Morning Mommy Workout
Flipping the tire at 6am
I never thought I'd be an early riser, let alone a 4am riser, but with my new job as a mommy, I've had to make some changes so I can get more accomplished in the day.
One of the changes I've made is waking up ultra early to both teach boot camp classes and get my own workout in. So, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I get up at 4am to teach my 5am boot camp class. And, on the other mornings I get up just as early to get my own workout in.
Now, most mommys will know what I'm talking about and why I'm doing this, but for those of you that don't, I'll lay it out simply:
When you have a baby, your life becomes somewhat under the control of your child.
Not that your kid rules the roost. I mean, parents have to exert some kind of power over their children to lead a good example and set them on a good path, but if your kid needs a nap and you're the one watching them, it's not like you can just say, "See you later, I'm heading to the gym. Have a nice nap!". Well, I guess you could, but you'd have child social services at your door in no time.
So, as I said, in my quest to get my fit body back, and to keep teaching my boot camp classes, I've made some big life adjustments.
Luckily I have a very easy going child who sleeps alot, eats well and is generally just as happy as a Labrador dog eating breakfast.
(April LOVES food!)
So, now I get up at 4am, pump (breastmilk that is), get my workout clothes on and head to the gym for a kick-butt lift. Then I return in time for my husband to head to work and me to tend to my daily mommy duties (and the computer work I do each day). As you can see from my main picture above, part of my workout routine involves flipping a tire in the road behind my gym.
The rest of this morning workout involved using Workout Muse's 30-15 sound track, with the following six exercises:
Prone Swiss Ball Knee Tucks
TRX Rows
Dynamax Ball Slam Downs
Med Ball Side to Side Push-ups
Box Jumps
Lateral Ladder Agility
I then finished with tire flip drills. Overall, it was a great workout!
Sometimes I find I need a nap during the day to make up for the lack of morning sleep, but since April likes to nap during the day too, it works out perfectly! And, now that I'm getting April in a bed time routine, which involves her going to bed at 8pm or so, I'm starting to go to bed much earlier than I ever have as well.
Overall, if your goal is to get your fit mommy body back soon after having baby, you might have to change your daily routine a little (or a lot!). If that means getting up ultra early to kick butt, then so be it, but at least you're doing it and getting to your goal quickly. For me, at four months post-pregnancy, I'm a few more inches off my desired body composition, but I know I can get there soon with all this hard work.
And, if you happen to have a tire around, give a shot at flipping it.... it makes you feel ultra strong and powerful, which is what every mommy should feel every day.
Enjoy!
Posted Aug 12, 2010 by Cassandra Forsythe.
This entry is filed under Postpregnancy, nutrition, and exercise.
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The New Rules of Lifting for Women
Finally, a weight-training book that doesn't treat women like weaklings! The New Rules of Lifting for Women is for the woman who's ready to throw down the "Barbie" weights and start a strength and conditioning program that will give her the body of her dreams. The book puts to rest the shop-worn notion that women who train with heavy weights will bulk up. Nonsense!
Perfect Body Diet
Cassandra Forsythe is the author of Women's Health first-ever diet and fitness plan book. In the Perfect Body Diet, she helps you understand why women are different from each other and how they can address these differences with a personalized meal plan to help them achieve their own perfect body. She's incorporated a revolutionary hunger-reducing aid, that will help women feel fuller, eat less, and stay satisfied while losing weight safely and effectively.
Comments for This Entry
Nice workout there, Cassandra! I remember those days too well--getting up at 4 AM to work out before getting the kids to school and me to work. Fortunately, no tire was involved.
I would love to see a video of you performing these exercises, especially the medicine ball side-to-side pushups. Sounds interesting!
Great piece! I cannot stress enough how important fitness is to both parenting and working (I'm finishing my dissertation and working/teaching in women's studies). I schedule it in like I schedule in my meals. My husband and daughters now recognize this time as something that is vital and not self-indulgent. It has improved communication between my husband and I because he has to negotiate his own schedule to accomodate my workouts. The consistent workouts have also eliminated all my post-pregnancy back pains and have greatly improved my attitude and concentration. Oh, and there is that added bonus of fitting better in my clothes ;)
You are such a badass mommy! April's going to grow up with such hardcore role models.
I guess it always comes down to priorities. I'm in college, so I have to work around my classes. Not nearly as crazy as mommy-hood, but you just have to adapt. No freshman 15 for me!
I'm always glad to hear about women who have risen to the challenge of being a mom AND being in great shape. I love my time in the gym and am super nervous about having to give it up once I take the plunge into motherhood.
What a challenge to combine staying fit with motherhood!
It takes a lot of perseverance, patience, and creativity. And the schedule has to change as your child grows and changes--so you have to be flexible...but like you're doing Cassandra, you just have to make your health and fitness a priority or it won't happen.
Lately my toddler has not been wanting to go to the daycare at the gym I go to, so I do my best to lift at home and/or do kettlebell workouts as I try to keep her occupied. I say do whatever works and whatever gets the job done!
It certainly helps if you have a supportive partner who helps with childcare as well as others you can depend on for childcare. It's more of a struggle if you don't...
Great post Cassandra!
I am up in the wee morning hours working out with you! Started years ago with babies and now part of the routine to get more things done...workout always 1st! Working full time and having 2 young boys at home I have to make a real effort to get my workouts in but being fit and healthy has got to be the priority, keeps me sane!
Let me just say that it only gets easier from here. As they get into toddlerhood, consolidate their sleep better, stop nursing quite so often finding the space in your schedule becomes more straightforward. You may still find yourself working out at odd hours, but it's less likely to be interrupted by random teething related sleep disturbances and stuff like that.
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