One of the main things that I was most excited about after giving birth was getting back to working out. While I was excited, I knew it would not be easy at all. Even though I stayed relatively active during my pregnancy, the exercise routine was nowhere compared to what I did before (which is ok!). I lost of lot of fitness and also was a lot heavier than I was pre-pregnancy. I knew this would be a long road, but I was also ready to face this challenge.

I was very lucky to experience a smooth recovery after my emergency c-section. My doctor was amazing and saw me 1 week and 2 weeks post-op (instead of the standard 6 weeks). After inspecting the wound and asking me a few questions, he told me that I could start gentle workouts at 4 weeks and that I would be basically back to normal by 6 weeks! Note: Please remember that every pregnancy and recovery is different. Please consult your doctor and get clearance before working out!

At 4 weeks, I decided to do a postpartum workout by Bodyfit by Amy, the same trainer whose prenatal workout’s I’ve been doing throughout my pregnancy. Her workouts are short and sweet and she’s also really motivating. She is going through postpartum herself in many of the videos so it is very relatable and encouraging. I did a few YouTube workouts here and there but it was not until 7 weeks that I finally got more serious about my routine.

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By week 7, I decided that I had to make a workout plan for myself and that I should try to workout 5 times a week. I also went for my first run since getting pregnant! The run was TOUGH. I decided to do a short 1.6 km run with rolling hills. Once I started the run, I was panting instantly. I felt so heavy and my ankles were also hurting a bit. However, the c-section wound did not hurt at all and my newly huge breasts also felt ok! So that was a win. The run was difficult, but I know that I have to keep pushing so that I can get back to runs where I feel springy and powerful. I have always loved running so it was annoying to feel so heavy and unfit, the 1.6 km felt much longer than that! The hot weather and mask wearing law definitely did not make things easier. I decided that I should try to do 1-2 runs per week. It is very difficult to find time to run outside with a newborn. I need to sleep ok the night before and Lex needs to finish his feed before 8 am (the weather is deathly hot later and Lex is also more fussy in the evening), leaving me a small window to fit in the run.

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Feeling so unfit and heavy was definitely humbling for me. In recent years, I have been very proud of my endurance and fitness. I must admit that there have been times where I was judgmental towards people who seemed unfit – I wrongly assumed they weren’t trying hard enough or were lazy. Now I know how difficult it is and that people who seem unfit may actually be trying harder than anyone and deserve praise and encouragement. We never know what they went through and what their journey is.

This postpartum journey has just begun, but I am both nervous and excited to see what I am capable of. While I have lost a lot of fitness and endurance, I have not lost my mental strength and tenacity. If anything, being this unfit has made me more determined than ever to push myself and become stronger and fitter than before!