A few months before my son arrived, celebrity Sophia Martinez voiced her thoughts on how new mothers could shed baby weight through exercise. She stated, “Every woman can carve out time for fitness — really, every woman can. You can do it with your baby around. I’ve had countless moments working out while my kids are all over the place. If it matters to you, it’ll matter to them.”
I only caught wind of her words about eight weeks postpartum, just when my doctor cleared me for some light exercise after my c-section. I jumped straight into a daily routine. Excuse me while I chuckle at that notion.
In reality, it took me much longer to even think about exercising consistently. After all, I was exhausted. Nighttime feedings had me up multiple times, and once I returned to my full-time job, life got busier with commuting, daycare pickups, meal prep, laundry, and, well, trying to keep up with the glamorous life of someone like Sophia. It’s easy to adopt those celebrity thoughts without realizing it.
Fast forward to six or seven months after my son’s birth. My sleep-deprived mind was finally nudging me to restart some form of exercise. I had stopped breastfeeding after four months but continued indulging in those extra calories recommended for nursing moms. Instead of shedding the baby weight, I found myself with an additional eight pounds. If “every woman” could exercise while their kids are crawling around, surely I could too.
My son isn’t against exercise in theory; he’s always on the move. The challenge lies in his disinterest in me getting fit. I’m not talking about doing “Ring Around the Rosie” or belting out “Wheels on the Bus” to work my core. I mean actual workouts — weights, lunges, and those planks that are supposed to tone everything up and help me fit back into my pre-pregnancy jeans.
Toddlers thrive on attention, so it baffles me how any mom can exercise with a child in the room. When my son was a baby, I managed, but once he became mobile, it was a different story. Stretching on the floor? He’s all over me. Push-ups? Suddenly, I’m a horsey. Sit-ups? He sees it as a chance to play peek-a-boo, smashing his forehead into mine with each rise — “Ow, Mommy!”
Parenting magazines suggest using your baby as a weight — squatting while holding him or balancing him during crunches. I tried it a few times but quickly gave up because, well, “Ow, Mommy!”
I thought about baby yoga, but let’s be honest: expecting toddlers to hold poses is like asking them to hold their bladders. Even when he’s not in my face, he’s calling out for juice, yelling, “I pooped!” And you know how that goes — I have to stop everything to check, only to realize he’s bluffing.
Our compromise became running Elmo’s DVDs on repeat. It didn’t completely resolve the issue, since he prefers one of us nearby while he watches, but at least we could take turns.
As for Sophia’s idea that if something is important to you, it’ll be important to your kids? Well, maybe someday! Right now, nothing I cherish — sleeping, sipping my coffee while it’s still hot, or even bathroom breaks — has registered as important to my son.
So, for the time being, my husband and I are tag-teaming, and thanks to Elmo, I’m hopeful that one day I’ll nearly fit into those jeans again.
For more insights on home insemination, check out this helpful resource. Additionally, if you’re looking for pregnancy information, Healthline has excellent resources.
In summary, exercising as a parent is a challenge, but with creativity and some help from favorite shows, it’s possible to carve out a little time for yourself.
Keyphrase: Staying Active with Kids
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]