| Copyright © 2005. Ice Chamber - Athletic Performance Training. All Rights Reserved. ICE CHAMBER and ICE STORM are trademarks of The Ice Chamber. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. |
| The Adventures of Postpartum Maya by Mayachela Garcia, CSCS |
I wish I could brag about my pregnancy weight melting away as soon as I returned to the IC a year ago. A 90-day People magazine
worthy makeover would have made such an interesting story for the blog—no doubt earning me some major cool points. Luckily, I’ve
already shared my background with everyone so it should come as no surprise that I had to do some real emotional work to get here.
worthy makeover would have made such an interesting story for the blog—no doubt earning me some major cool points. Luckily, I’ve
already shared my background with everyone so it should come as no surprise that I had to do some real emotional work to get here.
For me, turning those hunger triggers off is both a practical and emotional process.
Nothing propelled my weight loss forward more than consistent and effective training in
combination with a healthy balanced diet. But, omega 3s aside there are moments when
nothing quells my abominable hunger— or anxiety, anger, boredom, pms, sadness, and
fatigue. Like so many brave mothers before me, adjusting to being a sleep-deprived-
post-surgery-nursing-new-mom in addition to wife, business owner, and trainer has not
been easy for me. I don’t know where I’d be today without my faith in the great powers of
the universe.
Nothing propelled my weight loss forward more than consistent and effective training in
combination with a healthy balanced diet. But, omega 3s aside there are moments when
nothing quells my abominable hunger— or anxiety, anger, boredom, pms, sadness, and
fatigue. Like so many brave mothers before me, adjusting to being a sleep-deprived-
post-surgery-nursing-new-mom in addition to wife, business owner, and trainer has not
been easy for me. I don’t know where I’d be today without my faith in the great powers of
the universe.
I agreed to capture my postpartum training days on video in order to show the reality—
good and bad—of this humbling time in my life. I started back slowly with an emphasis
on bodyweight conditioning in order to rebuild my core strength after the cesarean.
Plus, I wanted my pull-ups back so that was my first goal. It was great to return to some
old school weightlifting too. My technique is rusty in the video, but those light Olympic
good and bad—of this humbling time in my life. I started back slowly with an emphasis
on bodyweight conditioning in order to rebuild my core strength after the cesarean.
Plus, I wanted my pull-ups back so that was my first goal. It was great to return to some
old school weightlifting too. My technique is rusty in the video, but those light Olympic
I developed a newfound appreciation for kettlebells when I
discovered how perfectly suited they were for my prenatal and
postpartum fitness needs. I did not, however, anticipate getting
involved in kettlebell sport according to the intense and highly
technical methods pioneered by Valery Fedorenko [in the US] and
the AKC. And for the record, I never intended on using the scrubby
footage from my KB sessions either; I only changed my mind once I
realized that the clips capture an honest progression. I still have a
looooong way to go, but I can say with certainty that the
self-confidence, fortitude, and patience required of this sport have
been vital to my wellbeing in recent months.
discovered how perfectly suited they were for my prenatal and
postpartum fitness needs. I did not, however, anticipate getting
involved in kettlebell sport according to the intense and highly
technical methods pioneered by Valery Fedorenko [in the US] and
the AKC. And for the record, I never intended on using the scrubby
footage from my KB sessions either; I only changed my mind once I
realized that the clips capture an honest progression. I still have a
looooong way to go, but I can say with certainty that the
self-confidence, fortitude, and patience required of this sport have
been vital to my wellbeing in recent months.
At the end of the video, you will see me jumping for joy at finally
having reached my goal. Hello, I’m still five pounds away from my
pre-pregnancy weight! …but c’mon, what woman isn’t dissatisfied
with her weight? Thank goodness I have learned to appreciate
other more important markers of fitness. My other attempt at
having reached my goal. Hello, I’m still five pounds away from my
pre-pregnancy weight! …but c’mon, what woman isn’t dissatisfied
with her weight? Thank goodness I have learned to appreciate
other more important markers of fitness. My other attempt at
lift variations really helped activate my nervous
system. I never expected that I would be able to pull
2x my bodyweight off the ground as a nursing mother.
system. I never expected that I would be able to pull
2x my bodyweight off the ground as a nursing mother.
making peace with my new body is this photo on the left. I tried to replicate that corny “abs” picture I
took two years ago after I found out I was pregnant. In the video the caption reads: Not exactly the
same. The truth is that there is a half-baked croissant hiding under these jeans! Hey, I’m still a work in
progress.
took two years ago after I found out I was pregnant. In the video the caption reads: Not exactly the
same. The truth is that there is a half-baked croissant hiding under these jeans! Hey, I’m still a work in
progress.
| "Not quite the old six pack, but at least the keg is gone." |
