Every New Year, I try to not set resolutions – but to be more mindful of how to care for my body, mind and spirit and incorporate a more holistic approach towards feeling better about myself, moving more and truly loving myself. This approach towards self-care really initiated after the birth of my first child, Ella. I had to figure out a way to love myself – to refresh, restore and rejuvenate or else I couldn’t really be a good, present mother to her. So, I embraced the changes – physically, mentally – and truly love my new mom body.
Easier said than done, right?
Now, in full transparency, I have always been ‘blessed’ when it comes to my physical wellbeing and health. I’m 5’11” and pre-pregnancy, held a healthy weight around 135lb – 140lbs. I am very active and held an active lifestyle while pregnant via a combination of SoulCycle, swimming, yoga, Pilates and mediation. I love yoga and I am an avid bath-taker – it’s my saving grace when I need to distance myself from a long day and it allows me to relax, look at my body and create peace and synergy within. That said, I was very in-tune with the changes each month brought and began to embrace those changes with excitement. Establishing this mindset throughout my pregnancy proved ESSENTIAL to embracing my new body post-birth.
As I brought Ella home and began to nurture her through every milestone, I began to realize that I needed to create a system that allowed me to nurture myself. True, my body did just create and grow a healthy human being – not a small feat – and now I needed to navigate the world in the new body that is softer in some places (i.e., my stomach) and a little more sensitive in others (i.e., my chest).
For me, the best advice was to give myself time to recover. While I felt like I was ready to start running when Ella was only days old, I knew that my body wasn’t ready. As I paid attention to the inner voice, it was OK to ‘relax’ and go at a slower pace. I started walking in the park during the day to give both Ella and me some fresh air; and I began to acknowledge that the skin that stretched to accommodate my growing belly was an amazing thing – it allowed for a growing child. And, even though it’ll never be the same – it is a miracle and beautiful result of growing life.
As I was cleared by my doctor and up until today, I look at my new body with affection:
My Butt
Now that my hips are a little wider, I have more curves. My clothes fit better and I love the how my legs looks with a slightly tighter dress.
My Arms
breastfeeding/holding my daughter and lifting a toddler gave me the BEST biceps ever. Now I can check off bicep curls when I’m at the gym.
My Larger Feet
what a great excuse to go shopping. And, no matter how my physical body changed, shoes look good at any size
‘Less Stressful’ Periods
After giving birth, no longer to suffer from painful periods – cramps, migraines…all gone
The “Natural Glow”
My skin, my nails, my teeth, my hair are all on a level 10!
At the end of the day, you bounce back…not exactly the same, but definitely better. And when you look at your softer stomach or looser skin …also look at your beautiful baby and lovely family…and smile.