I used to think going to the gym meant I needed to look glamorous in the latest gym wear, with no sign of a red face. I suppose Instagram has played a part in creating that image. I also used to see exercise as just another chore to tick off the list. But somewhere along the way, my perspective has changed. Motherhood and age are possible factors to seeing things differently.
Going to the gym has become a non-negotiable for me. The benefits for both my mind and body are just too important to ignore. It took until I was a year postpartum with my second child before I really started taking it seriously. I’d been to the gym before, but I never had a proper routine. I’d simply turn up and do the bits I enjoyed.
Then I realised that if I wanted to see real results, I had to push myself outside my comfort zone. And it turns out, that’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
I’ve started making time to look after me. That means prioritising my health, but it also means making space for a little social life too – even if it’s just catching up with a friend once a month.
Even my relationship with alcohol has changed. Danny and I went out for a meal last night and had two whole child-free hours together, feeling like the couple who fell in love all those years ago. I enjoyed a big bowl of spaghetti carbonara (obviously!) and… a mocktail. And I loved it.
I’ve become much more protective of my energy too – who I spend it on and where I invest it. My family, my health, and my fitness come first.
I live with a few medical conditions and take medication daily. My blood pressure is under control, my thyroid is hopefully finally balanced again after baby number two, and my weight is gradually coming down, helping me feel more like myself again. Nothing drastic. Just small, consistent steps.
These days, I actually look forward to going to the gym. Makeup-free, hair in a messy bun, embracing the red face and the sweat because they remind me I’ve worked hard. Danny, my husband, helps me stick to a routine, and I now train three times a week with a legs, push, and pull split – not just the exercises I’d have stayed comfortably within a couple of years ago.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to do more for you. Do what makes you feel good. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s journey. Your pace, your routine, your goals – they’re enough.
As mums, we’re so used to putting everyone else’s needs before our own that we often forget we matter too. But when I make time to look after my body and mind, I’m not taking anything away from my family, I’m giving them the very best version of me.
I’m stronger, healthier, happier, and more present than I’ve been in a long time. Not because I’ve reached a certain weight or hit a fitness goal, but because I finally changed my perspective.
And that has made all the difference.
The Mama Perspective | Motherhood and Maternal Wellbeing 