How to Push Through Mommy-Workout Setbacks!

Getting in shape after baby is no easy feat. And Dara Pierre-Louis knows it. After moving to LA to pursue an acting career and then quickly finding herself married with child, Dara is working on getting herself back in shape for leading roles—including being a healthy role model for her son. From time to time Dara will be popping in to update us on her fitness adventures, lessons learned and more! Read more of Dara’s posts on her blog Mommy Dreamest.

Push Through Mommy-Workout Setbacks

Having trouble getting back into the pre-pregnancy or pre-baby fitness groove? Feel like you are chock-full of excuses? Give yourself some grace. Some of them are excuses, but some of it is just your crazy new reality! Take it from someone who has been there—and is there. Don’t give up. Keep trying new things! My son is 16 months old, and I just now found a consistent workout routine that I can successfully maintain. Here’s a look into how I got there!

When I was pregnant, I told myself that the minute that baby was born, I’d wait the advised 6 weeks of no exercise and then I would take to the pavement and run daily. I invested in a high-end all-terrain jogging stroller (the BOB Revolution) and couldn’t wait to pop that baby out, into the stroller and onto the street. Sadly, I soon found out you are not advised to run with your child in a stroller until they are 6 months old. UGH! So I pleaded and begged my husband to watch the babe, and I pounded the pavement for my first run at 6 weeks on the dot.

What I encountered was one of the hardest runs of my life. Every step I took I felt an uncomfortable trickle, as the lax in my bladder muscles caused me to wet my pants and the lack in my—ahem—other muscles, made me fear a Bridesmaids moment, so I gave up on the running for the time being.