Struggling to work out as a new mom? Find out the top 10 reasons why you are not achieving your postpartum fitness goals and what you can do to overcome them after having a baby.
Are you disappointed with how little you have accomplished towards your postpartum fitness goals after just having a baby?
You had high hopes, hopes to lose the baby weight and get back to feeling and looking like your normal self again.
But the postpartum fitness journey was harder than you expected.
There might be some obstacles that are getting in your way.
This article goes over the top 10 reasons why you are not meeting your postpartum fitness goals and how you can overcome these obstacles after having a baby.
Postpartum Fitness Goals:
Your Limitations
1. Lack of Sleep
Now that you have a new baby in your life, sleep is hard to come by.
Of course, the less you sleep the less you feel like working out.
Your energy levels are so low, and they continue to get lower with each passing day your baby doesn’t sleep through the night.
I get it.
I had 4 babies, and I went through it all. The best way to overcome this is by sleeping during your baby’s nap time.
Related: How To Start Working Out After Having A Baby When You Get No Sleep
2. Lack of Routine
Routines are basically non-existent in the early stages of motherhood.
You are doing everything you can to just make sure you don’t miss a feeding and keep your baby thriving.
The last thing on your mind is probably a routine because your baby is on his own schedule (or lack thereof).
Lack of routine can really hinder your ability to stay true to your fitness program you have set up for yourself.
The best way to overcome this is by setting a routine for at least 1 hour of the day. Don’t try to make an 18 hour routine schedule with your baby.
But pick the best hour of the day and create a consistent routine for you and your baby. These 10 tips can help you keep a consistent workout routine.
3. Lack Of Motivation and Inspiration
The decreased sleep you’re getting and the inconsistency of the day that occurs while taking care of your newborn can lead to a lack of motivation.
It’s hard to get excited about working out. You’re still trying to recover. You’re still trying to learn how to take care of your baby.
Getting motivated can be challenging for many new moms.
That’s why I recommend listening to positive and inspirational podcasts. This is something you can easily do while feeding your baby.
Don’t forget to read these postpartum fitness quotes that I highly recommend reading on a daily basis first thing in the morning to get your mindset off on the right track.
4. Lack of Positive Influences In Your Life
To continue on with the previous recommendation, I also recommend limiting your time with those who are a negative influence in your life or those who simply don’t inspire you in any way.
If you have someone in your life who is eating junk food all day and sitting around watching Netflix for hours on end, you might choose to spend more time with other family members and friends who are influential.
If you don’t have anyone in your life like that, I recommend following other moms on Facebook or Instagram who are one step ahead of you and can be a positive inspiration to your life as a mom.
You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook if you think I’m a good fit for your daily dose of “mama” inspiration.
5. Lack of Space
After the baby showers, the new arrival baby gifts and all the baby gear, you may be running out of space in your home.
That’s understandable.
But if you take your fitness journey seriously, you’ll make it a priority to find the right space in your home to work out.
Clear enough space for you to at least lie down with your arms fully extended without being able to touch a wall or a piece of furniture.
Clear that space out, and keep it cleared so it’s easily accessible when it’s time to squeeze in your quick workout.
Looking to get started with a home gym? Check out these 16 best essential home gym equipment ideas for your home gym on a budget.
6. Lack of Nutrition
Please, please don’t let your nutrition get put on the backburner.
Nutrition, along with sleep are the top components to a healthy postpartum journey.
If you are lacking nutrients, you’re not going to be able to fuel yourself to accomplish any workout.
My best tip for you is to have healthy snack choices that are easy to grab on hand so you don’t skip a meal; remember, don’t make processed foods your main food group.
If you are struggling to find time to make healthy food choices, consider making freezer meals in advance. Batching freezer meals is such a time saver. These freezer meals are perfect for postpartum moms because these recipes include breastfeeding friendly foods.
7. Lack of Accountability
It’s hard to go at this postpartum fitness journey alone.
There are so many changes going on now that you had a baby, and a lot is probably running through your head.
It’s easy to give up and quit when no one is watching.
But if you have an accountability partner, or a private Facebook group to help you stay accountable, it is far more likely you will not give up and you will accomplish what you set out to accomplish. This Facebook accountability group is specifically for postpartum fitness driven moms.
8. Lack of Goals
Have you set any goals for yourself now that you are a new mom trying to lose the baby weight?
Yeah, you know you want to lose the extra pounds, but have you set any real, tangible goals?
Without a goal, you don’t know what you’re working towards.
I recommend picking 2-3 simple, short term fitness goals that are achievable. Write them down and have them out for you to look at every day.
This is a great goal setting fitness journal that I think is the perfect spot to keep your postpartum fitness goals tucked away in.
9. Lack of Support
What I mean by this one is lack of support by others when it comes to childcare.
Having someone who is there to help you, whether that’s having an extra set of hands to hold your baby for 30 minutes or clean your kitchen, can make your postpartum journey so much easier and give you a break from the normal grind of motherhood.
I recommend asking your spouse to take care of the baby 3 times a week at the same time of night so you can step away for 30 minutes to do a short workout.
That alone time you get will be so rewarding (and your baby will love one-on-one bonding time with daddy).
10. Lack of Education
That’s where I come in! I’m here to help educate you on how to use your time wisely.
If you only have 30 minutes a day to work out, I sure hope you do the most effective exercises for your postpartum body to recover quicker.
Knowing what to do and when to do it is going to give you the best results.
You’ll be motivated to keep working towards your postpartum fitness goals if you keep seeing progress.
If you need a place to start, I recommend enrolling in my 5-Day Restore Your Core email course which helps you jumpstart your postpartum ab repair. You can sign-up here to get started right away.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
*It is important to always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program and get medical clearance. Always warm up thoroughly and stretch after all workouts. LiveCoreStrong.com and Jena Bradley will be not be responsible or liable for any injury sustained while exercising at home, gym or elsewhere. Perform exercises at your own risk.
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