🏃♀️ My Struggles During and After Pregnancy
I was very fit before getting pregnant with my rainbow baby in 2024. I was the fastest and strongest I had ever been. Being part of the military since the age of 19 has “forced” me to stay fit, and it became a lifestyle I loved.
I used to run 5 times a week, logging about 18–20 miles weekly. I also lifted for an hour 4–5 times a week. It was easy to manage because my older two kids could stay home alone while I went to the gym early and still made it to work on time. For years, that was my life, and I thrived in it.
Even throughout our infertility journey (see post: Our Journey Through Infertility), I managed to stay fit. I thought pregnancy would be no different.t I was excited for the challenge and felt confident I’d maintain my fitness. Social media was full of “fit moms” working out with baby bumps, and I was sure I’d be one of them.
Oh boy, I wasn’t even close to prepared for what was ahead.
🤰 The First Trimester Knocked Me Down
My first trimester crushed me. Symptoms started as early as six weeks, and nausea became an all-day affair. I could barely do anything, much less work out. The exhaustion was overwhelming; I couldn’t get up at 4 or even 5 a.m. to train before work.
And then came the surprise: I was pregnant with twins. My symptoms doubled in intensity. Severe food aversions started shortly after week six, and all my healthy eating habits went straight out the window. Everything I had built over years of discipline was gone.
I told myself I’d restart in the second trimester, especially after gaining 30 pounds in just the first three months. But at 12 weeks, I learned I had lost one of the twins. I was devastated and terrified of losing the other. Anxiety and depression hit hard. I stopped working out entirely, and my unhealthy eating continued.
📈 The Weight Gain Spiral
By my third trimester, I knew I had to try something. I still had three months left, but I had already gained 60 pounds. How was that even possible? I asked myself that question every single day.
I started walking and tried to control my eating a bit. Still, I gained another 20 pounds in that final stretch. My body didn’t feel like mine anymore. My face and nose were swollen, I had a double chin, and I was wearing 2XL clothes. My self-esteem hit rock bottom.m
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| Pre-pregnancy and During the Last Trimester |
I repeated positive affirmations daily, but inside, I was struggling deeply with my image. I used to be so strong and fit. How did I get here?
👶 The Fourth Trimester: Reality Check
In the end, I delivered a healthy baby boy, and for that, I am endlessly thankful. Despite a complicated pregnancy, everything turned out okay.
However, my postpartum reality wasn’t what I expected either. Everyone online made it sound like breastfeeding would melt the weight off, but that didn’t happen for me. I wasn’t losing anything.
Eventually, I stopped breastfeeding, restarted workouts, and little by little, the weight began to come off. Twelve months later, I’m still about 30 pounds heavier than my pre-pregnancy weight. And that’s okay.
🏋️♀️ Rebuilding Strength, Slowly
Now that my baby is older, I’ve found it easier to stick to a routine again, though it’s nowhere near what it used to be. I run about 8 miles a week, and I lift 3–4 times a week. I’m not as strong or as fast as I once was, but I’m showing up. I’m trying. And little by little, it is getting easier mentally and physically.
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| Post-pregnancy (30lbs left to go) |
💬 You’re Not Alone
If you’re a mom struggling with fitness during or after pregnancy, please know this: you’re not alone. This journey is hard, and it’s okay if you’re not where you used to be. Our bodies do incredible things; they grow life. And that’s worth giving yourself grace.
💛 Comment below and let me know how you’re managing your fitness routines, and if you’re not, that’s okay too. Follow along, and we can do this together.
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