Reviewed by: Erica Grandjean, APD, BNutr&Diet
Having a baby, whether it’s for the first or third time, is undoubtedly a life-changing experience.
Many mothers will agree it’s a potent mix of sheer joy and utter despair. Sleepless nights, exhaustion and frustration are countered by unconditional love (and of course, that gorgeous newborn baby smell!).
However, many new mothers struggle to shift the weight they gained during pregnancy. It can wreak havoc on self-esteem during a very vulnerable time.
Here, three 12WBT members reveal how they finally shifted their own post-baby weight.
(To start your own 12WBT journey, click here and find out more).
Shelly: getting her little ones involved
[My girls] Isabella and Lara play personal trainer. There are about 80 steps at our local beach. When I first started I could do four sets, while the girls were running up and down like rabbits. Now I’m up to 11 sets, and they stand halfway and cheer me on. And when I train at home they do the push ups and sit ups alongside me. They think it’s hilarious that they’re not sweating but Mum is!
When they get up in the morning, they’ll ask me, ‘Mum, did you smash out a session? Did you work hard?’
I was super-lazy, and now I love to exercise. I would never have thought that my fitness would be like it is now. I’ve never been this fit, ever. I’m so happy and proud of myself for not giving up.
When it gets hard, I push myself further. I always tell myself, “You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be better than yesterday.
Anja: I don’t overthink it – I just do it!
I’ve always had a problem with my weight. I just thought, you know what, I need to sort this out before it becomes that way for the rest of my life. I needed something sustainable to do and pass onto my children instead of going back to self-destructive habits.
I find it easier to stick to something 100 per cent, and I loved that I didn’t have to think about it with 12WBT – everything was laid out for me. I didn’t have to think about what to make for dinner or how many crunches to do. I just printed off my workout schedule and did it.
I started getting up at 4.30am to workout, and until the routine set in it was really hard with the kids and working 25 hours a week as well. However, I followed Mish’s advice of JFDI and just did it, without thinking. And within four weeks I could run a kilometre. Then I was interval running up to five kilometres!
My advice? Don’t overthink it. Just stick to the food and the workouts. Don’t analyse it, and don’t listen to that friend who says you’re exercising too much, you’re fine the way you are, give yourself a break. Just get on with it.
Angela: I changed my body shape with weights!
I’ve actually changed the shape of my body. Rather than just losing weight, I’ve become more toned and stronger.
I also have the confidence now to lift weights that I never thought I’d be able to without ending up looking like a bodybuilder. That’s one lesson I’ve learnt – I can trust in myself and in my body, and it’s always going to do exactly what I ask of it.
Doing 12WBT has helped me with the kids. I didn’t have as much energy before, but now I can keep up and even lift them if I need to.
