Hey new moms! Congratulations on having your baby! Whether it was 2 months ago or 2 years ago, growing a human is a transformative experience that no one can ever truly prepare you for. Once that little human is earthside and you feel ready to make your way back to movement (after you have consulted with your doctor) there are a few things you can do to ease back into exercise. 

Start slowly 

It took 9 months to grow a little human so it makes sense to start slowly with postpartum exercise. Probably not the best idea to run a marathon right after delivery. So what can you do first? Walk? Find some postpartum workout programs? Whatever you pick, just go slow! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and enjoy those precious moments of exercise. 

Everyone is different but for me it was best to start my postpartum fitness journeys with walking and strength training. I focused on healing my core while gradually regaining muscle. Walking provided plenty of much needed time outside the house and we all know those strollers are not light at all. We need to be strong to lift our kids, so strength is a great place to start. If you need inspiration, check out Bliss Fit’s low impact strength workout program!

Dress for success

Alright let’s be real. No one fits into their pre-pregnancy clothes immediately (or maybe ever again) and there are few things worse than putting on exercise clothes that are too small or uncomfortable. If you can, invest in some great workout clothes that you love and also fit right now. Don’t wait for your old clothes to fit someday, find something that fits and feels good now so you can be comfortable while working out. 

Find someone who can help 

Ask for help! Whether it’s a trainer at your gym, a friend to hold you accountable, a program you can do at home, online personal training, a physical therapist, or a pelvic floor therapist- find someone to encourage you and help you navigate this phase. If you have someone or a program to help, guide, and motivate you, chances are you’ll be able to stick to your goals. 

In a world where “bouncing back” or focusing on your “Mom Bod” are the encouragement new moms are inundated with (which is just wrong!), remember that the baby you grew is a miracle and your body is truly amazing. Give yourself time, patience, and most importantly grace because you deserve it! 

Now go get moving! You’ll be glad you did.

This post was written by Jenna Michael. Jenna is mom to four young kiddos and married to her college sweetheart, Jonathan. She has an education in dance, loves reading, is a fitness enthusiast, and is always in pursuit of an essentialist lifestyle. If she’s not at the gym, running carpool, or drinking coffee while on the phone with her best friends, you’ll find Jenna in her favorite reading nook with a good book or at the computer writing. She is the author of the blog parenthoodandpushups.com where all her passions meet to share the real, relatable, and hilarious parts of trying to be an active mom while raising four little kids.