Six months postpartum

Six months ago I was sitting in this chair holding a tiny, precious, bundle of life with a spare tyre for a waist and eager to shape up.  So much has changed in half a year.  Here's my subjective assessment of my progress in the flab mum to fab mum quest.

I've given up measuring my tummy and the only scales we own are kitchen ones.  I've realised that life is so different post-children and my body has gone through such changes that it does not make sense to be measuring and weighing myself in an attempt to look as I did before I became a mum.  It is better for me to look forward and get in shape for our lives now and in the future, to acknowledge and accept my changing body.  That is my small backlash against the myth that beauty is eternal youth.

Although still sleep-deprived (when will she sleep through the night?) I usually feel generally OK and have enough energy to keep up with the kids.  I get a few aches and pains, usually in my back, but nothing too troublesome.  My neck and shoulders were often sore after a day at work but feel looser now.  My limbs are strong and well toned from walking and lifting.  Under my wobbly tummy I now have some muscle although it is a far cry from a six-pack! 

I used to struggle to get to sleep even when exhausted but now I'm frequently asleep within 20 minutes of getting into bed.  My complexion is remarkably clear and mentally I feel alert despite the tiredness.  In short, exercising is giving me all the benefits I hoped for.  I look and feel better than I have for ages.  I just have to keep it up.  Oh, and I have some lovely new clothes...!

Workout wonder

An amazing thing happened yesterday: I managed to do almost an entire workout in the park without having to stop to settle or feed a baby or reassure a toddler that I am just running around a basketball court and not running away from her.    As a result I did the best workout for ages and am really feeling it today!  Thighs, bum, arms... Ouch!  I do, however, feel really good.  Maybe those exercise endorphins are still floating around or maybe I'm just pleased to be feeling fit.    Getting started with exercise and getting us all together to go out is at least as much of a challenge as the workout itself but now I want to do more.  Am I mad?!

Reclaiming my body (part two) and my mind

Sorry for absence this month.  I don't really have a good excuse, I suppose I have just been trying to catch up with myself.  

We're starting a big clear out and it was with joy that along with the newborn and 0-3 month baby clothes I was also able to pack up not only my maternity clothes but also the trousers I had bought a size too big as I grew into and out of proper maternity wear.  I'm not back to my old shape but I am back in my old clothes.  Hurray!

Talking to other new mums I realise that we all have little things that we do to make ourselves feel better despite the sleep deprivation.  One friend always wears a bit of jewellery, another puts on mascara each day.  I have nice pyjamas, try not to wear exactly the same clothes two days in a row (maybe every other day though!) and paint my toenails (three coats so it last ages and I don't have have to take off the varnish until my nail grows).  These small things help to remind us that we are unique, individual women as well as mums.  For me, this little effort makes such a big difference to my sense of self and well being. 

The dress

One of my motivations for exercise was fitting into a bridesmaid dress for a hot summer wedding.  There would be no layers to hide under, I was going to be exposed in a navy blue summer dress with a fitted bodice and loose from waist to the knees.  Such a beautiful dress deserved a beautiful body and with the wedding date set for 13 weeks after the birth it seemed reasonable to set getting into this dress as a first challenge to be more fab than flab.  


I did it!  Unfortunately, with the busyness of being a bridesmaid, wife to a best man, and mother to two flower girls I didn't manage to get a photo, so here is one I pinched from someone else and a family photo from a few days after the wedding.