How to beat post baby blues FITNESS

Are you longing for the days before having a baby when your life was just that bit more carefree and you felt fitter? Well – take heart! You’re not alone, and it is possible to get back to feeling like yourself again. Ashley Verma, a celebrity trainer, and founder of the Bizzimumzi podcast, reveals how to beat the blues and regain your confidence.

Post-baby blues can be difficult to navigate but with the right support and action plan in place, you can regain your confidence and start enjoying life as a parent.

After giving birth, a mother is in a new stage of her life with a new body. That body will have done so much shifting within, changing, and accommodating a new life. Then there’s the next stage – in addition to healing from the birth, the body is also tasked with feeding a new-born and providing the energy to do everything else required to care for a child. And this is done on very little sleep. A new mother should feel an undeniable sense of power and complete awe of their body’s capabilities, but that isn’t always the case. It can take time to find a ‘post-baby mojo’. Here are five top tips to help shift any post-baby body blues and build back your body-confidence.

1. Don’t rush your bounce-back plan

I didn’t get my pre-baby clothes out until a good six months after the birth. Try to stop pulling them out and comparing yourself to how you were before. There is no award for a quick bounce back. Trust me when I say your next-door neighbour does not care about the number inside your jeans. Why is there so much shame in our culture if you are not bounce-back ready in four weeks postpartum?

Wear clothes that flatter you and feel good on your body. We need to be in the mindset now of healing and honouring our bodies. The only person that knows the size of your clothing is you. Yes, shocking but so true!

I have trained countless postpartum moms. There is a frantic energy I always feel when a new mum starts back training. You don’t need to feel this way. It’s added stress. Stress can be a huge factor for actually gaining weight postpartum.

2. Practise loving yourself

From my years as a fitness trainer, I knew I needed to teach myself ‘self-love’. So, start with finding body neutrality. How on earth can you go from hating your body to loving it overnight? It is certainly not a light switch. Find a middle ground first. Try finding acceptance that your body is different, neither good nor bad, simply different. How to find acceptance? Little steps each day: an extra walk; a 10-minute stretch in the middle of the day; head to YouTube for free quick workouts. For example, I share free workouts on my Bizzimumzi YouTube channel. A lot of moms do not have the luxury of being able to spend two hours a day with a trainer. Grab quick and efficient workouts (10-20 minutes) that you can do with the little one(s) around. I’m all for exercising with the kids around because if they are napping, so should you. Rest is just as important as the workout.

3. Note when you have negative body thoughts

What are you doing when you criticise yourself? Where are you? How has your day been? Were you offered help and you said no? Write these thoughts down, share with your partner, your therapist, or a friend. These are triggers that need to be acknowledged and then worked through so that body positivity and self-worth can shine through. It can be hard at first to speak up, but your mental health needs to be top priority, not only for you but to sustain a healthy environment for your child. Working to eliminate the negative headspace will only enhance all the aspects in your (and your child’s) daily life.

4. Provide your body with the fuel it needs

Give yourself permission to eat what makes you happy and fulfilled. Restrictions can quickly flip the narrative and can create negative thoughts and unhealthy relationships with food. Don’t skip meals. You need the fuel for both your body and, more importantly, your mind. Sticking to regular mealtimes and portions can help keep you on a great path. Healthy protein, high-fibre foods, and nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables will not only keep you energised throughout the day but will also provide the key nutrients needed postpartum.

5. Sack your scales

The number on your scales is another one no one really needs or wants to know. In full transparency, I have no clue how much weight I put on when I was expecting, and I do not own a set of scales in my house. The thought alone gives me anxiety, so why would I allow it? Even when I was pregnant, I turned around on the scale when they weighed me. I also, politely, asked the nurse to never tell me my weight. I said that if I was gaining too much and it was affecting my health then tell me but otherwise do not let me know. The number on the scale does not define you. Self-love and self-worth acceptance surely does and has greater meaning.

More Information

Ashley Verma is a mum, founder of the Bizzimumzi podcast, and Define London fitness studio. She is a former Broadway performer and celebrity trainer. Through Bizzimumzi Ashley has created a welcoming community to share the highs and lows of parenting and inspire others to feel empowered in their journey. Ashely believes the most perfect picture of parenting is simply when you are trying your best. Bizzimumzi is a safe space that helps parents to inspire, educate and support each other to be the best parent they can be. https://bizzimumzi.com/

by Ashley Verma BizzMumzi