Working Out As a Breastfeeding Mama!

This may be TMI, but I know a lot of others can relate!  I have come to the realization that my body is literally not my own right now.  You see so many magazine covers and read stories that state “How she got her body back after a baby” and the like!  After seeing those pictures and reading stories where people lost all their baby weight and more within the first year, I was determined to do the same.  I mean, come on…I played college soccer, worked out my entire pregnancy (well not that last few weeks as my feet would not fit in my shoes), and have been “athletic” my entire life.  How hard could it be?  If a singer or actress can do it, surely I can! 

Well….

It’s been almost 8 months and my little one is still drinking the “liquid gold” we call breast milk!  I am very proud of making it this long, as it was not an easy journey!  I would love to keep him on this free, God given food till he is a year old!  This means my body will not be my own for another 3-4 months.  This is SO hard!  Not my own because if you have EVER breastfed before and worked out, you know it is not a normal feeling.  Working out and breastfeeding do NOT mix well.  Anything that involves running or quick movements are ruled out, so as you can see, working out is hard without these things.  And NO, 3 sports bras does not help!  I tried a P90X workout…that was stupid!  So then I tried some light running…that was also stupid! 

Like I mentioned above, I want my body back, but have accepted that it’s ok….MY BABY NEEDS ME MORE THAN A BIKINI NEEDS ME!  And then I started realizing “Aah maybe that’s why God designed your body to burn 500-600 calories a day while breastfeeding!  Add running after a mobile baby, and I think it’s enough for now.” 

So there you have it – God always knows best!  Love this time of my life, but can’t wait to workout hard again!