The Evil, Dreaded, Postpartum Snapback

Let’s talk about the postpartum snapback. I actually fucking hate that word, and whomever invented it has done a great disservice to women. It feels like an overly “fun” and “sassy” word, pressuring us into rushing back to the gym as soon as we get the green light from our doctor. And the pressure is SO real. I had my son, EJ, pre-pandemic. I was therefore lucky enough to able to throw myself wholeheartedly into the Upper West Side new mom scene. Whether it was at a support group, happy hour, or tummy time class, the topic of weight loss – the snapback –  seemed to always make its way into the conversation at some point. It was unavoidable.

Be Kind to Yourself

I’ve been really into fitness and gaining strength for just about four years now. It became especially important as my husband and I began talking about having a baby. My mind was already stressing about my postpartum body! So going into pregnancy, I tried to fully embrace the fact that I may never see my former self in the mirror again. I knew my body was about to go through awesome changes, and the last thing I wanted to do was worry about it. I told myself that carrying a baby is a blessing. Any new shape that comes as a result of that should be seen as a blessing as well. Every person who has gone through the life altering process of growing a human inside of them should be proud of their postpartum body, regardless of what it looks or feels like. 

I love to encourage others to have a positive attitude towards their bodies and share my insecurities. Why? It helps me keep myself in check while uplifting others. And this is not just for those who have just given birth – everyone can benefit from a little body positivity! I know, I know, easier said than done right? It can be really freaking hard sometimes to be nice to ourselves. I struggle with that daily, and I know so many of you probably do too.

Try this: every day, focus on at least one thing that you love about your body. Compliment yourself as you would your best friend. Talk yourself up. You wouldn’t stand for a friend tearing down your appearance, or tearing down someone else, would you? So you’ve got be that good friend to yourself. And try to remember, what makes a good human being is so much more than how we look. At the end of the day, people will love you for how good you make them feel, not for your six pack abs (or lack thereof). 

At the same time, it is perfectly ok to want to work on getting your body back! In many ways, we all just want to feel a bit normal again, and being able to rock our favorite pair of jeans for a date night is a way to feel like we haven’t completely lost ourselves to motherhood. And let’s face it – buying a whole new set of clothes is not in everyone’s budget, especially when it feels like your newborn might as well be eating money! 

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My personal postpartum journey with weight loss is something I’m asked about a lot. I gained 45 pounds while pregnant, developed a strong craving for all things carbohydrates, and was placed on modified activity for the final 18 weeks. After EJ’s birth, I lost about half of that without any real effort. I needed to really work on those last 20-25 pounds. The process of exercising, eating healthy, gaining muscle and losing weight was slow and steady. I never put an expectations on myself.

By about 10 months postpartum I was back to my pre-baby size and strength, but my body still isn’t the same. My breasts could accurately be described as pancake titties. I have stretch marks on my ass. And while I am very aware of my flat belly privilege, I still possess wrinkly stomach skin. And yes, it does bother me sometimes. But I mostly really don’t give a shit. And neither should you.

Got it! So what are the snapback workout secrets?

Below are my helpful tips regarding postpartum exercise, but it’s not exactly a rundown of my personal routines. I know that’s what people look for, but I’m not sure that is productive. I want to focus on the feelings and motivation , because if the whole world ate the exact same thing, and did the exact same workout, we still wouldn’t look the same. While what works for me to be in my best shape may work for you, it also might not. It may take a bit of trial and error before you find what works for you to be in your best shape –  healthy, happy, strong. So to all my new mamas out there struggling with where to start, I hope this helps!

1. Take it slow! Go easy on yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re ready to get back into working out at 6 weeks and your doctor says ok – go for it! If you’re not ready for another 6 months, that’s ok too! I started working out 1-2x a week around 2 months postpartum, just to feel it out. I didn’t actually attempt anything too strenuous or intense until about 4 months postpartum. And even then – slow and steady! Fun fact: losing baby weight slowly means yours skin has more time to shrink back as well.
2. Enjoy yourself! I firmly believe that any sort of exercise you choose to do should be FUN! If you’re not grinning from ear to ear at the thought of working out, you’re not doing yourself any favors. So explore and find what you love! Some easy, free, pandemic-friendly options to get started: 
   • Go for a power walk or a run (with the stroller!). For months, my primary form of exercise was long walks with the baby, huffing up and down the steepest hills I could find in the park. (If you’re an Upper West sider like me, my favorites are by the pond at 102^nd in Central Park and by Hippo Playground on 91^st and Riverside).
   • Scroll through YouTube to find amazing fitness gurus that teach yoga, Pilates, dance cardio, strength training, and more, for free! 
   • Try at home weights. Grab a wine bottle, water bottle, canned goods or large jugs of cleaning products. Pro tip: add rice or beans to empty water bottles for a little something extra. 
   • Many fitness studios/apps and online options have free trials to start. Take advantage of as many of these that seem interesting! And of course, if you love it and your budget allows, commit to a subscription or membership. 
   • Pre-pandemic, I was a boutique fitness junkie. My go-to’s were Rumble Boxing, FHitting Room, DanceBody, SkyTing Yoga, Flywheel and BKPilates. Post-pandemic, we’ve invested in a Peloton and I use YouTube workouts for strength training and pilates. I tried out a few popular online Pilates and dance cardio subscriptions, but I have found that between Peloton and free workouts on YouTube – I’m covered! I also have all of my at home workout essentials linked here!
3. Schedule your workouts! Ok I’m not the best planner, so I don’t have much to offer unfortunately, but I’m working on it! Scheduling is a tip a lot of moms I know swear by. The extent of my planning is that I tend to plan my workouts around when EJ naps, or when I know I will have childcare. It’s something nice to look forward to, and keeps you accountable. I aim to schedule a good sweat session 3-4 times a week. 
4. Keep a positive mindset! When I work out, I do my best to tune out any of the negative crap that may be causing anxiety or bringing me down. I truly try to focus on enjoying the moment and giving my all. But sometimes it’s just not that easy – I could be tired, mopey, not in the mood. If you haven’t already gotten into a good groove, these feelings often this keep people from working out altogether, and the habit becomes hard to build. If you can’t get out of your head, that’s ok. Instead of tackling a long and/or strenuous workout, go for something short and sweet. Even 10 minutes of stretching and deep breathing can make a difference. It still counts as movement, and you can try again another day. I promise you will feel better, mentally and physically. 

That’s all I’ve got for now mamas! I’ll be diving into postpartum dieting soon, which can be SUCH a mess. I hope you’re feeling good about where you are in your postpartum journey, maybe got a little motivated from this post, and feel inspired. Drop me a line below and let know what resonated with you! Remember, you’ve got this!!