Getting Back In Shape: Day One

Midwife Joanne (love her)

It's been six weeks since I gave birth to my third baby. At three weeks I still had a small diastasis (separation of the abs) Did my faithful transverse/abdominal locks and breath work...wore a belly belt (that's what I call it) while awake. Mine came from motherhood...and successfully closed my abs again!

I recently got a book called "Lose your Mummy Tummy". I highly recommend it to everyone (men can have a diastasis too). Easy way to check if you have a diastasis...lie on your back with your knees bent. Place your hand  flat on your belly, fingers pointed towards your feet. Feel above your navel, on your navel and below. Press your fingers down as you lift just your head slowly. If you feel a gully between the midline of your body, you have a diastasis. By doing transverse abdominal work you can close it. But it's amazing how easily you can cause one. I had no idea that regular crunches and sit-ups can cause a diastasis. Basically if are not engaging your transverse you can cause one...even by getting out of bed or the car without engaging. Sad to say goodbye to my favorite ab workout, the bicycle. But it's impossible to engage your transverse completely while on your back.

Pilates (which I've never been a fan of anyway) can be very dangerous since with many of the exercises it's impossible to engage the transverse. I always wondered why the pilates instructors I came in contact with at the gyms, all had pooches. I'm not judging, it's just makes sense now.

I had a great midwife appointment on Tuesday. She confirmed no diastisis...and I am ready to start moving my body again!

After the second baby I got the "approval" to workout at four weeks instead of six like they wanted me to. I needed to get back to teaching my yoga classes. I could have asked to be seen early again, but this time around I didn't have a class to rush back to since my classes were canceled at the gym I worked at (they sold the gym to a non-class, non-childcare facility...very sad about that) but I am believing that the Lord will open the door for me to teach again.

I love to inspire and encourage others to feel good and take care of their bodies and spirits. The paycheck helped too...it wasn't much but we grew to rely on it. It was my non guilty way to get my hair done and buy a new outfit here and there. Not to mention babysitting money. But like I said, I know the Lord will open the door for me to teach close to home again.

It's for the best, I have enough going on right now...but I do miss all of my students though. I hope they are still practicing and don't miss me too much;)

I don't want to bore you with my journey to getting back in shape. I don't plan on posting about it too often, but I do hope to encourage anyone on the same journey. I know how hard it is. There is no magic drink or pill to get in shape. It takes discipline and  just plain old sweat. 

wearing the belly-belt

I'm not doing any special diet. Just staying on my regular diet (I eat everything) but try to watch my portions, making sure I drink water, eat veggies and fruit and get enough fiber. That's my diet. I don't deprive myself. If my family goes for ice cream, I join in on the fun. If I'm working out and eating right the other times, enjoying real food is okay. All things in moderation.  I do know that once Gibson weans (which won't be til at least 18 weeks, hopefully) I will have to watch my portions even more since breastfeeding allows for more calories. Learned this the hard way...

I'm hoping to be back in my old jeans by mid November. Gwyneth and I have a birthday mommy/daughter date planned (since both of our birthdays are in Nov)...shopping at Justice and Forever 21! Our two faves!

I hope I don't embarrass my husband too badly, but here's a picture of my first workout since baby Gibson was born ( it was today, in our basement). You can't really see Gibson, but he's in his bouncer watching me.  I'm doing TaeBo Amped. It's awesome! Plan on doing yoga in the evenings when I can. I ordered Tracy Anderson's post pregnancy workout DVD, but after watching it last night I wasn't impressed. It was slow to start, in fact I turned it off after 15 min. It was a lot of ab work while lying on the floor...not good since I just closed my abs. Plus, I was bored. I like getting a good workout in a short amount of time. That's the way I taught my yoga classes and that's why I like Billy Blank's Taebo.


Hope you were able to get your workout in today.  It's for your health and your skinny jeans!;)