I am a first-time mom to an adorable baby girl, Sloane. I have been petite with an athletic build my entire life and assumed that I would gain the “suggested” 25 pounds (which is nearly impossible) and bounce right back after baby. While attempting to eat healthy and maintain some sort of physical exercise during my pregnancy I was astounded to find that I had gained over 50 pounds! After a rather traumatic birth story, I left the hospital weighing 10 pounds more than when I had gone in. I had over 60 pounds to shed. I was able to lose most of the water weight within a week or so but the other pounds were going to take work. Given that I had a cesarean section, I knew that I was going to need to find a workout that would help me not only get back into shape but also help me to heal my body and retrain my muscles.
Before being cleared to work out, I would walk two miles to Woodbury Town Center each day to pick up my Starbucks with my daughter. While walking, I came across Alkalign Irvine and stopped in to see what it was all about. I got a chance to meet Kate and ask some questions. Having never taken a barre class or a Pilates class and not being a fan of yoga, I assumed I would (like most classes) hate it. I ended up joining a class and LOVED it. The class was amazing! Many of the positions and movements did not look challenging but my muscles ached in a good way the next day. The instructors were able to modify movements to help with my recovery after having a cesarean section, while still ensuring I was building muscle and making the most out of my workout.
I ended up purchasing a monthly membership to attend class at least five times a week. My goal was to heal my body and become comfortable enough to sport a bikini this summer. I knew that I would quit and not be able to stick to my goals if I did not see progress so I decided to start taking a picture every 30 days. Each month I would compare my picture to the month prior and was surprised that I was noticing results. I could visibly see the progress and wanted nothing more than to push myself further.
After only two months, I felt like myself again. I had rebuilt core strength that I honestly never thought I would feel again. I am stronger and more physically fit than I was going into my pregnancy. I love Alkalign because you get what you put into it. I am able to push myself past where I felt possible on some days while scaling it back on other days. I have not only been able to help myself physically but I have built confidence that helps my mental state. I hope to continue my practice for years to come.
