September 24, 2024
I didn’t immediately realise that I had stopped looking in the mirror at my own reflection…being 9 months postpartum during the Covid lockdown meant I had my hands full and my own image hadn’t really been my priority. I was happy and healthy, as was my little girl and our little family was ticking along nicely, so that was all that mattered.
But as I made the decision to stop breastfeeding, what I hadn’t prepared myself for was the massive hormone crash I was about to experience and consequently, a real crash in my self esteem.
So we should all give ourselves some slack in terms of surviving new motherhood, the long sleepless nights and the seismic shift in your entire universe. And it was lockdown so yes I did deserve to eat all those Maltesers….but the time had come to straighten things out and make some good decisions, not only for me but also for my little girl. Clothes weren’t fitting properly, I didn’t like my selfies even when I was controlling the angle (girls you know what I mean) and my knee hurt. I didn’t really recognise myself anymore and that had to change.
My lovely and ever supportive husband suggested finding a PT because it’s so hard to know where to start and I would never have said working out was fun, so it was important to have the discipline of a regular appointment with someone who was going to help me get started. A quick google for a postpartum PT led me to Laura and the rest is history!
Laura and I clicked immediately and she totally got it. I wanted to be strong and healthy and whilst it’s ok to have seasons in your life where that doesn’t happen, especially as a new parent, the main point is to try and look after yourself so you can be the best mum or dad that you want to be. I told her I didn’t want to run or do burpees and she agreed because neither did she! She taught me to lift very heavy weights…it turns out I’m pretty strong….and also it’s totally addictive. I never don’t want to go to the gym in the morning to see Laura because I ALWAYS feel amazing afterwards, even if she does make me do Bulgarians….look them up, they’re very mean. I am now the fittest and strongest I’ve ever been in my life, which is quite an achievement at 37 with a 3.5 year old, and this is all thanks to Laura. We also do a lot of morning twerking because hard work is all about balance!
Childcare can be a real blocker for parents in terms of working out and whilst the majority of this is covered by my husband, I have definitely brought my little one with me to the gym and Laura plays and dances with her so beautifully in between my reps. She just makes it fun and accessible.
Gyms can be intimidating especially when you’ve been out of the game for a while, but The Strength Studio has only ever felt like a place where all are welcome, regardless of size, ability or experience. Lifting weights is addictive, and something you enjoy quickly becomes habit. So be brave, because you don’t know what you’re capable of until you try.
It’s great for my daughter to see my discipline and effort and whenever I ask her why I’m going to the gym, she always says ‘it’s so you can be strong to look after me’ and you know, she’s not wrong.
