2018 NPAA Magazine 2018 NPAA Magazine - This is Our Sport | Page 54

MY
TOP
5
Postpatrum Tips
Prioritize Sleep
Unfortunately “Sleep when the baby
sleeps” advice can only really fully apply
to your first child. After my second child
was born I remember feeling like I had
been hit by a train every day, dragging
my feet everywhere. I was my toddler’s
sole provider of entertainment, so when
the baby slept I still had responsibilities.
I had to let go of the guilt that surrounds
‘screen time’ and allow the TV to
entertain him while I had a nap during
the day. I could not workout if I was still
in what we mothers call zombie mode.
Sleep came first. I know this is going to
sound crazy but to my greatest surprise
and joy baby number three has been
significantly better, and I have been able
to return to training quite quickly, and
“survival mode” only lasted 3 weeks.
Ask for Help
There is some sort of weird mind game
we play with ourselves when we become
mothers, we think that if we need help
or admit that we are drowning in our
duties it makes us unworthy mothers
and somehow “unfit” for the job. This
is simply FALSE. ASK for help! Leave
the baby and with a trusted loved one or
friend. Even if it’s for a 20 min walk or
a half hour workout session, clear your
head and let people help you.
Start Pelvic Floor and Transverse
Abdominis Exercises Right Away
I knew I wanted to get back to training
as soon as I could with baby number
three so I started doing Kegels almost
the next day after the baby was born.
Every time I would sit down to nurse, I
would remind myself to do my Kegels.
Later I started doing stomach vacuums
and other exercises for my transverse
to help tighten my core from the inside
out. It is critical that you train/strengthen
these muscles first!
51.
Fight for Routine.
Newborns are the exact opposite of
anything routine, so this one will feel
nearly impossible at first. There are
several days that I have gone down to
the basement to squeeze in a workout,
only to return upstairs again after only 5
minutes to attend to the baby or my other
kids. It’s very easy to get discouraged
and feel like you are failing more than
you are succeeding. Don’t give into
the discouragement, take comfort in
knowing the tables will turn eventually
with persistence, you will have more
successes than failures and you will find
yourself in a ‘groove’ so to speak.
Set a Goal.
Whether it is stepping on stage or fitting
into your pre-pregnancy jeans, setting
goals for yourself will help you stick to
a routine and plan. I like to start small
at first. For example, right now being 12
weeks postpartum, my goal for myself
is to train 6 days a week, even if it is
only for 20 minutes each day, monitor
my protein intake (aiming for 1g/lb of
lean body mass) and make sure I am
drinking enough water. Once I have
accomplished these goals and feel like
they are well set into my daily routine I
can then set another goal and so forth.
I can tell you not to get discouraged all
I want, but until you’ve lived through it
once, you may feel like your body will
never be the same again. Think about
the first time you stepped into a gym or
started a workout regime. You probably
made a few mistakes and stumbled
along with your bambi legs until you
were comfortable in performing the
exercises. properly.
Motherhood
is much like this. I am sure I made
every mistake in the book with my first
son, sorry buddy, and I struggled. I
struggled accepting my body’s new
shape and struggled to find motivation
to workout. Now that I am a little
more ‘seasoned’ as a mother I still
make mistakes, but I also know that
every ‘fail’ is not determining my
destiny it is just solidifying my resolve
to work a little harder to reach my
goals. Motivation is not reliable and
I cannot depend solely on it to dictate
whether or not I will get my workout in
that day. I have to MAKE myself do
it, and that self-discipline brings me
great benefits not only physically but
mentally as well.
Laura Taylor
Laura Taylor is a Photographer
based in NW Calgary, specializing
in maternity, newborn and family
portraits.  Her passion stems from
her 4 beautiful children who are
her inspiration.  Her love for all
things health and fitness motivated
her to work with a fitness mama
during her pregnancy, to document
this beautiful time in her life, as
published in this issue. 
You can find more of her works at”
laurataylorphotography.ca