If you’ve had a baby or are on your way there, then you’ve definitely heard these popular words somewhere; on the cover of a magazine, a friend or your sister complaining about herself after giving birth or even from your own mouth:
I need to get my pre-baby body back!
My first thought is, don’t panic. Your body has not left the building. It is still right here, attached to you. Okay, take a breath. You’ve got this. I’ve got you. Maxine has got you.
Maxine Grossman is a personal trainer working out of her studio located on Sherbrooke St in NDG. She’s a no-nonsense, friendly, energetic person and her studio caters to people just like you. How do I know? Because, I’ve been there and because Max welcomes everyone.
We get asked so often about what the rules are around exercising and nutrition after you’ve had a baby. Where to start, how to even get yourself to a class, what to do with your baby, what if everyone is more fit, what if the baby cries, what if you aren’t in as good shape anymore? WOAH! There’s enough to worry about in this world, and exercising is hard enough. Again, let’s not panic.
Here are some simple pieces of advice from Maxine.
- Until your 6 week appointment from your doctor giving you the all-clear you can totally take care of your body! Just not with strenuous exercise. Instead, eat a healthy whole foods diet, drink lots of water and get as much sleep as you can. This is a way to help your body recover from birth, and a perfect way to get care for yourself and get your healthy self back on track.
- Next, start with some gentle exercise. For those who have had vaginal deliveries, you can start after about 2 weeks, for Cesarean birth it is better to wait until 6 weeks. Walking is the perfect exercise. It helps to get your core zipped back-up, by the motion of simply moving your arms and legs back and forth. 30 minutes of walking every day, especially while pushing a stroller, can be excellent exercise.
- Remember that your body tells a story. All these new marks and signs that your body has left as proof that you did the hard work of carrying a child are not things that you can erase. It’s all part of the process. Your new mom body is not like your 20 year old body, but that body wasn’t like your 12 year old body either, right? It’s not about going backwards. Time and experiences (like childbirth) move your body forward. Your body has a new reality now, and there are new demands on your physical and mental energy levels. We get that and will work with you to get strong again within that new context. And who knows? You may even get stronger than you were before.
Maxine is a partner of Birds and Bees, which means we feel really good about recommending her and supporting her business. She offers free trials to all our students and 50% off for your first month membership. You can try out her classes and see for yourself! Here’s what a client had to say:
“The small group sizes and individual attention have been really great for me in easing back in post baby – if I’m honest, I’m probably working harder than I did pre-baby at my regular gym. Also, really great getting time out of the house and amongst adults. I’m feeling better physically, but also mentally – lots of positives!”
She recommends two classes to begin building your strength back: “Foundations” and “Tall and Toned”. The focus is on getting your core and pelvic floor in good shape, reintegrating your body into fitness again, and doing it safely and in a personalized environment. The classes aren’t marketed as “mom and baby” but you can bring your baby, or not. It’s up to you!
If you have any questions about the class, contact Maxine and she’ll be happy to have you come to a class!
