After the birth of Theo, I was determined to get back into fitness. Fitness has changed a lot for me. Before Theo, I was into fitness only to maintain my weight and stay toned. After Theo, I began to view fitness in a different light. 

I got back into fitness to lose the pregnancy weight so I could fit into all my pants and jeans comfortably again (also, it’s expensive to replace all my bottoms!). The other reason was to maintain my physical body, not in a sense of beauty, but in a sense of movement. I took my body for granted when I struggled to work out throughout my pregnancy, and afterward, developing backaches, achy joints, and tensed muscles everywhere. I could tell my body wasn’t functioning the way it used to, even after I fully recovered from my c-section birth due to the lack of exercise.

But, I struggled to get back into working out. Despite not feeling confident and happy with my post-partum body, I struggled to find motivation to move. I was exhausted from childcare. Despite being on maternity leave, I felt like I didn’t have any time to work out. My mind wasn’t 100% committed to any workouts because I was stressed over the chores that needed to be done around the house. 

It took nearly 6 months for me to get back into fitness and find out what was working for me and what wasn’t. I got discouraged when I couldn’t finish a 60-minute workout when previously, I used to live for 1 hour workouts. However, once I broke through the mental block, I was able to shed the extra weight and stick to a consistent workout routine. 

Here’s how I got back into fitness and stayed consistent as a busy mom person:

Rewire how you think about fitness. 

I viewed fitness as a chore to help me maintain a body that I felt confident in, so it was easier to put 1 hour into the gym when I didn’t have much going on in life and didn’t feel bad for skipping a workout. My pregnancy took a physical toll on my body and it ended up rewiring how I thought about fitness. Yes, I still work out to shed the extra weight, but more than anything, I now work out to keep my body healthy and able. My core routine is no longer about developing abs but more about keeping my core strong so I don’t get backache when I carry my baby. 

Start small. 

After nearly 1.5 years of not working out, I couldn’t jump into it with the same effort and energy as I did before I got pregnant. A 60-minute workout was hard! So, I stuck to 10-15-minute workouts to build up my stamina and habits before taking on longer sessions. 

Consider at-home workouts. 

Long gone are the days of commuting to and from the gym! Working out at home made fitness much easier and frankly, made my days more productive without the commute. It also saves me money on gas/public transit, gym memberships, and miscellaneous gym accessories such as a gym bag and locks. I used to let the weather dictate my workouts so if it was pouring rain, I wasn’t inclined to leave the house for a workout session. 

Ditch the 1-hour mentality. 

I used to think that all workouts had to be a minimum of 1 hour or they wouldn’t be effective. Boy, was I wrong! I started to switch my mentality into thinking any movement is better than none. I tried my best not to get into the pressure of 1-hour workouts and started to accept 30-40-minute workouts. For a year or so, I was doing daily Obe-signature 30-minute workouts which transformed my body more than 3x 1-hour workouts (and from the comfort of my own home!). These days, with full-time work and a baby, I find I gravitate towards workouts under 40 minutes and save the 60 minutes for my days off. There are days when I only do 10 minutes! I find that short workouts can be very impactful because the trainers tend to pack as much in as possible. And, a 10-minute HIIT class is better than no physical activity. 

Find a type of workout you enjoy. 

I spent almost half a decade doing weight training as my main form of exercise until I started to branch out into barre, pilates, aerobatics, dance, and step. Now, weight training supplements my workout, and my main form of exercise is barre/pilates fusion. Finding something I enjoy makes workouts less of a chore and the time goes faster. Sometimes, I find myself looking forward to the workout session!

Gamify it.

It’s not a real game but I use a virtual hike app called Walk the Distance. It syncs with my Fitbit so every step I take in real life is converted to kilometres in the app and showcases my progress with the hiking trail I’ve chosen. Right now, I’m doing the Appalachian Trail. I don’t have any friends on the app, but I imagine it can be quite fun to go against your friends! Of course, if you have a VR headset, you can actually gamify your workouts or choose a very active game to play.

Get a workout buddy to hold you accountable. 

Dan got tired of me complaining about my weight so he’s been helping me stay accountable by reminding me of my goals, encouraging and motivating me to work out, and informing me of healthier food choices. 

Join workout classes. 

One thing I love about YouTube workout channels is that it takes away from all the planning and thinking of what to do next. Having to plan my workouts became a nuisance to me so having a trainer tell me what I can expect and what my next moves are is fantastic and gets rid of the mental stress. 

Work it into your schedule.

Before Theo, I had a very specific workout preference in that it had to be done late mornings or early afternoons. Anything before and after that would drain my motivation instantly. With childcare and full-time work, the only time I can work out uninterrupted is in the evening when Theo is asleep. Shifting my specific schedule mentality into “it’s okay to work out in the night” has allowed me to stay consistent. So, look at your schedule and make some changes. I’m not a morning person so for me, I have to get it done at night. 

Be gentle with yourself.

Last but not least, be gentle with yourself. This sounds cliche, but I had a lot of negative thoughts about my progress, body, and weight. I wanted to see instant results which was never going to happen. I got frustrated when I couldn’t get through a workout when I knew pre-pregnancy me would’ve smashed it, no problem. I reminded myself that fitness is a journey, a lifelong one. I won’t see results after 2 days but if I commit to it for months and years, it’ll yield great returns.

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Getting back into fitness as a mom isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. Life with a baby is unpredictable, and some days, even 10 minutes feels like a victory. By shifting my mindset, finding what works for me, and embracing flexibility, I’ve turned fitness into something sustainable and enjoyable.

Even if you’re not a mom, this still applies to all the busy professionals and students out there!

If you’re struggling to find your groove, start small and focus on movement that fits your life. Remember, it’s not about where you start—it’s about showing up for yourself, one step, one rep, or one stretch at a time. You’ve got this!