As you know, there’s this ridiculous myth about bouncing back, like, here you were, busy with prenatal prep and just trying to make sure your baby is going to be healthy, and immediately after the birthday, there’s all these unrealistic expectations. Yeah, like somewhere along the way, the world decided new moms were supposed to pop out a baby and then look like nothing ever happened a few weeks later. As if growing a human, delivering them, and surviving on scraps of sleep wasn’t already Olympic-level work.
But the whole “bounce back” narrative sets moms up to feel like failures when, in reality, no two bodies recover the same way. Yeah, good on the celebrities and influencers who can take pictures the very next day wearing pre-baby jeans, but that’s not how fitness after birth works. Instead, it’s about finding your footing again in a body that just did something extraordinary, and figuring out what works for you.
Recovery has No Standard Timeline
Well, every pregnancy, every birth, and every recovery is different. Some moms are cleared to walk, stretch, or do light exercise in a matter of weeks. Others need months before their bodies feel even remotely ready. C-sections, tearing, complications, all of these shift the timeline. So, that’s why comparing yourself to the mom in your baby group who’s already back to her bootcamp workouts is pointless. She’s on her journey, you’re on yours, and both are completely valid.
Energy Levels aren’t Equal
Obviously enough, right? Postpartum life is exhausting in ways you don’t even understand until you’re in it. For example, the nights blur into days, naps are unpredictable, and your body feels like it’s constantly running on empty. Oh, and on top of that, just add hormones into the mix, and some days, even making it to the shower feels like a workout.
So that’s exactly why postpartum fitness can’t be one-size-fits-all (that’s just too simple, and it doesn’t work that way either). Some moms might thrive on 20-minute yoga flows during nap time, while others might manage a walk around the block and call it a win. But seriosuly, both count.
Time will Never be on Your Side
Every mom knows this, but your baby doesn’t care about your schedule; it doesn’t care about how little sleep or food you’ve had. None of it matters to them, the same for your workout schedule. They’ll cry the second you roll out the mat, need a feed just as you lace up your trainers, or decide naps are overrated the minute you find a spare half hour.
So, this idea that every mom has the same time available for fitness is laughable. Some get a supportive partner or childcare, others juggle everything solo, and so the goal is to just find something that can personally work for you. Some moms will look into online weight loss programs since these can help with structure, and others will try alternative methods to shed the weight.
But it’s about finding what can realistically work for you. Because why spend money on workout classes if there’s literally no time or energy to go? Why spend money on a meal plan you have no time to cook? Right?
Your Mental Load Matters Too
So, it’s not just physical recovery that shapes postpartum fitness; it’s mental health too. Some moms crave movement because it clears their heads. Others feel overwhelmed and need rest more than reps. And of course, both are valid, and both should be respected.
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