I never really talked about it a lot, but prior to falling pregnant, exercise formed a big part of my routine. I’d go for a run five days out of seven, and on rest days would do a handful of HIIT exercises at home. It was fairly early on into my pregnancy (16 weeks) that I had to give up running to ensure I was protecting my pelvic floor, which I promptly replaced with a daily hour long walk.
Wearing Organic Basics SilverTech Active Workout Bra & Organic Basics SilverTech Active Yoga Shorts (10% off with code ‘JAMIEOBC’)
Since becoming a new mum, I’ve been trying to balance working, caring for an infant, and getting that precious (and often illusive) “me” time. It’s meant I’ve had to be a lot more creative about getting in my daily dose of exercise. And beyond that, I’ve had to make adjustments for my body as it slowly repairs itself following nine months of growing a new life.
Probably one of the biggest contributors to making me feel more like my “old self”, has been the ability to wear a lot of my old clothes. While they might not fit quite the way they used to (I’ve got that classic “mummy tummy” – despite what my tensed abdominals above might suggest!),
While I’m sharing my experience, I want to stress that in no way should this be taken as a guide for postpartum exercise and recovery. Everyone heals at a different rate, and has their own capacity and limits for exercise. It’s important to listen to your body, as well as the advice you’ve received from medical practitioners.
CARDIO
One of my main goals for post-pregnancy was to start running again. As soon as physically possible. Knowing that diastasis recti could be something I’d battle with, I remember being so keen to find out the severity of it during my six-week postpartum checkup. My obstetrician that it wasn’t bad, and that I could start running if I felt up to it. And I did, the very next day, finding myself easily slipping into a rhythm, and back to running my usual pace and distance without stopping by my second run.
Keeping in mind that I’m currently only three months postpartum now, one thing I kept a close eye on was my diastasis recti. After going on five runs, I made the decision to ease off until my diastasis recti was healed completely.
Immediately following the birth of our son, I got back into walking. The first two weeks of recovery, it was short walks; slowly going for a loop or two around the block. Once I felt up to it, I started to increase the distance and pace, going for walks of anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. And most days, I’d have our son secured to my front using a Baby Bjorn carrier.
This is still my primary mode of exercise, and until I’m able to see a physio to properly address my diastasis recti (COVID has made postpartum recovery a little more challenging to manage with the help of professionals), walking will be my main focus.
HIIT
Approximately 10 weeks following the birth of our son, I finally felt ready to incorporate *some* HIIT (high-intensity interval training) into my weekly routine. I’m careful to only explore using exercises which don’t activate my core muscles (so that I don’t damage them further), focusing on lunges, squats, tricep dips and the like.
I will do this once or twice a week from the comfort of our living room, usually in the evening after dinner, while my husband has some snuggles with our son. For now, I’m solely relying on my own body weight, however would love to look at incorporating some light weights in a few months’ time.
DIET
I am planning to share a look at what I eat in a day on my YouTube channel next week, but I thought I’d touch on this briefly. For me, the main goal with what I eat has been focused on nourishing my body, so that I can effectively feed our son as I’m exclusively breastfeeding. This means lots of whole foods, but also daily indulgences too.
I’m an omnivore, so most of my meals are balanced out with a mix of proteins, grains and vegetables. While I initially had incorporated dairy as part of this mix, I’ve dialled this back as it seems to cause discomfort and gas for our son when I do consume cheese (particularly soft cheeses!). The most important thing for me has been listening to my body, and using that as a guide for how much and how frequently to eat.
For a quick treat and energy boost, I’ve been loving the Tom + Lukes energy balls. Coincidentally, I know Tom from back in Wellington, and it’s great to support an NZ-owned company. I typically buy these when they’re on special, and love the chocolate orange flavour. They’re made from natural ingredients but taste like having a fudgey piece of cake!
ACTIVE WEAR
Finally, I thought I would touch on the two brands which have been my go-to for active wear.
For my at home workouts, I’ve been loving the set I’m wearing above from Organic Basics. Generally, I’m working out with the heating on, so I find I get quite warm rather quickly. The SilverTech Active Workout Bra and the SilverTech Active Yoga Shorts have been perfect for this; there’s a lot of stretch to the fabric, which makes them really comfortable to wear. I love that they’re ethically made and manufactured using recycled materials too. If you’re planning to make a purchase, you can get 10% off your order using the code ‘JAMIEOBC’.
When running or going for a fast-paced walk, I’ll pop on a set from Girlfriend Collective. I really love their high-rise compression leggings as they are a really snug fit which helps to keep everything “sucked” in. This is another sustainable brand, and their active wear is made from recycled plastic bottles. I’ll usually wear these with a tank or t-shirt thrown over top (my favourite are these from Everlane). For extra warmth as it’s now winter here, I’ve been opting for this woollen cardigan from & Other Stories over top during my walks.
