In the first few weeks, it was hard to move around after giving birth. Mind you in the first two days my doctor came to visit me in my room and told me to stand up, sit down and do a few movement exercises that would help me with my recovery. He advised me to keep moving, listen to my body and keep my posture in place. I am really grateful that I had a doctor who looked out for me postpartum. At first, I was amazed and shocked because I thought straight after giving birth they would tell me not to move and be in my bed so I could recover! That was not the case. I stayed in the hospital for five days. I stayed in bed most of the time however I needed to take my shower so I had to walk for 5-10minutes up the stairs to get to my shower room. I did not hate it at all. Although I was in immense pain I made the effort to move my body as advised. Bathing was an exercise for me as well. Soaping my body, trying to bend down to wash my feet eventually putting my legs up the stool so that I could reach my foot. I remember vividly huffing and puffing after a shower. Then it was another 5-10minutes walking down the stairs. One day at the hospital, I would move my body for 20 minutes. Check out my youtube channel for the three exercises I did post-birth from Day 1 until 1-month post-partum. I still do it as a warm-up when I work out!

When I posted workout videos or updated them on social media. I received messages about the exercises I shared. Anything fitness I shared I got “ Na Tadoka!” In my language, it means “ Be careful you will strain yourself” Although it was hard to read and swallow at times I took it positively and appreciated the love and the care I received in this message. People who sent me these messages came from a place of love. However, it is important to remember that it is also vital to say something encouraging and positive. Here are some examples :

1. Are you ok?

2. How is your recovery?

3. How are you?

These are some nice ways of replying to posts or simply dropping an inbox. I love these heartwarming messages!!

I continued my fitness journey and struggled with body confidence. Yes! Yes! I may get comments like “ You just had a baby it is understandable!” And that is true, however, it does not change the feelings I had. Every time I looked in the mirror I would feel proud and happy; at other times I'd see my saggy tummy and feel “ urghhh! Oh no!” It can get depressing in 2seconds. Another thing I learned post-birth and I am going to type it in CAPS :

LEARNING HOW TO STRENGTHEN MY MIND BY PRAYING, READING BOOKS, AND MEDITATING.

As a mom, I love meditating in the shower. It's the most time I get to just unwind.

I really did not want to let myself go after giving birth so I promised myself that I would do everything I could to take care of my health. I had to think of my baby and try to live a healthy life so that I could take care of her and my family. There were so many things to consider and the top two were :

1. Time - Would I really have time to get a workout in? Would I have the time to re-do meals and eat healthily? It was so much easier for me to get fast food or whip up something completely unhealthy.

2. Money - Oh Money! Did I have enough to get healthier options? I mean fast food is really cheap and convenient! Should I really spend all this money on getting healthier ingredients rather than stick to what I am already using?

First, I started following more healthy IG accounts. It is really true! You are affected by what you follow and making this change helped me a great deal. It made changing my diet much easier. I could learn some tips on how to make healthy snacks and food. This process changed my mindset. Second I started following accounts that had uplifting messages or verses. Third I followed fitness accounts. Following fitness accounts and seeing other women work out inspired me.

Baby steps and just living in the moment, living life grateful and loving pushed me to make these changes. I did not realize the time it took me until I wrote this piece. It has been seven months. I was always about fitness but not to the extent that I am making right now. Seven months in I am:

A healthy breastfeeding Mama. Eating one full meal a day. Two snack times per day. Two Meal shakes per day.

There are so many stigmas and opinions out there about how I should have been managing my diet and health. I have to encourage New mothers, expectant mothers, and Mamas like me in their postpartum journey - LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND KEEP PROGRESSING! DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT FOR YOU!

Becoming a mom was overwhelming to say the least! It was truly lifechanging. Before pregnancy my life was always about healthy eating and fitness. I enjoyed exercising everyday to de-stress. Having had a baby I wasnt able to do all these at the beginning and it really brought me down. I had such a hard time focussing and feeling good about myself. No matter how beautiful my husband told me I looked, it would still eat me up inside. I would cry for hours in the bathroom. I would snap at little things. It felt like my heart was being torn out of my chest. I lost my self confidence, my will to wake up somedays and motivation to do things. There were bad days like these and then there were days I would be so grateful as I gazed down at my baby. I would think about all the things I am able to have; a roof over my head, food on the table, friends and family that love me, a supportive partner and enough money to keep our family going. This is very normal mama. You wont always feel good all the time! And when this happens please talk to someone who will listen and help you! I was very fortunate I have friends that really took care of me during this time. I also focussed a great deal of my time on my spiritual health , it truly helped me! Week 1 and Week 2 Post partum I was admitted to the emergency room twice. I always felt like my insides were re arranged after birth and when it was going back to normal it was really hard for me. I could not eat food I used to enjoy. My cholestrol level was four times higher than normal. I dont know how I survived those severe tummy aches. Man they hurt! My takeaway from this experience and my advice to you mama, please be in a space where you are able to be mentally, physically and spritually okay . Be strong and know its ok to cry days on end! Its ok to be not okay! Focus on the Good and keep it pushing! Also you know yourself and your body. One thing I got so much was people telling me I should not excercise or do things I clearly felt I could do. I knew it was from a place of care and love but do you boo! DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS BEST FOR YOU! Post Partum is no joke! Please take care of yourself the best way you know how.

After being discharged from the hospital I stayed with my Kitakyushu Japanese Family. The meals were prepared for me and I usually had a green smoothie everyday. I stayed there for about a month with baby. I cannot stress this enough MAMAs you need support and staying with family helps a great deal especially when youre a first time mom. They helped me recover and my recovery wasnt easy. My cholestrol was always high so I had to cut that out of my diet. I absolutely love my butter but I had to stop because I was getting sick.

After a month I returned home and husband with our baby. I switched up my diet. I started having oatmeal in the morning with brown bread toast. For lunch I ate Rice and Miso soup. For dinner I would have a green smoothie and a cup of coacoa to boost my milk.

I was worried at first since I received a lot of advice saying "You should eat alot to boost your milk" or " You shouldnt miss meals" or " Youre breastfeeding you should eat this or that". At first I was really irritated hearing these but I knew it was my hormones getting the better of me. People will always have something to say to you Mama. Take it positively and learn that they are coming from a place of love. It was difficult for me to hear and it really drove me up the wall until I realized that I diddnt have to take everyone seriously. Im grateful I received love and care however in the end I did what I felt comfortable doing. I ate what I was good for me and my baby. I made sure I did my own research and that I was eating enough to fuel my body because in the end I was the one doing all the work preparing meals and also monitoring my own body doing my daily exercise. Keeping fit was and is an important part of my recovery.

Eating too much isnt a good thing. Eat enough and Excercise to keep healthy and fit.

This daily mantra has helped me through the years at home and work. Wherever I go, I keep this quote in mind. It has saved me lots of pain that could come from disappointments, heartaches, and arguments because I relied on someone to do something for me when I could have done it myself! Don't get me wrong, it is good to ask for help - I do ask when I need it. However, if I have the capacity to do what needs doing at the time, I would make sure I get the work done.

Now that I have a family of my own this quote has saved me some stress. Being a new Mama I am always overwhelmed with the amount of work that has to be done at home. There are days when I feel stressed just looking at the mess in front of me. There are days where I feel like "OH GOSH I CAN'T TODAY" I'm always thinking "Can this day be over already?" There are days when I wished I had a magic wand I could spin around like the way Dumbledore did in Professor Slughorns' house. With one swoosh the whole house SPIK AND SPAN! Then I remind myself if I cant do it I can't expect anyone to do it for me. I will do it in my own time. All that needs doing will be done when my energy is back! I expect no one to do it for me!

It seemed so easy when I read this quote years ago when my brother shared it with me. But it took me years to actually understand and keep this mindset everyday. It used to be easy to complain about things when it was never done right or done a certain way I liked. Then I got humbled real fast when I saw this. I started living by this quote from the day I was introduced to it! Every year I feel a little lighter keeping this in mind. This has also helped me a great deal at work!

THIS IS MY LIFE AT THE MOMENT! HOW ABOUT YOU?