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The click took place a few months ago. I had just given a play to a homeless man when he gave me a very embarrassing “And congratulations!”. Why ? Because the baby in question, supposed to be in my womb, my third, has been born for two years! Shame ! It was time for me to recover. Down with my soft and bloated stomach: I decided to test everything to find a healthy and muscular body!
1) I’m going to Pilates ”
How to get back to sport when you haven’t done it for years? (except if going back to your races at arm’s length + a tired little child is considered an Olympic discipline, in this case, I am a champion). No more excuses: a Pilates class has opened near my home. Laëtitia, the teacher, has a daughter the age of my eldest. Yet its size, to her, is perfectly curved, as if taken in a natural sheath. (the reverse of me what) ” Pilates is the ideal sport for mothers after pregnancy. It works the perineum and deeply strengthens the pelvic floor and deep abdominals. Every day, try to make false chest inspirations, inspired by Gasquet’s method. You empty your air and pretend to inhale without really doing it by blocking your nose. The belly is impressively hollow. Afterwards, every day, you try to hold on longer. »Laëtitia explains to me. During the lesson, on my mat, I feel ridiculous: I am the only one who does not manage to climb without momentum, I do not keep the balances and I have trouble sucking my stomach during the exercises. Even if I don’t attend classes (I only go about once in two), I feel that it works in depth: I start to feel the different muscles and above all, the next day, I have super aches.
2) I apply the technique of “small steps”
In the past, I have already embarked on incredible challenges: abdominals every day, vegan detox … but often, I keep my “good resolutions” 4 to 15 days maximum. I talk about it with the coach specializing in detox, Élodie Cavalier: “ Good recovery resolutions are often TOO ambitious. When we let them go, we say to ourselves: “I suck, another year when I won’t do anything… I’m going to smoke again and eat a pastry.” Rather, it is better to make small changes in a sustainable way, which will not be difficult to maintain. »Affirms Élodie Cavalier. Based on this advice, I decide to drink a glass of lukewarm water with a squeezed lemon every morning and to put more fruits and vegetables in my daily diet. It’s a (very) small change, but I’m happy to stick with it.
3) The sugar detox is now!
It’s time for me to put the brakes on sugar seriously. The first few days, it’s a bit of a torture: I dream of pastries and spread. And then, after a while, I get used to not stopping at the bakery. And since I love to snack … I’m thinking of putting healthy snacks in my bag: fruit or almonds. It prevents me from going down to the vending machine at work or eating the children’s cakes. I drink water more often during the day, trying to vary: water + mint leaf or herbal tea without sugar. I reduce the dishes in sauce, the fries, the meat, and I try to introduce once a week an entirely vegetarian day, with mixtures of legumes. I even find vegetarian nuggets that the kids love. Finally the whole family eats a little better!
4) I play sports at home with an online coach
When you’ve just given birth or have young children, it’s not easy to settle into a workout and stick to it! That’s good, Shapin ‘is a web platform that should allow me to resume sport in the long term. How? ‘Or’ What ? ” By removing the constraints related to practice, boosting motivation and facilitating the creation of a simple and effective sports routine », According to its founder, Justine Renaudet. Thanks to her, I connect to Facebook where Luc Tailhardat, sports coach (and volunteer firefighter!) Offers our “team” sessions on deep abs and special attention to preserving the perineum “the Ultimate Fit workout”. No crunch abs! For two months, I follow the chosen program live or in replay. I love ! Even if I have the impression of having gone under a steamroller as my abdominals hurt me after each session, but having a live coach definitely boosts my motivation …
5) I try the electrostimulation belt
I admit, I thought this Slendertone ConnectAbs belt would sculpt me a muscular body, installed in my sofa! It’s not that ! After three weeks of using it at low intensity while flipping through magazines, I don’t see any difference. By going on the forums to read user reviews, I understand that it must be integrated into your workout, increasing the intensity day after day. The first times, I only support an intensity of 15, but after a few days, I exceed 55, then 70. During my sessions, I notice that I hold the sit-ups, or planks, better when I wear the belt. When I meet my sisters at the weekend, they point out to me that my stomach is flatter. Me, inside, I feel my abs firmer. This belt works well by working the abdominal muscles … but not without doing nothing!
6) I move around at work ”
It’s not easy to play sports when you are sitting all day! I still manage to change small things … I will systematically see the person instead of sending him an email. At work, there are two sets of stairs, I no longer have to ask myself to go up and down to get the mail, bring someone up a coffee … On my lunch break, about once a week, I take the time to walk around the neighborhood. It’s an opportunity to see new things, to get your nose out of my screen a little. Colleagues organized themselves to do sports sessions together. I find these kinds of initiatives great to help motivate each other, even if I don’t feel ready to join them yet. All excuses are good for exercising !!!
7) I learn to refocus and let go
My life as a workingmum brings its share of struggles every day: sick child, file to be completed and all that with the stress of never succeeding in completing everything during the day. I admit, like most people, when I’m stressed, I throw myself into sweets… Nathan Obadia is a coach, specializing in self-defense. It works on self-confidence. He explains to me that you have to let go of hypercontrol so as not to let yourself be dominated by stress. How to find this good distance from the events of the day? It is enough to set up small regular breathing exercises which help to let go. Free applications, which require you to stop, such as Respirelax or My Cardiac Coherence. Indeed, when I use them, after a few days, I have the feeling to have clearer ideas and not to let myself be overwhelmed by stress during the day. In the evening, I am also calmer with the children. Hope it lasts !