I remember, whatever year it was, when Heidi Klum walked in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show weeks after giving birth.

Five weeks, actually. I Googled it. Different news outlets reported she came down the runway to a round of applause. Now, I’m not saying she didn’t deserve it, but applauding what, exactly, I wonder? I could guess.

More recently, Makenna Myler made news for the first time in 2020, again in February 2023, for running a 5:25-, then 5:17-mile, respectively. Amazing on its own, but she did it both times pregnant; this year, 9-months pregnant. 

Before I was even thinking about having kids, I was forming expectations based on stories like these around what my own experience could (or, I thought, should) look like. There’s a lot of talk postpartum — even prior, during pregnancy — about bouncing back after baby, and with my favorite style fitness classes: high-intensity interval training, I figured I was poised to do so. But there were a few things I didn’t consider.

How my perspective on fitness has shifted since becoming a mom

Between the hormones, exhaustion, and acclimation to my new normal, not to mention the physical recovery, it would be months after my daughter was born before I could even consider anything above walking.

When I was pregnant, at a certain point, my go-to high-intensity, high-impact workouts didn’t feel the same. The challenge physically messed with me mentally. Other women can do it. At least, Myler can do it. Why can’t I? Meanwhile, I couldn’t run further than down the street without feeling like I needed to turn around to run home to the bathroom.

There was a shift that happened during pregnancy out of necessity: I had to slow down — my pace, the number of classes I was taking a week, the type of exercise I was doing, all of it. I never anticipated these changes would be longer lasting.

Your body isn’t the same after a baby. I’m not the same after a baby. But despite all that’s different, some things remain the same.

First, you’ve probably heard some variation of: “Your body can stand almost anything; it’s your mind you have to convince,” right? For me, mentally, I feel stronger than ever. I grew and birthed a baby. What can’t I do?

Funny, now, I’m more considerate when it comes to what I want to do. I’m not pushing myself like I did previously. Instead, I’m challenging myself differently, leaning into Pilates, more flexibility and mobility, and moving in gentle, all-new-to-me ways to get out of my comfort zone and grow.

And second: Fitness, for me, has always transcended the physical. The mind-body connection is real regardless of what pace you run or how heavy a weight you lift. Movement in any form, of any duration, makes me feel good. It just can’t be understated: when I show up for myself, I am better able to show up for others.

It’s true what they say, self-care isn’t selfish. We all deserve that, to show up for ourselves through fitness or some other form. Today, on Mother’s Day, and every day.