It has been a long time since my last post way back in May! I had a baby girl, Mallory Grace on June 2nd and I have been quite busy!!! I wound up going past my due date and had her at 41 weeks (which was like doing a marathon and then having to run 27.2 miles instead of 26.2). I started running again four weeks after I had her, but I am finding it very hard to keep up with it. I have a double jogger that I really like, but it is such a production to get out the door with both of the girls and the most they can handle is 2 miles. I have tried to revive my relationship with the treadmill, but I seriously have a shorter attention span than my toddler and get bored to death running on that thing!
Mallory is still waking frequently at night, so getting up super early is out of the question for now. If I wait until the girls go to bed, I lose all of my motivation and just head to bed myself. I need to run for my sanity and to lose these last stubborn 12 pounds! If anyone has any advice or recommendations for other postpartum workouts, I would greatly appreciate it!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
10 comments:
Do you have a local YMCA? They offer aerobics classes usually and most of them have free childcare during certain hours. However, with a newborn, not sure you would be comfortable with that.
Remember, it's just a season and it will get easier!
Good for you for getting back out there and running already. Keep up the good work. I know how hard it is to run with my 35 lbs. 2 yr old in the jogger, so I can see how running more than 2 miles with 2 in a jogger is hard. Maybe run 2 miles, walk a mile, run one more. Break your miles up a bit.
It's not much of a suggestion, but maybe some hero-worship will help.
You are amazing! I am totally in awe. I had my baby May 7 and just know feel like I can get back in the swing of things. You'll be my inspiration to get out the door the mornings that I can.
I guess my suggestion would be to not beat yourself up if a run isn't in the cards every day. Giving yourself permission to catch up on some sleep instead of run will help you be a better mother and runner in the long term.
Hey, give yourself some slack! Exercising with two young kids is very hard. If the treadmill is the most convenient, maybe you could try breaking up your workouts. Try to warm up a mile, then do hill climbs (even just walking briskly), quarter and half-mile faster sprints with walking breaks, or walk a half mile, run a half mile. Whatever you do is better than sitting around, right? Good luck, and congrats on the baby.
I bought an elliptical machine to use while I was pregnant. We have it next to the treadmill...if I get bored with the treadmill, sometimes I switch back and forth.
Or you could run a mile...go do laundry...run a mile....change a diaper....etc.
I put the pack in play in front of the workout equipment so I can still see the baby while I'm up there.
I don't know that I can add much to the comments already left but here I go...
I started running (from scratch...newbie here) when my baby was a little more than a month old. She's now 8 months old. Since then her tolerance for the stroller has increased and she gets a morning nap in while I run. I go right after I feed her in the morning.
My toddler (19 months) has also been "trained" to sit in the stroller. I pack her snacks, two sippy cups of juice and a stuffed animal or two. She sometimes gets in a nap with her sister.
Both girls can now sit happily (more some days than others) for up to 2.5 hours, my long run time, and I feel sane afterward. It's a long way from my original 30 minute walk time but SO worth it.
As far as the stroller and preparations being a production...yeah, I hear you. I have to pack 'em all up in the truck but have got a routine down now. I get things ready the night before and can whip out the stroller in less than a minute now.
Keep at it. And when time runs short, give the hills a whirl. My girls like it when I combine hills and speed work. Whee!! :)
Train those kids to sit! It is hard but it will get easier. I started running when my baby was about 4 mo. I made sure I left somewhere near nap time so he could sleep through most of it. My daughter has been running with me since she was 9 mo. and asks me every morning if it is a running day or an aerobics day. I too pack snacks, drinks, toys, blankets...whatever it takes.
Remember you just had a baby and it will take some time. You can do it. You'll find a routine that works for you and than it will be much better.
When my husband has to work I get a baby sitter for my long runs. After pushing a stroller all week you deserve to treat yourself to a stroller-free workout.
It can be so challenging to workout when you have small kids. I swear they have a plot against us!! For me, getting up early while kids are still in bed works the best. I know that's hard but I set my alarm and don't allow myself to think about it. I just get out of bed and I'm on autopilot. Treadmill running can be so boring. What gets me through is either great music on my ipod or a DVD. I love watching a DVD because I get so involved in the story that I forget I am running. You can get cordless headphones if the sound is too loud for the kids. Hope something works! Good luck!
ditto on all those comments. i'm 3 weeks postpartum with my third child and went for my first run last weekend. i went while my husband was home and it felt great. i have yet to go out since because he works so much and i don't have a triple jogger (nor do i WANT one-- my double is hard enough)! my two oldest girls start back at school/preschool in a couple weeks, so then it will be easier for me to get out with just the baby. i plan on going to the Y lots as well. when she's old enough to go to childcare there, i'll start going back to my spinning classes, but there is even a class there called Baby Power workout where you can bring your child with you in their stroller. you should also check in your area for a stroller strides group. it will all get easier, especially when the baby gets older and is on more of a schedule! don't stress-- it will all work itself out eventually and you'll be back into shape again!
Just as an aside...
I also use the Crunch Pilates DVD. I've had it for four years now and just love it. It targets my trouble areas and seems to have helped me with hill work of late. Stronger gluts and hamstrings. All 3 target area workouts only takes 30 minutes to complete and I like to use it on days I have to cut a run short...for whatever reason.
Just a suggestion. It doesn't tire me out so I can always go for a run the next day or easily complete it after a run other days.
Post a Comment