Welcome to the #FITMOM series on Carrots ‘N’ Cake! With the New Year upon us and lots of mom readers in the mix, I wanted to share some Q&As with several of my favorite fitness bloggers, who also happen to be moms. Read on to see how they make fitness a regular part of their lives!
Jess Allen
Children (name, age): Jada, 4 and Cole, 22 months
How long of a maternity leave did you take before you started working out again? Looking back, do you think it was too much time, not enough, or just the right amount of time?
I followed my doctor’s recommendations for both pregnancies and waited the full 6 weeks before resuming workouts. I actually felt better and recovered faster after my second pregnancy. However, I still allowed myself the 6 weeks weeks to rest, heal, and adapt to being a mom of two. I attribute my fast recovery of my second pregnancy to how I trained, focusing on strength & vertical core training using a mix of CrossFit workouts.
Once you started your workout routine again, how did you workouts change? What did your new workout schedule look like?
I figured out fast that workouts needed to be efficient, full body training sessions focused on intensity, not duration. Moms barely have time to go to the bathroom by ourselves, right?! I didn’t have time for an hour at the gym. I shifted my training to home workouts by slowly accumulating equipment. This way I could maximize the time my youngest was napping, and my oldest was at preschool (or watching Paw Patrol). I’m a better mom and wife if I get a workout completed in the morning, so this became a priority for me.
Now that you’re a mom, what are your top tips and tricks for sticking with your workout routine?
Because I’m a personal trainer, I plan my workout the night before using the equipment I have at home and always complete it in the morning. My toddler is with me while my oldest is a school, so I have plenty of snacks or activities ready for him while I am training. It’s not perfect, I often get interrupted by him because he IS a toddler! But, it works, and I feel more energized as a result.
What’s your #1 piece of advice/words of wisdom for new moms who want to get back into a fitness routine?
You should not feel guilty for taking time to care for yourself. Investing in yourself by exercising makes you a better person that positively impacts those around you. Your kids will notice that being active is important and simply part of daily life!
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