I did find quite a change in body shape, both with the distribution of fat and muscle tone and the overall placement of weight on my body. Whereas beforehand I had a flat belly and larger thighs, I now have a definite mummy tummy (jelly belly) and seem to have lost weight on my thighs.

Fighting fit? Hardly!

As well as these changes, I found that my muscle definition has suffered. With two young children and winter, it’s much harder to get out and about. A lot of people say that you lose weight running around after young children, but you don’t get to go distances easily. It’s quite difficult to manage two routines and to get your heart rate up for a good amount of time. Struggling with a pram loaded weighing over 30 kg is certainly not my idea of enjoyable exercise, and my 3 y.o. is not able to keep up with me for a 40 minute walk, so the theory does not live up to the practice of getting out and about. In practice, I’m usually preparing food, feeding a child, trying to fit in some housework and so forth. I’d love to hear from someone who can rear children without family help and get exercise at the same time!

What does all this mean? What can I do?

I recognise that some of you might be quite worried about how you could change after having a baby. The good news is that when you have a little one, it’s such a joyous experience that you gain a new perspective. I once spent hours changing clothes to find the right outfit. Now I’m a mum, I laugh at how much I worried and how much time I had on my hands. I think less about what others think when they see me and more about getting my children dressed. If I have clothes that don’t have baby grot on them, that’s an added blessing. Here's a few things you can keep in mind as you become a mum.

Tips:

• While pregnant eat good food and be happy.
• When your baby comes along, rest, relax and eat well.
• Use almond oil to keep skin supple and prevent drying during and after pregnancy.
• When you find yourself pregnant or with a young baby, try to get some form of gentle exercise regularly – such as walking, swimming or yoga.
• Expect to change
• Feed yourself and your children every 3 hours with good food

So am I the size of a house or what?

I’m pleased at how I’m doing, having shrunk from 90kg (9 months pregnant) to 66kg (so far). I’m in a size 12-14, I have two gorgeous children and I’m looking forward to getting fitter as we learn to swim and play cricket in the years to come.

Comments (0)