Wellness After Baby: Redefining Self-Care

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It's been some time since I considered writing about wellness or my fitness journey after having a baby. That pretty much reflects how the journey has been progressing. Let's explore the ups and downs of my efforts to get back on track.

During my pregnancy, I was determined to walk every day and use my Fit On app, which is free, by the way. I even created a pregnancy group on the app for the other moms who were expecting at the same time. Although people did warn me, I didn’t fully grasp how different life would be after having a baby. You truly become a different version of yourself—not a bad one, but one that doesn't prioritize herself as much. This is understandable since you have to care for this new little person. However, to care for anyone else, we must first take care of ourselves, right?

Once I was cleared, I resumed working out, focusing on bringing my abs back together, a condition known as diastasis. Fortunately, I visit a chiropractor, who, interestingly, also served as my doula. Don't be intimidated by what you read online; chiropractors are beneficial for every family, and you don't need to have a back issue to see one. My entire family visits for regular care!

My husband supported my fitness journey by purchasing a personal set of weights that I absolutely love! We concluded that a gym membership was no longer worth the expense for our family, so we opted to gradually create a home gym instead. I highly recommend this option; although it requires dedication, it eventually pays off and saves a significant amount of money over time. After moving into our current house, we converted the downstairs room into a gym/playroom. We added these floor mats to complement the gym equipment we already had. Now, we have weights, a ball, bands, a workout mat, and I honestly didn't need much else since I accessed my workouts on my phone. I would simply cast them to my computer or TV.

All this to say, before we moved, I was consistently using the Fit On app for 5 weeks, and my friends and I were motivating each other. Looking back, I realize that having someone there for a bit of healthy competition is what works for me. After we moved, I fell off track, and since then, some weeks I'm consistent, while others not so much. Honestly, after my husband left for training, I fell into an emotional slump. It wasn't just because he was away; I also transitioned out of my job, which was unfortunate timing since his pay didn't come in until weeks later. Needless to say, God works in mysterious ways!

I believe that my wellness journey will always be a daily choice, which is difficult for me to admit since I was very active in high school. I participated in track & field and basketball. Moving to Atlanta, where having a car is essential to get around, has made me miss home even more. At this time, being the only parent and having to be available around the clock is challenging, especially with the recent sleep regression. Without proper rest, working out is out of the question, lol.

It's important to remember that everyone's postpartum journey back to wellness is unique. I allow myself grace during this period because breastfeeding is demanding, in addition to being a wife and mother. I wouldn't change any part of my journey though because God has truly answered so many prayers. I was unsure if I could conceive after being diagnosed with PCOS and being prescribed birth control to "regulate my cycles," which proved ineffective. The side effects were actually worse. I decided to stop taking it in 2017, which was the best decision I've made. Ultimately, I learned how to heal my body through whole foods, regular exercise, some supplements and herbs, adequate sleep, and self-care. In summary, I know what I need to thrive, but there are days when those needs aren't met, and during those times, grace and understanding are essential.

Recently, I've begun using the Apple fitness app, which is quite impressive because it syncs with my watch and provides daily reminders. However, it's crucial to discover what motivates you and focus on that. The path to wellness isn't solely about exercising; our diet also plays a significant role. I'm still a work in progress, but progress is progress, no matter how small!

Goals as of late:

Take a 30-minute walk daily

Start the morning by reading the word

Play worship music in my home to create a positive atmosphere

Include a workout in my daily routine

Maintain a healthy diet

Drink plenty of water

Write on my blog

Enjoy outdoor time with my baby girl

Above all, be kind to myself :)

It's amusing how just when you begin to feel like yourself again or somewhat have things under control, your husband starts talking about having baby number two, haha. Of course, I'm all for it, —let the fun continue. Until next time, y'all...

Wellness isn't a destination--its a daily act of choosing yourself with grace.