Updated: Jun 18, 2020
I have been doing CrossFit since before I was pregnant, and I have always enjoyed the fact that I could just show up for class and have someone tell me what to do. However when I got pregnant, I had many issues that prevented from doing it regularly. Eventually when I resumed CrossFit after I gave birth, I had so many problems with getting my fitness level to what it was before.
I feel with the nature of CrossFit, it makes for such a good post Partum exercise. I have a coach that watches me making sure I have the right posture, so I won’t injury myself since my core hasn’t been engaged in 9 months.
I started exercising a month after I gave birth(with permission from my gyne of course). I started with running and realized I couldn’t run very efficiently. My tummy muscles were so weak at the time that couldn’t even engage it for my runs. I started wearing binders to keep my belly in place and it got alot easier. But going back to CrossFit where I have supervision was definitely the smarter thing to do.
The feeling of accomplishment when I’m able to get the muscles back after struggling with it for so long is amazing. I remember when I got back I couldn’t even do a proper box jump. I had to start from stacking plates to achieve the height!
And with all the confinement rules that tell me “if you don’t follow the rules you are going to have back problems”. But hey I can already do an overhead squat now. I think I will be fine 😊.
Exercise is always the key to a healthy lifestyle. And of course only do the ones that works for you! I have seen so many pushing themselves to do exercises that don’t work for them, and they end up having exercising in general. Exercise should be enjoyable, and I definitely cannot function without exercise. Giving excuses for not exercising is definitely not allowed in my book.
Updated: May 30, 2020
So, I feel like I should really post my post partum fitness routine, since many people have been commenting on the amount of weight I lost.
My pre-pregnancy weight was 60KG, at a dress size of 8 (xs). I went to CrossFit 3 times a week and ran 5km twice a week, so you could say I was rather active before I got pregnant.
My pregnancy was a tough one, and because Eilidh’s heart wasn’t beating well I. The beginning, my gyne told me to stop doing vigorous exercises.
Yep, that was me exercising on holiday when I was carrying Eilidh for 4 months, and went back to crossfit shortly after.
Although I did go back to a wee bit of exercise after her heartbeat was stablized, I felt tired so often and did not have the energy to work out. At the same time on my 28th week, I was diagnosed with a low placenta which caused me to bleed more often, so I was quite wary of what I was doing.
By the time I was full term, with the lack of exercise and my full on cravings, I ballooned to a weight of 81kg!! That’s 21 kg more which is more than the recommended amount by medical professionals. I was worried my weight loss would be a tough one.
Immediately during the first two weeks of post partum, I lost 10kg quite quickly and went down to a weight at 70kg. Of course that wasn’t good enough for me, so I was hoping my jamu would assist me in losing some of the water retention I have.
My jamu was Dian from SG Postnatal massage, and I can tell you she is good! I would highly recommend her. PM me if you want her contact! She helped me lose 2 more extra kg and managed to flatten my tummy abit more.
I’m not the sort that bothers too much about my weight, but my fitness level and dress size. By my 4th week, after getting the greenlight by my gyne, I resumed my running. I struggled alot at first, as my core was weak as fuck. Infact I had to hold my tummy as I run because it felt so heavy.
The second time I attempted my run, I wore my binder as well and it did help me manage my core.
Of course I did not intend to go back to crossfit so soon, but because of what a community CrossFit is as I couldn’t pass off a night out with these awesome people! They have constantly encourage me to come back to crossfit as soon as possible, so I did! I realize my muscles of my core were completely lost and I have problems controlling them. At my gym there is a trainer who is rather familiar with post natal fitness, so she has been looking at my form as I do the workout and guided me on exercises to do to get my strength back.
Because my core is so weak now, I can’t run as far or long, my stamina for the wods have dropped and I have been unable to do my favourite exercise of them all – burpee box jumps!! The lack of core muscles has affected my confidence in jumping on the box and so I have to start from stacking plates higher each time and slowly progress on to the box.
Of course realizing how low my fitness levels are at the moment it prompt me to get back to my CrossFit routine. I now go to CrossFit in the mornings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and I do runs on Sunday Evenings. It’s good because since Eilidh is already waking me up at 4am I just go to the gym as soon as I wake!
Having a Garmin Smartwatch helps, as it tracks my heart rate, daily steps and prompts me to move when I’m not. It really makes me think how much I move in a day!
Especially on days when I’m not at the gym, I could only achieve 8000 steps. So this makes me walk a longer route to the station, taking the stairs rather than the escalator, etc.
They say since it takes you 9 months to gain, it takes at least 9 months to lose. In he beginning, I barely fit into my sports bras and I was probably a size 12. I just did my new year shopping and I’m now wearing a size 8 in cotton on! Of course I’m on the bigger side of size 8, so I’m still working hard to lose the weight!! This year my New Year’s resolution is to get back to pre pregnancy fitness levels! Wish me luck!
