FITNESS
Bounce back strong after baby
By AMANDA ROHDE Photography By JOEL RINER
Lying on her back on the mat, she drives the dumbbells upward in a steady chest press as her baby looks on with wide-eyed curiosity, turning a workout into a shared moment.
W hen I became a mother, one of my biggest fears was losing the fitness routine that had always been part of my life. I’d heard countless sto- ries about the lack of time, ener- gy and motivation that often comes with caring for a newborn. Preg- nancy and postpartum are full of unknowns, and I didn’t know what to expect from my body — or my schedule — on the other side. Growing a baby is an intense, ever-changing process. Your hor-
mones, body and energy shift fast- er than you can keep up. Pregnancy changes how you move, and postpar- tum changes it all over again. But through each stage, I was amazed at how capable the body is. The post- partum period felt like meeting a new version of myself — one that was different, but still strong. 1. Recovery allows the body to re- pair damaged tissues, replenish en- ergy stores, and reduce muscular fatigue. When we exercise, we are breaking down our tissues in the
process of rebuilding them, recov- ery supports the rebuilding part. 2. It supports mental recupera- tion, enhances skill development and fosters long-term progress and wellbeing. Daily recovery strate- gies allow us to keep performing our best and achieve the progress we desire. 3. Muscle growth occurs during recovery, not during the workouts. Muscles develop when the body re- sponds to the damage sustained during exercise.
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