How To Start Working Out: Framework for Moms

Whether you’re pregnant and want to begin exercising to have a more comfortable pregnancy or a new mom ready to focus on fitness again, with all of the apps and internet clutter it can be hard to figure out where to begin. That is why I’m sharing the method I developed and have used with hundreds of moms and moms-to-be. It’s called Core, Function & Fitness (CFF). CFF is an approach. It’s a strategy. It’s a guide to help you determine where to begin your fitness journey and a framework to help you prioritize what to focus on during your workouts.

Whether you’re pregnant and want to begin exercising to have a more comfortable pregnancy or a new mom ready to focus on fitness again, with all of the apps and internet clutter it can be hard to figure out where to begin. That is why I’m sharing the method I developed and have used with hundreds of moms and moms-to-be. It’s called Core, Function & Fitness (CFF). CFF is an approach. It’s a strategy. It’s a guide to help you determine where to begin your fitness journey and a framework to help you prioritize what to focus on during your workouts.

The Foundation

During and after pregnancy, the foundation of your fitness program should be core strength and function. Core refers to the 360-degree cylinder from your diaphragm to your pelvic floor, including both abdominal and back muscles. A functional core means that your deep stabilizing muscles activate to support your spine before any movement. A functional core also means, you know how to breathe (exhale on exertion) with movement, and that you’re treating any pelvic floor concerns like tight pelvic floor muscles or urinary incontinence. A strong and functional core will enhance your ability to advance in exercise and will make daily life more comfortable.

If we look at CFF as a pyramid, “core” is the base layer and what you’ll prioritize when you begin an exercise program. This doesn’t mean that core needs to be your only focus, but if you’re short on time or searching for workouts, this will help you strategize and select the correct exercises. If time and energy aren’t an issue you can certainly do workouts that are more than core, but keep in mind that if your core isn’t yet strong and functional, you’ll want to ensure any other formats of exercise you’re choosing don’t require more core strength then you presently have.

For example, if you’re pregnant and beginning an exercise program, you can focus on breathing and engaging your abs with each movement you perform. So if you’re doing squats, lunges, and arm exercises, rather than just going through the motion, you’re exhaling on exertion or engaging the deep abs as you curl the dumbbell during a biceps exercise.

Middle of the Pyramid

So now that you’ve spent some time activating your pelvic floor, deep abs, and using your breath, you’re ready to shift your focus to “function”. The term functional training is a bit trendy so I’ll provide you with my simple definition. Functional training is performing exercises that help you meet the physical demands in your life. This means factoring in the type of job you have, the workouts you plan to do, or the physical demands of caring for your child at different stages. During pregnancy functional training can be performing exercises that help you better adapt to the changes your body is experiencing, like strengthening your back because you’re being pulled forward due to the weight of your breasts and belly. Function is the next step in my model because you should be able to feel good moving through your daily life before setting more lofty fitness goals (for example if your back hurts every time you lift your child, doing an hour spin class maybe shouldn’t be your priority). Functional training also means addressing pain and specific weaknesses. It is easier to attain function when you have a strong core, so for that reason “function” sits on top of the “core” layer in my pyramid.

Top of the Pyramid

You’re ready to move up the pyramid when you have a solid core foundation and you’re functionally moving well during the day and your workouts. “Fitness” is the top piece and refers to goals such as muscle definition, weight loss, sports performance, and running. This is the last step along the CFF progression because you’ll have a better chance of achieving fitness when you effectively know how to engage your core and you know how to perform exercises correctly and without pain. I’ll reiterate that it doesn’t mean that you have to wait to set your fitness goals, but increasing your run distance shouldn’t be the priority before you’ve spent time on the other components. When you move to the top of the pyramid, the idea is that you’ve already set yourself up to achieve your specific fitness goals.

For example, if you do have a goal to run postpartum, you can first focus on making sure your core can support proper running form, and that your pelvic floor muscles can handle the impact and load. Functional training might include single-leg strength activities so that when you do run, your body is better prepared. 

Summary

I developed the Core, Function and Fitness method to help you prioritize your efforts, and make workout selection less overwhelming. The pyramid can also be explained as a pie chart with the percentages of core, function and fitness components shifting as your needs are being met. Maybe you’re starting with core being 80% of the chart because you just had a baby, but after a few months of training, core might then become just 30% and fitness taking the majority. This pie chart is a good visual because it emphasizes that you’re never solely focusing on just one thing. All components are important and will be integrated into your plan.

Whether you like the pyramid or the pie chart, the main point I'm making is that this is a tool that can keep you active through all 40 weeks of pregnancy, and help you feel stronger than ever after having a baby.

Designing a Personalized Fitness Plan

Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing so many apps like Nike and Peloton offer prenatal and postpartum workouts. However, the downside is that most moms will jump around to different workouts and won’t “personalize” their exercise program.

When I talk about a personalized workout plan, I’m referring to developing and following an exercise regimen specifically for you. This doesn’t mean you have to work with a personal trainer or that every exercise session needs to be planned specifically for you, however, that is the ultimate way to make sure you have a customized exercise plan. 

Personalization just means that you’re aware of what you need, and what it will take for you to reach your goals. You can still try different apps or studio workouts, but you should be intentional in the classes you’re choosing, when you’re doing them, and how you’re recovering from them. 

Motherhood is a time to be strategic in your plan and stay away from haphazardly following fitness influencers and trends. Personalizing your fitness routine will help you stay consistent and see the results you’re working toward! Exercise can be your biggest mental and physical health tool if you approach it the right way!

What are the benefits of personalizing your mom fitness program?

Personalization is advantageous for all moms, but particularly when you’re training during and after pregnancy. Your prenatal exercise routine and postpartum fitness plan should most definitely be customized. With a tailored regimen, you can expect:

• Workouts that fit into your daily routine. With a personalized plan, you design the workout schedule around your existing commitments (which often fluctuate as your child goes through different phases, so be ready to adapt often). 

• Personal goal achievement. Generic plans only help you meet general goals. If you have specific goals, then you need a targeted workout plan. For example previous to pregnancy you may have been training for toned abs, but during pregnancy, this is not your aim so your plan needs to change so that it aligns with your prenatal goals. 

• A safe progression in exercise. A personalized plan will have you progress at a pace appropriate for your individual fitness level. Each workout should build on the previous one.

• Faster results. Don’t spend your precious time and energy on exercises that may not be your priority. Instead, customize your plan for effectiveness and efficiency. For example, you may have liked using the elliptical machine during pregnancy, but if your main focus postpartum is alleviating back pain then the majority of your effort should be spent on core stability workouts instead of sweating away at the gym.

So how do you personalize your fitness routine?

The first step is being self-aware of the factors that you should account for. Here are a few examples of things to consider when planning for fitness success:

1. Exercise History

2. Current Energy Levels

3. Physical Injuries or Conditions

4. Lifestyle Factors

By reflecting on your unique situation and needs in areas like these, you can craft a fitness routine with purpose. Try this self-assessment as an initial step toward personalizing your exercise program.

Evaluate Often

As you move through motherhood your needs WILL change so remain flexible and be willing to reassess. Your needs in your second trimester may be different than your first trimester, and your progress postpartum may be slower than expected. Be ready to make adjustments so that your fitness journey is fluid and customized.  

No one-size-fits-all workout plan can give you the same benefits as a thoughtful and personalized plan. I'm on a mission to help moms feel strong and confident by taking control of their fitness journey. I hope I’ve inspired you to determine a clear direction for your unique needs so that you can develop a fitness plan that works for you!

When Can I Start to Exercise After Having a Baby?

“When can I exercise again after having the baby?”, OR “Do I have to wait until my 6-week postpartum appointment to get back to physical activity?” The answers to these questions are going to vary based on your individual situation and needs. In general, it is safe for most moms to begin connecting with their deep abs and pelvic floor muscles using breath. Low-intensity walking and mobility exercises may be beneficial for you as well. Let comfort and energy level be your guide. Remember movement is good, but you don’t want to interfere with healing, especially if you had tearing or a c-section. You should not return to anything more vigorous before a doctor can tell you that there are no medical contraindications. If bleeding increases following even light activity, that may indicate that you are doing too much and you should contact your physician.

If you are “cleared” for exercise at your postpartum visit, this means that your doctor from a medical perspective thinks you can begin to be more physically active. You should still approach exercise with a gradual and progressive approach. This is not a green light to jump into your old routine. Abdominal and pelvic floor tissues can take up to 9-12 months to heal.

If your doctor approves and you’re ready to exercise, the progression below might help you prioritize your first steps back to fitness.

1. Heal: Whether you’ve had a c-section or vaginal delivery you have tissues that need to heal. Your initial focus should be on promoting healing by getting enough water, and nutrients and resting when you can. You should not begin to exercise until you know that any tears or incisions have healed properly. You’ll also want to address any scar tissue. Part of healing may also mean addressing concerns like incontinence, the feeling of pressure or bulging in your vagina, or abdominal separation. These are all common conditions, but not normal. It may not necessarily mean that you can’t begin an exercise program simultaneously, but you should consult with a pelvic floor therapist and prioritize exercises that will help you improve those symptoms or conditions.

2. Core: Most muscles of your core are impacted by pregnancy and delivery. All moms should strengthen these muscles and ensure that they function optimally by working synergistically. This often means beginning with breath, transverse abdominis, and pelvic floor muscles.

3. Function: Being a mom is physically demanding. Part of your return to fitness should be mastering repetitive movements like hip hinges or getting up off of the floor (think deadlifts and lunges), strengthening muscles that impact posture (think back and glutes, and focusing on mobility (think upper back, ankles, hamstrings and hip flexors).

4. Strength: After you have foundational core strength and have mastered movement patterns, you can begin to think about gradually progressing your program. This could include adding more resistance, moving to moderate to high-impact activity, and performing more demanding abdominal exercises like rotations or exercises in positions against gravity.

Other considerations of when it’s best for you to begin to exercise include sleep (ability to recover), support from family/friends, and mental state. Hopefully, this doesn’t sound overwhelming because there are many positives to postpartum exercise like establishing a healthy lifestyle for your family, and training in a way that you can become stronger than you were before pregnancy. And remember, exercise as a mom is not a luxury, it is essential in meeting the physical and emotional demands of motherhood.

Returning to Exercise After Covid

Are there dangers on returning to exercise post Covid? That is still something being studied, but we do know there are long term effects from Covid and because of possible complications there should be guidelines on how to return to physical activity. There is increasing evidence that “long Covid” symptoms can include cough, elevated resting heart rate, and extreme fatigue. Cardiac damage is also a concern, especially in athletes returning to sport post virus. The American College of Sports Medicine is one of the first organizations to provide guidelines based on your level of risk.

Low Risk: If you are under the age of 50 with asymptomatic or mild respiratory symptoms that resolved within seven days.

• When to return to activity: Rest for at least ten days after being diagnosed. Once asymptomatic for seven days then follow a gradual return to exercise without evaluation.

• How to return to activity: You should first return to normal daily routine and sleep patterns. You should be able to perform daily activities and be able to walk 500 m (.31 miles) on a flat surface without fatigue or shortness of breath. Your first workout should be light intensity for a duration of 15 minutes. If you feel your energy is as it was post covid, you can increase the duration during your next workout. It’s recommended you begin with bodyweight exercises and then progress to heavier resistance and sports. *Athletes should engage in at least two weeks of minimal exertion activity before resuming sport.

Intermediate risk: If you had symptoms or fatigue lasting for more than one week, or prolonged shortness of breath/chest pain that did not require hospitalization.

• When to return to activity: it is suggested that you be evaluated with an EKG and troponin test if you have an abnormal EKG. A personalized exercise prescription is recommended.

• How to return to exercise: a specialist team should create a personalized exercise prescription

High risk: if you were hospitalized or experienced shortness of breath or chest pain at rest or with basic daily activities.

• When to return to activity: it is suggested that you be evaluated with an EKG and troponin test if you have an abnormal EKG.

• How to return to exercise: a specialist team should create a personalized exercise prescription

A gradual return to exercise will help mitigate risk. Working with an exercise physiologist and care team is to your benefit as we continue to learn more about Covid-19 and exercise.

Below is an example of a low risk return to exercise progression. You should make sure you recover from each workout and that no new/returning symptoms occur. Contact your doctor if you experience any chest pain, irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath. This progression may take place over a 1-2 month period.

1. Stage 1: Mobility/Flexibility and light walking

2. Stage 2: Continue to build up walking intensity and duration

3. Stage 3: Moderate intensity aerobic exercise and bodyweight resistance training (one day of exercise interspersed with one day of recovery)

4. Stage 4: Moderate intensity aerobic activity and resistance training (moving up to two days of exercise and one day of recovery)

5. Stage 5: Attempting your baseline level of activity, ramping up intensity to moderate/vigorous.

This post is an interpretation of an article titled Safe Return to Physical Activity After Covid-19.