Updated: Aug. 21, 2015
Originally Published: June 15, 2013
A few months before my son was born, a famous actress shared her thoughts on how new moms could effortlessly shed baby weight through exercise. She claimed, “Every woman can make time — every woman — and you can do it with your baby in the room. I’ve worked out with my kids crawling around all over the place. It’s all about making it work, and if it matters to you, it’ll matter to them.”
I only learned about her sentiments a couple of months after giving birth—right around the time my doctor cleared me to resume exercising post-c-section. I dove headfirst into what I thought would be a daily fitness routine. But hold on a second while I laugh.
The truth is, I wasn’t ready to jump back into a workout schedule. I was exhausted. The nights spent feeding a newborn took their toll, and once I returned to full-time work, the chaos only escalated. Commuting, daycare pickups, meal prep, and laundry filled my days. And let’s not forget my attempts at chic fashion statements—oh wait, those were her experiences. It’s funny how easily you start to mimic the thoughts of someone like her.
Fast forward six to seven months after my son’s arrival, and I was still in a fog from sleep deprivation. However, there was a nagging feeling that I needed to get moving again. After I stopped breastfeeding, I still consumed that extra 500 calories recommended for nursing moms, and instead of dropping the baby weight, I had somehow managed to gain eight pounds. So, I resolved to get back into shape, convinced that if “every woman” could work out with “kids crawling around,” then I could too.
My son, however, was not exactly an enthusiastic workout partner. He was always in motion, and while he loved to play, he wasn’t keen on letting me exercise. I’m not talking about silly games like “Ring Around the Rosie.” I meant real workouts—weights, lunges, and planks that promised to tighten my core and help me fit into those jeans I hadn’t worn since before pregnancy.
Toddlers are notorious for demanding attention. I couldn’t fathom how any mom could exercise with their child around. When my son was an infant, it was manageable, but once he became mobile, any hope of a solo workout went out the window. The moment I hit the floor to stretch, he was all over me. In push-up position, he’d jump on my back as if I were his personal playground. Sit-ups turned into a game of peek-a-boo, much to my dismay, resulting in accidental headbutts.
Mommy blogs suggest using your baby as a makeshift weight—holding them while doing squats or balancing them while crunching. I tried it a few times, but the results were painful. Baby yoga also seemed far-fetched; how can you expect a toddler to hold poses when they can’t even manage their own bladders?
Even when he wasn’t right beside me, he was vying for my attention—“Mommy, juice!” or “I poop!”—leading me to halt my workout to check. I soon learned that if he announced he had pooped, it was likely a false alarm; when he truly did, he wouldn’t mention it at all.
Our solution? The magical distraction of Elmo. We’d run his DVDs back-to-back. This didn’t solve everything—my son still preferred one of us to keep him company while he watched—but at least we could take turns.
As for the notion that if something matters to you, it will resonate with your children, I can see that happening eventually—perhaps when I’m older and my body is less forgiving. For now, though, I can’t think of a single thing that’s important to me that my son recognizes as valuable. Not even the simple joy of having a hot cup of coffee or the luxury of going to the bathroom alone.
So, for the time being, my husband and I alternate our workouts, and thanks to the wonders of Elmo, I hold out hope that one day I’ll fit back into those jeans.
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Summary
Navigating the challenges of exercising with kids can be daunting for new moms. Between sleep deprivation and constant demands for attention, finding time to work out is no small feat. While famous figures may offer advice on balancing fitness and motherhood, the reality often involves a lot of creativity and patience, especially when toddlers are involved. With some help from distractions like Elmo, it’s possible to make room for fitness in our lives, even if it looks different from what we imagined.