It's been a couple months since you've brought your newborn baby home, and you're starting to feel like you're ready to start working out and get that pre-baby body back. Only problem is, you feel selfish leaving your baby to go work out.

 

I remember when I first gave birth and wanted to get back in the gym, the feeling of guilt over-took my being every time I would leave my son (with my own mother mind you) and go train. I would feel selfish, like it was wrong  of me to allow myself an hour and a half- two hours of work out time because my son needed me.

 

I would call and text my mother probably every twenty minutes to check on him, make sure he was still asleep, they had enough milk etc etc. This caused me to lose focus on my workout and although I was in the gym doing the work, my mind was elsewhere. I decided it was time to change this.

 

I called all of the local gyms to see if they would allow me to train with my son; of course the answer was always no. Finally, we found a private personal training gym that said yes. I started scheduling my training sessions around times that I knew my son would be tired and wouldn't protest being in his carseat.

 

The trainer was great in understanding my anxiety of leaving my son and allowed me to bring him with us from exercise to exercise in his carseat while he was awake. And the times when my son was asleep, we would put him in the office with the lights dimmed so that my son could continue enjoying his nap, and I was able to work out peacefully knowing that my son was in the adjacent room.

 

Within a few weeks of this, I started feeling less selfish, and once the results were visible from my training, it really helped me move forward. Seeing the results, and seeing that my son was just fine, and that our bond and connection was NOT ruined by me taking time to myself allowed me to really make progress. When he turned six months old, I found a different gym with a great daycare, and started working out there. The rest is history.

 

If there were one thing I would want anyone, but moms especially, to take from this is that it IS ok to love yourself even if you have children. As moms we put much pressure on ourselves, and of course our kids always come first, but children want a happy mommy.

 

If you're struggling with being a mom and working out, remember, you're kids will be just fine. Leave them in the care of someone whom you trust, and don't forget, the couple hours apart will only benefit your and your child's sanity.

 

Yes you're a mom now and your responsibilities have changed, but don't neglect yourself- you and your children will be happier.