i’ve been putting this post off after a handful of specific requests from you guys…but here we are!
and. in full transparency, i’m finally wrapping it up at 545am when i should be at my bootcamp class…except my alarm didn’t go off and i’m SO annoyed with myself…so, there ya go, i’m so far from having this down perfectly.

the background

after a couple of pictures have gone up this summer, specifically of me in a bathing suit, i’ve been getting a lot of questions about my workouts and how i’ve ‘finally’ lost the weight. it’s not a secret that i have a really tough time losing baby weight and for the most part i can attribute that to being on bedrest at 19 weeks with the girls with a nutrition plan to help them gain weight in utero {and it’s not magical in letting them gain weight but not you} then an emergency c-section at 31 weeks followed by caring for 2 very sick babies in NICU for 28 days. for me, it was harder to recover from bedrest than it was to the actual c-section, but then a little after a year later, we were pregnant again with mills. i puked my brains out with the girls literally until they were born {even on the operating table} and with mills until about 17 weeks and pretty much survived on cheeseburgers + coke for the first 12 weeks. so when i say i gained nearly 70lbs with the girls and 40 with mills…i’m not really confused why.
all of that to say, my journey to get here has also come with a LOT of grace for myself.

working out post-partum

after mills {the girls were a completely different story}, i started to feel up to ‘exercising’ around 8 weeks with intentional walking. within 2 weeks i was really wanting to get back to the workout world and was cleared at 10 weeks to start slow but was given the green light. i SWEAR by the bellefit girdle {medical grade} those first 12 weeks and it really made a difference with working out without feeling like my insides would fall out. i started out with a combination of fit4mom stroller strides + 21 day fix with beach body. i tried to get 3-4 workouts in, whenever i could, but it wasn’t necessarily consistent. after a couple of months, stroller strides, just wasn’t working out because juggling an infant in a carrier + 2 toddlers while trying to workout was a lot of work… i never really felt like i got a ‘good workout’ in and left being more frustrated than anything. i kept up with beachbody workouts {they’re always my go to…and have been since i graduated college} and did what a could.

fitness now

so, fast forward to the girls being older, mills being 14 months and i finally feel like i have my act together. my sister has always been a huge inspiration to me…her work ethic + dedication are pretty incredible…so when i need a little kick in the tush, i usually can look to her to push me.
these days i typically workout 4x per week with a mixture of different workouts. over the winter one of my friends from the twins club convinced me to get a Y membership which has been awesome for us. it’s a good way for zach and i to workout together and the kids to go to kids club.

my schedule usually looks like this:
monday – pm tabata with the fam {zach + i do this together and take the kids to childcare. it’s one of our favorite times together}
tuesday – am bootcamp
wednesday – TRX {if i miss one, this is usually the one i miss}
thursday – am bootcamp
friday – am tabata

tabata is a high intensity interval training type workout that we’ve fallen in love with. we use weights + bodyweight exercises for 45 minutes of tush-kicking. zach goes with me on monday + my girlfriend from twins club goes friday mornings.

bootcamp is a small group personal training type class that is 6 weeks. we finally convinced our tabata instructor to teach a class for us on tuesday/thursday am’s so while this is new for us, it’s awesome!
before this, i usually would complete a beachbody workout. sean T has a week of workouts that are my favorite…followed by insanity + 21 day fix. i’ve completed all of the programs and they’re for SURE my favorite.

TRX is a suspension workout system that uses your bodyweight to perform hundreds of exercises. i’ll be honest, this one isn’t my fav. i go because i love group fitness and there isn’t a better option for me…and i love the instructor.

the things that help me the most

group fitness
these are the most motivating type of fitness programs for me… i love the competition and team-like atmosphere.

having a buddy
this is purely about accountability. my girlfriend who goes to the morning classes texts me every morning when she wakes up and for the most part…if she’s not up and going, i most of the time don’t make it. it’s a good system for us and i can count on 1 hand the number of times we’ve bailed on each other.

morning workouts
i’ve always loved morning workout classes since i was in college. there’s something about getting it done 1st thing in the morning that starts my day off right. i drink A LOT of coffee…there’s no secret there, but my preference would be to get in bed by 10 and up at 4:30. i really don’t start this until we’re out of the BABY phase, so if you’re still there, give yourself a BREAK!

at-home workouts
if you don’t have a gym close {i drive 23 minutes} or can’t afford a membership {we pay $60 per month for the fam at the y, which includes childcare}, at home workouts are totally worth the investment. i’ve done beachbody workouts since i graduated college and love them. we also do shakeology, but that’s certainly not necessary if you don’t want. with young kids in the house, this is a great option to be able to do during nap time, after bedtime or before the kids wake up.

y’all, it’s a process. some people lose baby weight before they walk out of the hospital…and that’s wonderful! others have to work for it and it can take a LONG time. my goal is to be healthy…for my kids to see that strong is beautiful + love their body. my body will never be the same since having kids and i’m okay with that. my c-section pooch will never go away and it’s a great reminder of the years we prayed to be parents. i’m still working to be 100% confident standing in front of a mirror naked…but, we’re getting there. i’m stronger than i’ve ever been and above all else, i’m thrilled my kids get a front seat to the process. because it’s just that, a process.
so give yourself some grace and love that body!