How much fitness have I lost?

[Hazel]

OK, ladies (I was about to type "you guys" thereby revealing my New Jersey heritage!). I am four weeks from D-day and starting (well, I started a while back) to think about getting back in shape after the baby comes. I'm curious as to how much I've lost in terms of fitness. My weight gain has been steady and within average limits. I taught my last Body Pump class this week and seem to have managed to keep most of my upper body strength, although I've cut back on lower body weights considerably (and can tell that the fat to muscle ratio in that area has changed a bit). I'm still managing 2 or maybe 3 step workouts a week, although between the heat and my growing belly, they really are not very much fun anymore.

I'd love to hear everyone's stories about what you did to get back in shape after baby arrived and how long it took you to get there. I know I will need to take it slow and allow my body sufficient time to heal and get all that relaxin out of my system (together with the new demands on my time), but part of me is really excited about the prospect of having this body all (well, mostly -- there's still breastfeeding) to myself again. How did you all (oh, there's the Texas coming out now!) start back? How much fitness had you lost and how long did it take to get back to where you were before? And the most important question -- when can I start doing Interval Max again?!

I need some inspiration as well as a dose of reality here -- some days I think I'll never get back in shape and others I'm trying to figure out which video to do the day I get home from the hospital (OK, I know that's a stretch, but again, I'm excitable). I also realize that in certain ways, my body may never look the same, but I would like to FEEL as fit as I used to . . . someday. So let me hear about your journies! And thanks in advance for sharing them with me.

Hazel

 

[ErinF]

Hi, Hazel!

Really, it's not so much "How much fitness have I lost?" It's more a question of how quickly you recover from the massive workout of childbirth!

After my first labor, which was a nightmare which included a hemmorage, I was still bleeding bright red and in pain at 6 weeks postpartum. I could hardly manage taking care of the baby, much less think about exercise. In contrast, after my last baby ( the 4th ), who was a day in the park compared to his big sister, I was doing the mild stretches and toning exercises from the books and the end of Kathy Smith's Pregnancy Workout starting ( including Kegals, of course!

) the day I gave birth. I was going for walks with the kids at the end of the 1st week. Somewhere around the 2 - 3 week mark I started doing just the 10 minute energizer section from the KS pregnancy tape ( this was my intro to video exercise, by the way, and I've been hooked ever since!

). My bleeding was completely gone by the 4th week, at which time I started doing Kathy Smith's Fat Burning Workout, which I had waiting in the wings ( The addiction begins to gain strength ). I was working out 3 or 4 days a week, and I was being careful to listen to my body, not working out if I felt too weak or exhausted, and making sure that naps had a high priority.

I picked up 2 more KS workouts for variety. My workout time had to be in the evening so that my hubbie could take care of the baby while I did my workout. At the 4 month mark I had lost 25 or so of the 36 pounds I gained during my pregnancy. Then I found the video fitness web site. I got a few more videos, including Firm Strength and another weight training video or 2. Those last 11 pounds were gone by the time the 6 month mark came around, and I've been hooked on videos and VF ever since. I did my 1st Cathe video when he was 6 or 7 months old, but that's because it's when I first started stepping, not necessarily because I couldn't have done one before then.

My pre-pregnancy fitness level was nowhere near what yours was. I was riding an exercise bike and that was it. During my pregnancy I rode the bike and did the KS pregnancy video. With your level of fitness, as long as you don't have any complications in your labor, I'll bet you bounce back pretty quickly! Just be very careful to listen to your body. If your bleeding increases after it has lessened, you're doing too much and you need to take it easier.

Remember too that fitness is a lifelong proposition. If your fitness doesn't come back as quickly as you would like or the weight melt off, it's not a big deal. You have your whole life to get back in shape. What's most important is that you feel good and spend lots of time getting to know your precious little one! The rest will fall into place!

Good luck!

Erin

 

[Hazel]

Thanks, Erin!

I appreciate hearing your story. If this pregnancy has taught me nothing else, it has made me listen to my body (something I was not very good at before), so I will try to temper my enthusiasm with some sanity!

And happy (belated) birthday to you!

Hazel

 

[Stacey DeLapp]

Did you know...

Just thought that I would share this fascinating fact with you (in case you didn't already know):

The average woman who continues to workout through her pregnancy increases her overall aerobic capacity by 5-10%! I just read this in Dr. Clapp's book last week.

Good luck! I really wish I were as far along as you are! I'm 22 weeks, and really starting to want my old body back. I'm just excited to think that this is probably my last pregnancy so this time it will be mine and stay mine!

 

[Daphne M]

You are in peak condition

I didn't lose much aerobic capacity at all during my pregnancies. According to an article I read in Runners World a year or so ago, the added weight actually introduces a training element. In fact, just wait until after delivery and your lungs suddenly have all that lovely space to expand and hold oxygen. You'll think you're in heaven.

I must warn you however, that pregnancy is the easiest phase of parenthood for maintaining fitness, Hazel. The true test comes after the baby arrives. You are deprived of sleep, unencumbered arm movements and TIME. It can be frustrating, but it provides an element of motivation you will never lose. Remembering when I lacked the energy and time to exercise although I was dying to do it? That's still my greatest motivator for dragging my rear out of bed every morning. My kids are 3 and 5, and it can still be a challenge. I tell myself, "It's now or never!" and just do it. (But not when I'm really sleep-deprived ... that's asking for an injury.)

I'm on pins and needles waiting for the announcement.

 

[Hazel]

Thanks, Daphne!

I appreciate your good wishes --I can't wait either! And I do realize that post-baby fitness will be another thing entirely. Luckily, fitness is now kind of hard-wired in my brain, so I'm hoping that I can stay the course if I can stay kind of flexible. Plus, this is a time to enjoy the baby, right? Don't want to miss any of that just to get in one more set of squats!

On the other hand, isn't great that I was smart enough to plan my pregnancy around the release of Cathe's new tapes?

It will be such an inspiration (and a time saver)!

 

[swhitney]

fit

Hazel,
You probably haven't lost any of your fitness level. Imagine how difficult it is to exercise at nine months pregnant with all that extra weight. Just getting around at that stage is an aerobic workout.

I exercised right up until I had James two months ago, but those last 2 weeks or so, I was doing light workouts and only 20 minutes at a time or so, and walking. I started doing those same light workouts about a week after delivery and increasing intensity up until 4 weeks postpartum, when I started doing my regular workouts. My fitness level wasn't a problem-- I just had to take it easy because of the bleeding. I had an episiotomy and had problems with bleeding until almost 7 weeks postpartum-- the most difficult workouts would sometimes cause a little bleeding.

My fitness level had not changed-- I was actually stronger and my aerobic capacity was about the same. And if you're teaching classes, I'm sure you were fitter than me to begin with and doing tougher workouts toward the end of your pregnancy. You won't have any problem, I'm sure!

I agree with the statement above about finding the time to exercise being the real challenge. I can't even think about IntervalMax-- not because I'm not fit enough, but because I have no time (and it's not one you can stop in the middle of to tend to a crying baby) and also because sleep deprivation is a factor. I have done Intense Moves though (Reebok's interval training tape, which is not much easier) with no problem.
It's tough to get used to doing 10 minutes of a tape and then having to stop. I found in those early weeks the only exercise I'd get to do was strap the baby on in a carrier and go walk a few miles (which is a good workout with that extra 10 pounds strapped to your chest).

good luck!!
Sara

 

[Hazel]

Thanks, Sara

I appreciate you sharing your story with me. It gives me a lot of hope while I sit here feeling like Shamu in maternity shorts (only wish I could live underwater and get away from the oppressive Texas heat)!

I'm glad to hear how well you're doing -- sounds like your commitment to staying active paid off. Way to go!

Hazel

 

[momincharge1]

No joke!!

I hear you on that Tx heat!! I live down on the coast and am 3 weeks from delivery!Darn I wish it would get just a LITTLE HOTTER!!-- Oh yeah I forget it is not August yet! I found that my fitness level was not affected by pregnancy either; once I was able to get back. What I did find strange was my balance. After spending several months compensating for that big belly it takes a while to adjust to almost no tummy. Especially for things like lunges and squats. Am still hanging in with 2-3 short all purpose type workouts a week. Low intensity cardio with lt hand weights for maintenance. Can't wait for all those new Cathe tapes and a bod that can keep up with them!

 

[joyce619]

still trying to lose

Hi Hazel
I gave birth to my 3 child back on Feb 4th. Like you I couldn't wait to get my body back ( I made up a plan while I was on bedrest) I had been in my best shape ever before getting pregnant. I started with easy walks about 2 weeks post partum then started with Cathe's step tapes about 4 weeks after. I found though that my body wasn't quite ready though, my torso still ached. I really didn't feel better until 8 weeks postpartum.

I have been slowly losing, i'm not nursing, about 2-3 lbs a month. I gained 38. For me it ususally takes 6-12 months to get back to my "old" body. Its just hard for me to lose!

 

[momincharge1]

FYI

Feb 4 is my youngest daughter's BD. She is 2. I don't know why I felt like adding this but o well!I am sooo jealous you are back on the road to the old you. I too finds it takes about a year to feel re-conditioned. The weight is back to normal sooner but there is still skin that has been stretched and just the feeling that you are not in top form yet (for me). Maybe it coincides with feeling my body is my own because I nurse my babies for that year?!