Look at me! I had a baby and I go to the gym! (But doesn’t that make me one of the lucky ones?!)

I’m incredibly fortunate to have my mum on hand to help babysit when I want to dive out for an hour to get a bar bell fix. Recently my mum has been injured and my really awesome gym (@utssouthwirral) has come up trumps, accommodating me and the entire clan so that I can continue to exercise.

It’s a mental break and a physical release.

But I find it really odd as people call me ‘superwoman’ and ‘incredible’ because I still get to do something that I enjoy doing and that is good for me personally.

But what about the single mums who don’t have family around? Maybe they can’t afford a crèche? Maybe they can’t afford a running buggy? Maybe their gym won’t accommodate bringing their children along? Maybe they have to go straight back to work to provide a household income?

We can discuss that you don’t need a gym to exercise, and this is true. But anyone who has had children will appreciate the absolute complete and consuming exhaustion that comes with it. Sometimes you need that social hit and different environment to give you the adrenaline to exercise when you had only a few hours sleep.

So yes, exercising is great. In fact, it is a necessary component to a healthy lifestyle and great for new mums to increase their energy and keep strong.
BUT, those that can get out, exercise and take a sanity hour are the lucky ones.

Let’s spare a moment for the mums working away at home, supporting their families and giving all their time to their children. They are the superwomen in my eyes.