the results you're looking for.

My Nan told me last week that there's a girl who she sees with a personal trainer up on the track when she goes walking. I can definitely see the benefits of having a personal trainer. For someone like me who can sometimes lack the motivation or want to go out and exercise, having a personal trainer there to keep you on track and to have a proper workout with, tailored around the areas you want to work on would be fab!

I'd really love to have the personal trainer experience and not just because I think it would be kind of cool to say "I can't, sorry! I have a session with my personal trainer today..." - if anything it'd be a valid excuse for getting out of things at least! The PT experience seems to work for a lot of celebs, they're always papped having work outs in parks, etc., so I don't see why it couldn't work for a normal being like myself too.

As I said above, I go walking with my pram quite a lot and it's actually a great workout pushing it up and down the hills in my hometown - I've even been jogging with it! I don't know if it's just me or what, but I actually find it a lot more enticing to go out for walks on the cooler autumn and winter days. I make sure that the boys and I get some fresh air everyday and even just popping Beau into the sling (seriously, he's the best weight I could ever carry around) and going for a trek with them both through the woods counts as a workout for me, because believe me when I say they keep me on my toes!

I honestly believe that simply running around after the two of them and having to go up and down the stairs with them for what seems like a million times a day has contributed to my weight loss too. I'm happy to say I no longer get puffed whilst I'm running about with them and it's great to have a lot more energy, cause lets face it, I really need it!

One thing I'd really love to try as part of my 'getting back into shape' mission is yoga. It's something I've wanted to try for quite a while now and my friend and I were speaking about going to a class together - I'm so glad she's up for it too because I know I'd never go on my own. So hopefully this is something I can do to improved my fitness and flexibility, I'd at least like to give it a go.

I'll be updating the blog on my weight loss and fitness progress every two weeks, so do pop back if you're interested in reading about how I'm doing.
Share:

19 comments

  1. Sorry to hear that you were not happy with your body but it is great that you feel more active and healthier this time. I didn't know you had acrophobia, how do you deal with it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ana. To overcome my agoraphobia I had to go to mindfulness classes and talk to a counselor. My body image contributed to it a lot but thankfully I've been able to get over it a bit. There are still places I avoid because of my fear but it's getting better.

      Delete
  2. I think a personal trainer certainly helps you focus on your health and fitness goals, but please try not to hate your body, as it had changed because you had your lovely children

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely, it's something a lot of people would benefit from I think. I know but it's not the children who ruined my body, it was me eating crap and not exercising.

      Delete
  3. Lots of luck in your weightloss/fitness journey losing weight myself since becoming a mum has been a big struggle for me. I'll definitely be coming back to see how u are grtting on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Joanna. I've found it a struggle before now too. It really makes a difference when you find something that works for you.

      Delete
  4. Congrats on the weight loss - and the inches, that's awesome! I really need to get a bit more serious about shifting the baby weight, though I don't think I'm ever going to be jogging with the pram! xD My thing at the moment is work - I'm going to lots of functions, etc, at the moment and there's always food about. I went to this Dashain celebration last week and felt like I put on half a stone just /looking/ at it! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I never thought I'd be jogging with my pram either but one day the urge overcame me, lol!

      Delete
  5. Congrats on the weight loss, you are doing great Fiona. I always struggled with weight loss after my children as I was always tired and ate to keep awake! I started to lose mine weight about a year after my 4th child. I took up running to help my older boys get into it. They weight just fell off then. I am trying to get back into running again now, as I have had a few lazy years, but I am finding it so hard with the extra weight again ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Claire. I know, it's hard to find the time to make proper meals for yourself, etc. when you're busy looking after the little ones. How great that you took up running. I think I'll have to start running along with Tyler, I swear he's the next Usain Bolt, he's so fast! We can be running buddies! Best of luck with getting back into running.

      Delete
  6. Jogging and walking is the best way to get toned up! I work out at home though! I am the same as you. I have lost the weight I wanted to, but just need to tone my upper torso up! Been doing Jillian Michaels at home. Need a lot of motivation but I do get the job done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to do a work out at home too, now I like to get out in the fresh air - I think it helps us all sleep better. Good luck with toning up, I'm trying to focus on that at the minute too :)

      Delete
  7. I can totally understand hun, your body will have gone through so many changes during your pregnancy but equally it is also that same body which protected your two beautiful boys x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, but it's my unhealthy habits after pregnancy that has been my downfall really x

      Delete
  8. Well done with your weight loss so far Fi, that's really good going!
    I know too well how easy it is to pile on the pounds after little ones, I'm currently on the Cambridge plan trying to rewind the damage of filling my face! :) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh good luck with the Cambridge plan Jayne, I've heard great things about it!

      Delete
  9. you look very fit! I also think a PT is a good idea, specially after pregnancy, because it's more difficult to get back in shape! x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I need a personal trainer as I just don't have the motivation to do it myself

    ReplyDelete
  11. I actually reviewed a hot yoga class a couple of weeks ago and loved it. Maybe see if you can try one of those. Great for toning and it's relaxing. Sounds like you're doing very well x

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to comment. I appreciate all your comments and try to reply whenever I can.

© Dolly Dowsie | All rights reserved.
Blog Layout Created by pipdig