Exercise Woes of a Busy New Mom-Added by Tara, our newest Staff Member.

In the days leading up to the birth of my son, I anxiously awaited not only his arrival but also the coming of "Super Mommy." Forget that I had barely boiled water in my 35 years of life! I eagerly anticipated nurturing my newborn baby around the clock while preparing delicious five-course meals for my husband, and suddenly and inexplicably whipping my sagging, post-partum body into better shape than ever before. The plan was to be all things to all people.


My rude awakening arrived when my son came home after spending a month in the hospital. Despite all of the books and cautionary tales, I was still fully unprepared for the reality of being a mom. For the first several months, I considered myself lucky if I could brush my teeth or shower before 5 p.m. Dinner consisted of a bowl of Lucky Charms or some Uncle Ben's Ready Rice, if it was a special occasion. My exercise regimen consisted solely of 10 or so trips up the stairs to change a diaper. I still had no feeling in my midsection where my abs once existed, and I now had a substantial muffin top which hovered over the sides of my jeans. I was completely overwhelmed and utterly depressed!


After a few difficult months, I took the sage advice of a friend who reminded me that I am human and couldn't possibly provide for my family if I was not taking care of myself. I'm not referring to getting a bikini wax or a pedicure, though surely neither would have hurt! I'm talking about working some form of physical exercise into my schedule each day. I knew that I had to alter my previous notion of a workout as being no less than 45 minutes on the treadmill or a 3 mile run. Let's get real! Few busy moms are able to make that kind of time commitment for exercise. I tried to find ways to incorporate movement into brief lapses in my schedule, and at the end of the day I had managed to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise. I soon realized how vital this was to both my physical and emotional well being. I woke up the muscles that were dormant for so many months, and my strength and tone returned along with much (okay, some) of my sanity!


Stay Tuned for Premier Pilates and Training's April Newsletter for tips on how to fit exercise into a frenetic schedule!