My Postpartum Fitness Journey
“Everything has changed since working with Julie and prioritizing health and fitness! My hormones have completely balanced out and my energy levels have skyrocketed. I have learned so much more along the way around food, nutrition, and exercise. Most importantly on the nutrition front that less is not more.“
Jump To Section:
– Meredith’s Postpartum Fitness Journey
– Postpartum Fitness Transformation Results
– Postpartum Fitness Supplements
– After Baby Fitness Transformation Q&A
Tell us about yourself!
HI! I am Meredith, a 42 year old from Kentucky and I wanted to share my postpartum fitness journey. I have a career in the Information Technology sector, I am mother of two little boys, a 6 year old and a now 11 month old. I am also a bonus mom to a 21 year old son! When people ask how many children I have I typically answer 5 as I also have two angel babies the Lord is taking care of in heaven. It’s been a little rough the past 4 years with those losses, emotionally, as well as physically as I had to deliver one of my angel babies.
With that being said, I have been in “trying to get pregnant or pregnant” mode for the past 3-4 years, focusing on what I can do to help support a pregnancy rather than focusing specifically on my own fitness and health goals. Luckily, in November of 2022, the Lord surprised my husband and I, and we found out I was pregnant with my last son, Maverick. God protected that pregnancy until the end.
What Led You To Working with Julie as your online coach though your postpartum fitness journey and transformation?
I have always been into exercise, fitness and healthy living but this last pregnancy took a toll on me in the end, more so after I delivered. About 3 hours after I delivered my baby, I had a postpartum hemorrhage that almost took my life. Unfortunately, I had a secondary hemorrhage at home about a week later and was rushed to the hospital by emergency crews. Thankfully, the doctors were able to improvise in time in both situations.
The stress didn’t stop there as about 12 days after my son was born, we had to rush him to the hospital due to a severe situation. He was hospitalized for 16 days. All of this to say, after my pregnancy, my cortisol levels were through the roof for a very long time and this caused a huge imbalance in all of my other hormones. Once I was able to settle into a calmer atmosphere with our new baby around 4-5 months postpartum, I quickly found out it was not so easy this time around to lose the baby weight as I had in the past.
I still had a long way to go to balance out my hormones and continue reducing my cortisol levels. I needed outside accountability to make healthy eating and exercising a daily habit again. It is very easy to hit the snooze button on the alarm clock or to cave to junk food when you are sleep deprived with a new baby, and hormonally, you just don’t feel your best. I was ready to get back into great shape but I needed someone to guide me, give me a plan that would help to balance my hormone levels and to hold me accountable to that plan. I previously worked with Julie in my early 30s when training for a fitness competition so I knew her plans and methodology work.
fitness accomplishments
My first greatest fitness accomplishment in my life was competing in a fitness competition in my early 30s. Second, was completing a half marathon after my first son was born. Third being working with Julie Lohre and going from 5 pushups to 20 full body push ups in this postpartum fitness journey! Each and every accomplishment has taught me something, mostly the importance of perseverance through pain. The end goal is always worth it!
What unique challenges have you faced in your postpartum transformation?
The biggest challenge I faced during my fitness journey was motivating myself to workout on the days I was tired from waking up several times at night for my baby! I did not skip one workout in 6 months while training with Julie!
When you first considered online personal training with fitbody, what concerns did you have?
My initial hesitation in signing up for postpartum online fitness and nutrition coaching with Julie was if I would have the time to focus solely on myself with a 5 month old baby, 6 year old boy, full time career and husband to care for. Would I be exhausted trying to balance it all?
Just the opposite happened, I found more energy to balance it all! I needed that energy to be the best mother and wife I could be to my family. I read some of the testimonials on Julie website around how her bi-weekly check-ins provided accountability for so many women making their own postpartum fitness journeys. I knew I needed that most importantly, along with a solid plan to follow to get me where I wanted to be. I wanted to take the guesswork out of how or what I should eat or what my exercise plan should be. I let go of my concerns, trusted that it was the right time to prioritize myself alongside my family, for the greater good of all.
Tell us the specifics about your postpartum fitness transformation.
Overall, I lost 10 pounds on the scale since working with Julie, gained a lot of muscle while losing more than 14 inches across my body.
Scale Weight Loss: 10 lbs
Approx. Muscle Gain: 4 lbs
Approx. Bodyfat Loss: 14 lbs
Waist Inches Lost: 3.25
Thigh Inches Lost: 2
A really cool fitness accomplishment through my postpartum fitness journey has been the changes in my fitness. We do a fit test every 4 weeks in my training with Julie. Here are the results:
Pushup Strength: I went from 5 pushups to 20!
3 Mile Bike: Improved my endurance by 1:20
Sit & Reach Flexibility: Gained 5 INCHES in my hamstring flexibility
How do you feel after your postpartum fitness journey? how has your outlook about your body and your life changed?
Everything has changed since working with Julie and prioritizing health and fitness. My hormones have completely balanced out and my energy levels have skyrocketed. I have learned so much more along the way around food, nutrition, and exercise. Most importantly on the nutrition front that less is not more.
I was not eating enough calories on a daily basis prior to working with Julie and those calories were not the right macros. I have learned how my body reacts to different macros and realized how nice it is to follow a macro based plan, versus initially thinking it may feel too restrictive. One thing I love about Julie’s nutrition plan is that it includes a wide range of nutritious foods that allows you to feel satisfied, not as if you are missing out!
What Supplements Did You Use During The Process?
For the first few months, it was about building muscle most importantly while also losing fat. During that phase in the plan I took Density (2 pills 3x a day), Muscle Synergy as a Pre-Workout, Collagen Peptides as part of my pre-workout meal, and ZMAs.
The ZMA 2000 is amazing for recovery and most importantly sleep! I really feel these helped in my hormone balancing efforts as sleep is one of the most important factors in reducing cortisol and balancing hormones. I really had trouble sleeping before I started taking the ZMAs.
In the last couple of months I focused on leaning out a bit more and switched over to 7 Keto Musclean (3 pills once a day), Lean Out (2 pills 3 times a day before meals), Glutamine Select and Collagen Peptides before workouts.
I used all the recommended Beverly International Supplements Julie suggested; however my favorite was the UMP Protein in graham cracker. It gave me the extra protein I needed along with satisfying the sweet tooth I had from time to time.
What is the best and worst part of having julie as your online fitness coach?
Everything I already mentioned is the best part about working with Julie through my postpartum fitness journey! There is nothing I could say was the worst. If you are debating on investing in your health and fitness, you won’t be disappointed in working with Julie. You will receive a solid nutrition and exercise plan, you will be held accountable and you will succeed!
ANY OTHER COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
I don’t have a favorite motivational quote per se, though, I do have a marquee letter board hanging in my office where I have spelled out the following: Visualize the End Goal. I put this message on the board to remind me on the daily to visualize how it will feel, what it will look like once I reach my goal. Whatever the goal of the season is. Visualization for me is a huge tool to realization. It helped to keep me accountable and consistent on the days I needed it!
AFTER BABY FITNESS TRANSFORMATION Q&A
Q: How soon after giving birth can I start working out?
A: When you first have your baby it is super important to prioritize healing and recovery first. Typically, doctors recommend waiting at least 6-8 weeks postpartum before starting any structured exercise routine. However, for most women, gentle movements like walking and postpartum-specific pelvic floor exercises can often be started sooner.
Q: What are the best exercises to begin with for postpartum fitness?
A: I recommend that women start with low-impact exercises that focus on rebuilding core strength and pelvic floor stability, such as pelvic tilts, bridges, and modified planks. Gradually introduce bodyweight exercises like squats and lunges as your strength improves. Remember, it’s not about jumping into intense workouts right away but about gradually rebuilding your strength and stamina.
Q: How can I manage postpartum weight loss while maintaining my energy levels for breastfeeding?
A: Nutrition plays a really important role in balancing weight loss with energy needs, especially while you are nursing. Focus on nutrient-dense foods that provide lasting energy, like lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Protein needs to be a priority, but you still want a balanced diet. I generally recommend starting with a macronutrient breakdown of 30% protein, 40% complex carbs and veggies, and 30% healthy fats. Avoid drastic calorie cuts, as they can impact milk supply and energy levels. Instead, aim for a gradual, sustainable approach to postpartum weight loss by combining a balanced diet with consistent, moderate exercise.
Q: Is it possible to regain my pre-baby body, and how long does it take?
A: Every woman’s body is different, so timelines will vary. While it’s possible to regain your pre-baby fitness level, it’s important to set realistic goals and focus on overall health and well-being rather than just physical appearance. Most women find that it takes several months to a year to feel like themselves again, but remember that your body has gone through incredible changes, and progress will look different for everyone.
Q: How can I stay motivated when I’m exhausted and short on time?
A: Postpartum life is demanding, but the key is to set small, manageable goals. Start with just 10-15 minutes of exercise a day and build from there. Incorporate activities that you can do with your baby, like stroller walks or baby-and-me yoga. Consistency is more important than intensity. Finding time to move, even in short bursts, will help boost your energy and mood, making it easier to stay on track.
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