It's Okay To Skip Your Workout And Eat A Sandwich.
I had an interesting talk with a mama the other day and about her perception of me. As a personal trainer, I guess some people automatically assume that I have the perfect diet and exercise religiously. I would like to have that, but at this point in my life, I sadly don’t.
I’m 4 months postpartum and have a very busy 3 year old. I’m running on almost no sleep and am lucky to brush my hair most days. Before fitness and having a clean diet, I’m a mom in survival mode. I’m human.
It’s easy to say “take care of yourself first” or my personal fav "#noexcuses. I do my best, but when you go from growth spurt, to sleep regression, to cold and teething, shit gets hard. Sometimes, I just don't matter and I do what it takes to survive. That's my excuse.
When I was going through this period with my son, I was extremely hard on myself if I didn’t get to the gym and eat properly. Adding this extra pressure sent me into some very unhealthy patterns and a lot of negative self-talk. I thought I was taking care of myself but as I reflect back to that time, I sadly wasn’t. My mental health was suffering. I was isolated with a ton of people around. I was trapped and I didn't know it.
Sure, exercise is the best form of self-care and it’s a great way to relieve stress but you have to be realistic with your goals and be in the right head space. My goal is to workout twice a week. I can manage that most weeks. If my baby is awake through the night, I give myself permission to skip the workout. I no longer live by the hard and fast rules. If I want a sandwich, I'm going to eat a sandwich!
The moral of my story, in motherhood there are going to be periods where you are running on empty….especially with small children. There are times in life where getting to a workout or eating perfectly clean just isn't important and there is ZERO shame in it. This phase in life is temporary and balance won't always come easy but you do what you need to get through the day. If that means pizza and a lazy day on the couch watching netflix, then all the power to you!
Love your baby body,
Terrell
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