I’ve Got Something To Say
Posted: February 7, 2011 at 12:36 pmCatching up from the weekend? Check out these posts:
- Just What I Needed – girls’ night with my friend Mandy
- Where Did It Go? – wondering what I did Saturday and Sunday
- Weekly Series: FFF Features - How many push-ups can I do?
- Weekly Series: Self-Love Reflection - Trust Your Body
Last week Julie did a PSA on her blog because she wanted to clarify some misperceptions of perfection about her relationship with her husband, Ryan. After some comments and emails over the past week, I want to clear the air with my own PSA of a different topic: my workouts.
(warning: some parts of this discussion may have TMI as it is a post-partum topic)
I have received plenty of concerned remarks about how soon I have started working out again, they types of workouts I have chosen, how often I work out, etc. I do not doubt that the concern is genuine. Not at all. I do not write this post as a defensive one. With what FFF stands for, however, I want there to be no misconception over whether or not I am trusting my body or approaching my Body After Baby journey in a realistic, healthy manner. So, this is my PSA to say you do not have to worry about either of those two things.
The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists states that women can gradually return to exercise as soon as they feel comfortable. My personal doctors/midwives felt 100% okay with me returning to exercise sooner than my 6 week post-partum appointment. They know my level of fitness. They also know my predisposition to things like depression, including post-partum, and that exercise helps me. They said to keep an eye out for increased bleeding and any pain/discomfort. If neither of those occurred, the exercise I completed was perfectly healthy for my body.
I rested a full two weeks after delivery, which during that time my post-partum bleeding almost completely stopped. It has not gotten heavier than the occasional very light spotting I had before picking up exercise. It has, in fact, continued to decrease. I pay close attention to my body and if anything felt uncomfortable, I would have no problem lightening up. I have not encountered a need for that. I honestly feel great with each and every workout. I feel appropriately challenged and energized, never fatigued or uncomfortable in the least.
Please remember, I have worked out regularly for close to a decade. I have trained for two fitness competitions. I maintained regular exercise during pregnancy. No one can compare what my body can comfortably manage right now to their own bodies or their own ideas of what is right. I have spent years working on getting more in tune with my body because I do not want to do it harm like I have in the past. I have listened to my doctors, but most importantly I have listened to my body…and it tells me that I’m doing just fine.
Once again: please note this message does not come from a defensive stand point. I appreciate every person who shows concern and know you all want the absolute best for me and my health. I just wanted to clarify that, while I do want to get back in shape, I will never push myself too hard or too soon.Thank you for listening!
Question of the Day – Is there anything you feel very strongly about with your reputation and sometimes feel the need to clear the air? I hope you all recognize the importance I place on loving our bodies and also, for me personally, in being genuine and honest (like I did with the scale dilemma).
I think it’s great that you are in tune with your body, and I totally agree that no two people are alike. If you feel good, are recovering well, and your doctor/midwife are on board with your activity level, it sounds A-OK to me.
I’m defensive with the amount of thought I put into eating. I hate when people pick apart my eating habits
I got several “be careful” comments too. I appreciated people’s concern as well. As long as you are listening to your body, you cant go wrong. I started working out slowly on the elliptical one week post partum and felt so good I was able to continue upping the intensity. But then, I worked out up until the day Noah was born so I had the stamina and card endurance. It actually felt 10 times easier because I didn’t have a bowling ball strapped to my middle! I tried running a couple of weeks later and although I had the stamina, it hurt my stitches so I stopped. It was humbling to have to stop, but listening to what my body needed at that time was most important. Being active is so important…we’re setting a food example 🙂
I know you understand so well. 🙂 After M it took a lot longer for my body to heal and feel up to the level of workouts I’m doing now. Maybe bodies heal faster the 2nd time around? Who knows? All I know is I have felt great!
After Sophie was born I was in no shape to work out for a few weeks after. I was more sore than I thought I would be. It was hard to sit down, hard to stand up, hard to walk etc… so actually i’m *happy* to know in a way that your recovery was longer with M than Baby B. Maybe my recovery will be easier with my second baby too.
Glad to hear you are feeling good and working out helps you! I think you know what you are doing and are trusting your body- and I love to see your honesty shine through:)
You know your body best! I think it’s great that you could exercise so soon and I know you’re going to make sure you’re being safe & careful. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever had to clear the air about anything. Yet!
Thank you so much for the post, Tina! I had no idea it was okay for women to exercise prior to 6 weeks – I think that just goes to show you that maybe some doctors err too much on the side of caution? It’s comforting to see that it’s okay to exercise prior to that, AND that your body is responding well to it. I think a LOT of us are learning through your experience – so thank you!
Commend you on this one, as you are right – only YOU know your body, and your body is accustomed to exercise. But, of course you would get clearance from your doctor first. You are being responsible, you are researching the best ways to gradually re-enter fitness regimes and you have done this before. So I give you credit and a standing ovation 🙂
I think this is an awesome response. I’ve gotten concerned comments/emails several times throughout my blogging career, and I’ve learned that getting defensive never helps- explaining the situation with minimal detail is the best way to go. As long as my doctors and I think that I’m healthy, that’s all that matters. Kudos to you for listening to your body and doing what feels best for you!
I actually find it appalling that you actually got emails from readers giving you any kind of advice on your own body. Personally that drives me crazy…do people really not have anything better to do with their own time than to email you and express “concern” in your recent workouts. Really? I don’t get it. Whatever. Obviously I am in a mood today.
You are totally right. Only YOU know your body and I couldn’t agree more with NEEDING exercise especially after birth to help with the stress and hormones! After my Peanut was born I ran a 5K 6 weeks later and actually placed in my age group. 7 months after that I ran a marathon and PR’d . . . not my intention but well, running w/o nursing will inspire you to run faster ha! Still, people doubted me but I was fine, my baby was fine and my supply was fine. I would never do anything to harm me or my baby via my supply.
Good on you for clarifying! I hope you feel better for doing so, and I hope that it helps you to feel clear in your head too. What is a PSA, btw? (other than a tla?!)
love
Ela
PSA = public service announcement 😉
I love that you explained yourself in this post – and it didn’t come off defensive in the least. Clearly you are in tune with your body and following a fitness plan that works for your body right now. As usual, I think you are being a great example of honesty and intuition. 🙂
I have never had a baby, so I have NO clue what it feels like, but I know you and I believe you (along with your doctors) should be the determinant of how you approach getting back into your fitness routine.
Thanks for the post, I love how you speak so openly and honest on your blog!
Good for you for writing this. I never doubted whether or not you were being responsible in returning to exercise. You seem to have such a level-headed, healthy and knowledgeable approach to working out 🙂
I’m glad you were able to get that off your chest! I’m sure you feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders!
sorry I’m late to this conversation. it’s been a rough week, weekend and now start to my new week. ugh.
I’m currently completing my cert for Pre/Postnatal fitness and was very surprised to read the research you quote above but YOU’RE SOOO RIGHT!!! I was an idiot before not knowing the true research and thinking you had to wait 6 weeks. I may wait 6..or 2….or 12…who knows! We are all different. And, so proud of you for putting this info out there! There is much research that says it is HEALTHIER for you MENTALLY and PHYSICALLY if you start at 2 weeks post partum!!! So, good job! Way to go getting out there and doing it AND HAVING THE BALLS to share that, even if you get crap for it!! 🙂
You rock sister! 🙂
It really sounds like you’re listening to your body, and as long as you’re doing that then I think exercise will only benefit you! Not only will it make you feel good, but will give you a little “me” time.. which I think is so important for us moms!
I’m sort of glad that you posted this because it was an issue that crossed my mind, but I also was confident that you were being smart about it. I do think the reminder about your fitness history is important for others to keep in mind so no one things that the average woman should be hitting the gym 3 weeks post-partum. You are extraordinary in many ways! 😉
[…] by WP Greet Box WordPress PluginEvening, my friends!! Thank you all for the supportive comments in my last post. Please note that if you ever expressed concern about my workouts, it never angered me. I really do […]
Love this post. Love it! I feel like some of my family is a bit lacking in support on the healthy-living, vegetarian-front. I have to go see a lot of my family soon and I can only imagine in my head the comments I will receive. “You eat that? You didn’t used to. What? You used to eat that, now you don’t?” It really bugs me. I don’t bother people about what they eat, so why bother me?! I am researching nutrition and plan to meet with a nutritionist to make sure I’m healthy and receiving proper nutrition. Leave me be!
I never doubted that you were doing what was best for you. You are so right, you know your body best, and you would know when to take a step back. And with your past fitness history, you are capable of amazing things! You go, girl!
Yeah I was perfectly fine to start running after four weeks. At five weeks I was okay’ed to do whatever I wanted!
It didn’t hurt at all. My abs only just now got back together, after five months. Now I can do pilates and what not with ease!
[…] I’ve Got Something To Say!: I don’t avoid controversial topics. I will happily trod into the dark conversation zones from which others may shy away. This post isn’t really one of those. This post did, however, stem from a few controversial comments and emails I had received regarding how quickly I got back to blogging and working out regularly after Braedon’s birth. […]
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