Adjusting to Motherhood – Exercise Routines
Brrrrrrrrrr……
Its chilly out! It looks like a blizzard outside my window!
All this snow is giving me a case of the blues.
I’m an outdoor person and I feel like I’m being held captive inside my house! I can’t even watch my beloved Today Show because of the LIVE SNOW COVERAGE! Ugh!
Being stuck inside my house has brought a lot of pent up feelings to the surface. I think it might be because I can’t “exercise” my feelings away.
To give you a little history about me… I’m a classic Type-A. I like structure and I like routines. I thought I was doing a good job adjusting to motherhood, but its harder than I thought. Everything feels jumbled inside my head and I’m trying to organize it all.
Before I was pregnant I practiced Bikram Yoga at least 3 times per week, and the days I didn’t do yoga I would go on a nice 6 mile stress relieving run. All this was done before 7:30 a.m. Working out in the morning worked for me. It started my day on the right foot. Exercise was my therapy.
I love love love my daughter more than anything…. but my routine is gone. I’ve been struggling to try to get it back, but can’t.
Another factor is my husbands job. He works a very demanding job. He works very long hours and travels.
I have become a slave to his work schedule.
I use to be able to do as I pleased, go where ever I wanted to, and get my workout in.
There’s been weeks where he’s out of town and she’s sick and can’t leave the house, and I’ll miss a whole week of working out. I’ve tried doing DVD’s, but they just don’t work for me.
I miss my routine.
Another issue is my work schedule. I was fortunate enough to be able to go back to work part-time. I thought this would be the perfect balance between being a stay at home mom, and working. The problem is I haven’t found that balance yet.
Right before I had my daughter I received some great advice from a close friend who has three kids.
She said the biggest problem with new mom’s is that they try to go back to the person they were before they had kids. They try to go back to their old routines. She said its impossible to do that. She said I have to let go of the “Old Estela” and focus on being the best “New Estela” I can be. She said I have to let all my old routines go. She said “Focus on being the best “new you” you can possibly be.”
I guess my issue is that I haven’t let go of my old routines yet. I’m still trying to go back to them, and not getting back into my old routine is what’s stressing me out so much.
I have to let it all go.
I have to focus on being the best “New Me” I can be.
What I’m realizing is how hard this is. I thought it would be easy, but its not.
So from here on out, I will focus on being the “Best New Me” I can be! Even if that means having to workout in the evenings:)
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Question of the Day?
If you’re a mother, how did you adjust to your new routines? Or, how did you adjust to letting go of your beloved old routines?
I’m still trying to figure this one out 😉
This is so wonderful Estela and I think will give great advice to new moms. I will remember this when I have kids one day. I think it is also similar with marriage – my hubby and I have both struggled with schedules and being who we were before and doing what we did…sometimes it just has to change!
Great topic! I don’t have kids, but last year had 15 friends who had a baby and I saw how their life completely changed… well their routine changed… Some did a great job of balancing it and some not so much. To be completely honest I am sort of worried about what having a kid would do to my routine.. Although I have to admit it is not enough to keep me from having a kiddo.
My sister is due in March, and I’m going to forward this post on to her!
Enjoy the snow…lol 🙂 It’s crazy blizzardy here too!
This is so great to hear. It always seems that the mothers I know handle it so effortlessly. My two sisters in law seem to like the stay in the house kind of life. I think I’d need to do my routine, too.
Stay warm. I’m also a prisoner to this blizzard!
This was so good to hear! Thanks for being so open with us. Honestly this comment, “She said the biggest problem with new mom’s is that they try to go back to the person they were before they had kids” is what SCARES me the most about having children. I am really stuck on my routine and I just think I would be a terrible mom because I would end up resenting my child….
this is a great subject…and i think it applies to any major life change – from high schooler to college, to having a full time job, to being engaged, to being married – so on and so forth. our ability to adapt to the changes that come from simply being ALIVE is so important! i think you said it best when you said you’re going to focus on the best “New Estela” you can be 🙂
great advice girl!
Such a relevent topic Estela! I too used to come and go as I pleased but when Maya was born I suddenly became so concerned with fitting everything in. I finally realized that sleep would have to suffer so that I could find time to exercise. I get up at 5:30 am to get to the gym before work. It is the only way.
Hi Ameena! Thanks for your comment! When my husband is in town, I do get up at 5am to get a run in… His work hours just vary so much that its not always possible to do that.
I’m far from motherhood but this is a very interesting post! Do you follow Eat Like Me on Self? The RD on that blog had switched to walking from running since her baby was born. While runs are ideal, walking is a good way to get outside, get some activity in and still spend time with your baby. (Just don’t try it today – ha!)
Hi Beth! You’re right! walking is a fantastic way to get outside and have baby time. I stay as active as I can, and on days where I can’t get my ideal workout in, walking is key 🙂
I think it’s all this snow thats just getting me down. Hopefully Spring will get here soon 🙂
I’m not a mom but this all makes perfect sense. When we got a PUPPY our lives changes, much less a child. I think your friend’s advice was wonderful — you have to readjust because if you can’t let go regret, remorse, and even resent can begin to creep up. Regarding your husband’s work, I understand completely. My husband works INSANE hours and travels, and I feel shafted a lot of the time. It’s hard to feel like my own person when I’m always living by his schedule. *hugs* I “get it”, even though it’s a fraction of your situation.
That’s such an interesting thing to think about. I think the reason that even though Hubby can’t wait to have a baby I’m still hesitant is everything you talked about. I can’t WAIT to be a mom, but I also know that it will probably change both my and my husbands (although I’ll be the primary care giver) life in an extreme way. I think we need to settle into our identity as a married couple before we add to the mix. And, of course, practice with a puppy 🙂
When I was a new mom it was really hard to get on a schedule. Nothing is the same after kids. I had to readjust things to accommodate every aspect of motherhood. For me it was exercise at night. After my son would fall asleep I would walk, yoga or “do” something. I went back to work and tried to normalize everything. I was a new mom, but the same me. It took me a year or so before everything fell into place. Ironically, my schedule solidified itself when my hubby deployed to Iraq. I had to get it all done, as a “single” mom. I’ll post about it some time. I’ve become a master multitasker. I know you’ll figure your routine out.
this isn’t an issue i’ve had to deal with yet but i’m watching my friends go through it.
So true…after kids, we are never the same and b4 you have them, you think, oh life will be the same, I am not gonna let this change me, etc etc…then, you have them. And guess what, they change your life like eveyrone told you they would. Including your workouts, and yeah, you just have to adjust, 🙂
I don’t have kids, but my sister does and this is definitely something she still struggles with. I think I should direct her to your post.
Estella, Great post! I don’t have kids, but we would like to in the next couple of years. I’m already mentally trying to prepare for how it will change our lives. But, I guess you can’t fully prepare until you’re living it! Thanks so much for sharing your insight!
I’m not a mom, but this gives me a good idea of what to expect when I am. I currently love evening workouts, but maybe I should start becoming a morning person.
By the way, I LOVED your post on meal planning. I referenced it in my post today. 🙂
Awww, sorry about your blues. 🙁 I agree with focusing on becoming the New You instead of the old one. I think we can all relate in one way or another, even if we don’t have kids. A new job, new home, new relationship, etc. It’s really hard adjusting to life-changing events, but do the best you can and just know that you definitely don’t have to give up ALL of the old you, just find a way to reinvent you. 🙂
Jenn
I don’t have kids and I almost don’t want them. It seems that moms lose all their freedom, their “me time”. I still want to be myself after having kids. I don’t just want to be mom.
I love this post Estela! I can relate on EVERY level – ok, except the snow. The other day I went to the gym at 3:30 in the afternoon. I was beside myself, trying to “workout” in the afternoon, and not my beloved morning time. Like you, I want to get in the “ideal” workout, not just a walk, etc. This too, is one of the things I worried about before Ava came into our lives. But, I had a similar thought the other day, about how I am just going to have new routines and not feel like I have to “live up” to all that I did when I was childless. It is definately a change – but a wonderful one
This was such a good post for me to read. Having a child is not something that scares me, but what does scare me is the thought of not having the ability to create my own schedule, and to complete all my tasks. Right now I have it perfect I have a stay at home job, not much responsibility other than my job, my money, and my future, and the ability to make my own schedule. I am classic Type A too, and the thought of not having that freedom really frightens me. Overall, however, the idea of having children makes me more excited than anything.
I hope your winter blues goes away and you get to get some therapy outside soon. I feel for you! I did yoga on Exercise tv today for just 25 minutes. It was fantastic, I suggest it if you have it!
It is so true that you never can be the “old you” again. It just does not happen. I get up at 6am to work out in peace, but I record the shows on FitTv and work out to them. It is really all I have. It is completely peaceful it may not be the perfect workout, but I mix and match it to make it work for me. The unfortunate part about being a parent is there is no consistency ever. Your little one will continue to grow and things will constantly change. I have an 11 year old and my youngest will be 9 tomorrow. It is so hard for me now because I did stay home with my youngest (my husband stayed home with the oldest until I had the second) and now that they are both full force in school and my husbands career in where he wants it to be…I am in need of finding out what I am supposed to do with myself. I still get up at 6am and get the family going for the day and then I pretty much just clean and cook. I know I will find my way, just like you will find yours. I guess you just have to be flexible. I am now trying to find the new me! Thank you for sharing your feelings. It does help to know you are not alone!
My daughter is now 15 months and it took me about six months to realize that life as I knew it is gone for good. But in its place is a life of new love, new discoveries and with it, new struggles, new routines. I used to yoga 4 times a week pre-baby. Now, I’m lucky if I have one.
But I find other ways to unwind and workout because at the end of the day, I would do anything to spend more time with my baby, even if it means sacrificing a little of my own time, and moving things around to make room for just that.
hey!
i just came across your blog and i can’t wait to keep reading!
i would love it if you could check out mine and follow 🙂
jenna
What a great resource!