Getting Stronger….Slowly But Surely

Yeah, I am. I’m getting stronger. Little by little, workout by workout. I can feel it when I brush my thigh or catch a glimpse of my shoulder in the mirror. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no Annie Thorisdotter (CrossFit Games Women’s 2011 and 2012 Champion), but I’m working on getting a little bit stronger every day!

When I first got pregnant (January of 2012) and was doing CrossFit, I vowed to continue working out through my whole pregnancy; well, I pretty much did that, worked out right up until about week 36 when we did some last minute traveling and a quick house move (&$@*) so I feel really great about that. My recovery after the C-section was quick; I was up and about the next day and ready to work out the next week (Matt wouldn’t let me, not the mention the doctor). Needless to say, no working out until week 6 P.S. (Post-Sammy) so I went a little stir crazy, but I got there and I dove back in!

I was ready…I went for it…I felt a little slow and a little mushy, but I gave myself a week or two to catapult right back to where I was before. Then it hit me; the dreaded muffin top and the infamous baby belly. Ummm, excuse me, these weren’t still supposed to be here! I’ve never been one to carry weight in my ab area (I’m a hip and butt girl) so not being able to hold in my new little baby pouch was messing with my head big time! I worked out harder! I vowed to give it 100% every workout, damnit!!! No more excuses about going easy because I just had major surgery or had a small human cut out of my midsection. NO, this is the big show, it’s ON!!

Yeah…ummm, NOT! Things are still a little loose here and there, I even braved the “Gap” and went to buy some jeans, seeing as how I haven’t bought myself much other than maternity pants and sweatshirts for the last year and a half. That wasn’t such a good idea. I tried stuff on…and I even bought a pair of jeans, but when I got to the car I had to talk myself through a minor breakdown and cry session! Where did this shit come from??? Why won’t it just go AWAY?!?!? I work hard, I eat right! Yeah, I still indulge in my wine, but I’ve always done that…what’s the damn deal???

What’s the DAMN DEAL, you ask???

Here’s the deal: Hey Annie, ease up! You’re 41. You had a baby 5 months ago that took 40 weeks to grow and stretch inside your body. Let’s give it a minute, shall we??? Oh yeah, and that doctor cut through your belly and uterus to yank him out while you were really drugged up, let it heal!

The moral of the story??? I’m working really hard! Really hard at the CrossFit box, and really hard reminding myself that I’m okay. I’m a woman that incubated a little man inside of my belly. Go easy, have patience and feel your inner and outer strength. And that I’m doing! I can feel it…it’s coming back…slowly, but damn surely!!!  You know what I’m talking about…that inner strength that you can feel with a sixth sense, when you move mountains and then say “yeah, no biggie”. Go find it! Go get it! But also, go easy on yourself…you’re doing GOOD!!!