Post Baby Body Whoa’s!

I never would've thought I would be in my gym girl era! And honestly…I can’t even call it an era; it's a lifestyle. Y’all know the saying, “If I can do it, anyone can.” Well, let me tell youuuuu…if I can become a gym girlie, anyone can. I remember one day, I was venting to my best friend about how I needed a flat stomach, and before she could respond, I told her

Don't send me any ab exercises because I’m not doing them…

I am a trip, LOL…why would I tell her that??? This was about four years ago, and honestly, this is the first time I’ve worked out since then. After having a baby, something hit me. Well, a lot hit me (labor was crazy!), but we will get into that another day. Anyway, once I had him, I knew I had to lose the baby weight plus some and get in shape. I couldn’t imagine not being able to chase my child around and play with him like I wanted to due to being unhealthy and carrying around unnecessary weight. 

I was also disgusted with the way I looked. I was the biggest I’d ever been…and I know what yall are thinking…girl you just had a baby. If you follow me long enough you will learn that I’m a little hard on myself and the expectations I set for myself are pretty high but I’m working through that. 

Anyway, I was disgusted with the way that I looked. I wore sweats for the majority of my pregnancy and after. Even after I lost the baby weight, I still didn't get dressed; I had zero motivation to get cute unless my husband and I were going on a date. I didn't like how my clothes fit, so I refused to buy new clothes. 

Finally, in February 2024, I decided something needed to change, and it needs to change now because I was 5 minutes from calling Dr. Miami lol. So here is what I did…

1. Got back to the basics A routine helps me accomplish my goals, so I needed to return to that and create a realistic routine for where I was in life. Everyone's routine looks different, so when doing this, make sure you’re curating a routine that works best for you. There might be some trial and error here, too. 

2. Hired a personal trainer Since working out wasn't something that was the norm for me and hasn't been since high school, I knew I needed a professional. By working out, I mean consistently going to the gym with goals. During pregnancy, I walked daily and worked out for maybe three weeks before my wedding. Sometimes, you have to pay someone to help you get the desired results. I knew I needed one-on-one assistance, so that's what I got. My trainer has helped me with nutrition and strength training. I track my food so that I know what I’m consuming. 

3. Leaned on my support system This whole do everything yourself thing is dead and gone! When I need help, I ask for it. Thankfully, I didn't have to ask for help in this specific instance because my husband already knew my goals. We discussed the best time for me to go to the gym, budget for the trainer, etc. My mom, brother, and aunt were also on board with helping us even when we didn’t ask. I understand everyone doesn’t have a village, so this might be hard for some. 

4. Granted myself some grace As I mentioned, I am hard on myself, but I’m working through that. Every step of the way, I’ve had moments where I had to tell myself, grant yourself some grace. You might not get things right the first, second, third, or fourth time, but you will get it right if you stick with it. I had to make sure I followed through with this lifestyle change and not beat myself up because I ate a bag of M&Ms after dinner. 

5. Changed my mindset  Although I wanted to get healthier and make sure I was in shape to keep up with my child, I also had this picture in my mind of what my body would look like after a certain period of time. I just knew after a couple of months, my stomach would be flat, flat and I would be dragging a wagon all summer long, lol. I had to remind myself that is not what you are doing this. Yes, having a banging body is a perk, but being healthier is the real goal. 

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

In this passage of scripture, Paul is writing a letter to the church in Corinth. In the letter, he rebukes the church for many issues. Therefore, Paul told us that our bodies are not ours; they belong to God, and we should treat them as such. 

Let’s consider this verse a principle that should be a reminder whenever we experience anything impacting our well-being. As believers, our body belongs to God, not us. Therefore, we should take care of it in all aspects: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Also, let’s think about a temple. Temples are sacred, beautiful, respected, a place of worship, etc. Think of your body in the same manner. It’s something that we should take care of. 

I hope this helped someone =)