Naptime Natter

Learning to love my postpartum body and getting fit with Lean Mums

Learning to love my postpartum body and getting fit with Lean Mums

I have been a mum now for almost four years and after bringing two beautiful boys into the world it is safe to say my body is totally different to what it once was. I have struggled with body confidence on and off throughout my whole life, I have never felt completely comfortable in my skin and have spent a lot of time unhappy with how I look. I have noticed a shift in how I feel about my body since having children though. I may have stretch marks on my thighs and bum now, my boobs may be pretty much ruined thanks to breastfeeding and it is a struggle to locate a single muscle in my stomach amongst the skin that was stretched to it’s limit – twice – during pregnancy BUT I like my body more now than I ever have. My body is amazing, it grew two tiny humans and brought them into this world through the miracle that is birth. I definitely have a new found respect for my body but that doesn’t stop me wanting to get fit and into a bit better shape too. I am not one for faddy diets or the gym, I can never stick at it and always end up feeling deflated when I inevitably fail. Over the last few months I have been trying out a new fitness programme, specifically designed for busy mums and I am so excited to tell you all about Lean Mums and how, at the age of 26, I finally feel happy and comfortable in my skin. View Post

How to make exercise something you actually enjoy (tips from a former exercise hater!)

How to make exercise something you actually enjoy (tips from a former exercise hater!)

Hands up if you hate exercise? If the thought of working out and getting all sweaty makes you feel a bit sick? If the sight of an exercise mat and sports bra leaves you walking quickly running for the hills? Yep, that was me too. I am very lucky to have been blessed with the ‘skinny gene’, I am a naturally small person and am one of those annoying people who can eat cake for breakfast and not put on any weight (sorry!). Something I have never been though is physically fit, my size is deceiving, walking up hills, chasing after my kids or hoovering too enthusiastically can leave me rosy cheeked and out of breath. There are definitely people who are larger than me who are much healthier and in way better shape physically than I am.

I have always been conscious of my poor fitness levels and have tried to improve them throughout my life with very little joy. I have dabbled in swimming, yoga, celebrity endorsed DVDs and have also tried to YouTube my way to a six pack. The thing is, until recently, I just didn’t like to work out, there were a hundred and one other things I would rather do with my time than get my heart pumping and my muscles burning. I just did not enjoy exercise, end of. Now a mum of two, with a tummy that is no longer immune to the effects of too much cake and the need to be fitter to run around after the offspring, I am trying to boost my fitness levels by working out every day. But you hate exercise, I hear you say. Well, not anymore. I actually love exercise now and if you are a workout dodger like I was, you can totally learn to love exercise too, here is how.. View Post

How NOT to do a mum and baby exercise class

How NOT to do a mum and baby exercise class

Yesterday I decided to go to my first ever spin class. Alex is closing in on 5 months old now and apart from that one 20minute run I did last month and the few times I did some yoga youtube videos, I haven’t done any exercise. I have been very lucky that, thanks to breastfeeding and good genes, I have pretty much sprung back to my pre baby weight with very minimal effort and I have not even had to shy away from the cake. Despite all this, my body may look good in clothes but underneath it is a bit of a squishy mess that is in need of some attention if I want to be rocking it in a bikini on our holiday next month. I decided now was the perfect time to get fit and tone up the mum tum once and for all and I foolishly believed a weekly mum and baby spin class was the answer to my wobbly problems. Um, I was SO wrong.  If you are thinking of going to your first ever spin class please learn from my mistakes, this is how not to get back into exercise after having a baby. View Post

5 quick and easy workouts for busy Mums

5 quick and easy workouts for busy Mums

So January is pretty much over and, still, I can tell I ate too much over Christmas. I haven’t been dieting this month as I don’t need to lose any weight really, I just need to tone up. I want to get the muscles back that I had in November time, the ones that were whisked away by mince pies and one too many After Eights during the festive period.

I have started exercising again. I am not a fitness guru or a lover of exercise and I don’t have a gym membership but I do know the importance of keeping your body fit and healthy and just eating salad every day isn’t going to give me a toned stomach, is it? I also know that as a Mum, there are very few opportunities in the day I have to exercise, so when I do workout I need to be doing something that is quick yet effective.

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