Postpartum Progress

Since having Oliver & Olivia, my opinion on exercise and nutrition has changed. Dramatically. My world has changed, for the better. My reasoning for exercising, my “why”, is now for a completely different reason. Since becoming a mom, there is no other way to say this, but I have never felt so vulnerable in my fitness journey. Vulnerable to the point where I actually almost deleted my Lively Girl account to continue my postpartum fitness journey in private. I use to workout to look good. I longed for a perfectly toned body and I got what I wanted by putting in the hard work. I loved looking fit and I genuinely use to workout solely for the looks.

I feel vulnerable now because exercising each day is a necessity to help control any postpartum anxiety I feel on a daily basis. I get anxious because I want to be the best mom I can be. I get anxious because I would be lying if I said this amazing wild ride does not also cause stress at times. It does. The good outweighs the bad by a million BUT I am the type that feels the anxiety to be the best mom I can possibly be. I never want to let these two precious humans down and that worry alone manifests into anxiety for me.  When I leave to go to the gym I feel on edge, in a rush to get home, and impatient. After my workout, I come home refreshed and frankly just a better person. I’m 1,000 times more patient, kind, and a more loving mom and wife. Overall, a great workout transforms me into a super positive & upbeat person. I make exercise a top priority because it not only benefits me but in effect benefits my family. If I did not exercise religiously I would not be the best wife and Mom that I could be. I truly think that I would let the stress and anxiety build up and rule my life.

A month into postpartum, I contemplated for days on deleting this account because I knew in order to stay authentic to all of you, I would have to share this vulnerability. I would have to open up and that is not easy for me. This page was started at a completely different chapter of my life. A chapter where I was a college student and genuinely only cared about surface level fitness. I shared exercises on the best way to make your abs look ripped, Pre-workouts that could help you last hours in the gym, and lifts that would enhance that “bikini body” every woman wants. Seriously, go look back at my posts, it’s focused very much on outside appearances. Lively Girl Fitness is definitely turning a new page and you will be getting a look into my life as a mom. The REAL authentic look at what it is like for me. I will be sharing my vulnerabilities in hopes that it inspires and motivates other mothers to welcome health & wellness into their everyday lives. I hope to do this by sharing how it has helped me already in the past five months.

I absolutely love motherhood. I try to remember my life before my growing family and I don’t even care to. However, I know a large reason it has been so positive is that I have a way to release any anxiety I feel on a daily basis. I have learned balance and I believe this is where I can help other mommies learn to do the same. My following on social media has grown quite a bit and a lot of you are soon-to-be or brand new mommas! I genuinely want to show you what my life is like and how I manage to make exercise AND my family a priority. It’s not easy, but it is doable. I don’t want to portray my life as perfect with no hiccups because it definitely has those. The plan is to show you what hiccups I face and I how I still make health & fitness work being a new mom to twin babes!

So please, sit back and prepare for a lot of inspiration coming your way. My life is full of poopy diapers, spit ups, and tantrums but it is also full of adorable baby smiles, laughs, and most importantly a ridiculous amount of love. I’m ready to fully share with you my life as a busy mommy who also manages to make fitness a priority. Thank you for being a part of this new and beautiful chapter of my life.