So you just had your baby and are already thinking about what to do to take the baby weight off. Perhaps before the baby, you loved spin class or strength training in the gym. You may have loved going for a mind freeing run alone or with your friends. Now that the baby is here, how will this affect your once active life? I always like to say that there aren't any problems, only solutions. In this week's blog/podcast we will give workarounds to help you become one fierce mother-runner!  To help me with this lively discussion, we will speak with one bad mother-runner of six. Her name is Ashley Cherie. 

I'm Coach Tadris Parker and although I'm a father, I have coached mothers of ages and stages for nearly a decade. As a running father, I've had to use some of these strategies myself to give mom a break. If I wanted to go for a run in the middle of the day, forget about it. I wasn't leaving her alone with the screaming baby to go do something like run. So I had to do something about it, yup, running stroller to the rescue. 

Running can benefit both you and the baby. Make sure you are cleared for aerobic exercise by your doctor. Some are ready to resume exercise as early as two weeks after delivery. While others may have to wait a little longer. 

We want you to get back on the road as soon as possible to help deal with postpartum. Some of the benefits of running include; Reducing the symptoms of depression and helping you handle the stressors of a newborn. 

7 Pitfalls that may try to stop you from being the baddest mother-runner on the planet. 

1. Guilt:

   As a new parent you may feel overwhelmed with all the things that you must do around the house and of the baby. Guilt will try to set in when you think about doing something to take care of yourself.

   Solution: Remind yourself that your health is a priority.  Taking care of your physical and mental health will help you handle the stress of the day. So do not feel guilty for carving out time to run or any other exercise. At times we may have a partner that doesn't understand our need for a mental break. When our partner isn't on the same page, they may unknowingly make us feel guilty for needing a run.

   Solution; Have a candid conversation with your partner as to the importance of your running practice. Explain the benefits of both your physical and mental health. Make a schedule together. Although things will come up and you may have to go during a time that wasn't scheduled at least they will understand your feelings about being healthy. 

2. Newborns:

You may be thinking there is no way I can run with a newborn. You absolutely can!

Solution: The good news about starting a running practice is that you don’t need to run every day. 3 key days per week is all that is needed. So plan accordingly. Perhaps your partner or parent can watch your newborn as you go out for a 30-40 minute run. Should you choose to bring the baby with you, make sure that you feed the baby first. It’s easier to deal with anything else that could arise than having to stop to feed the little one. 

3. Multiple Children

You are dying to get out and run, but how will you do so with a 2-year-old and a newborn?

Solution: Planning again is everything. Your newborn sleep and feeding schedule may be different from the toddler's eating and feeding schedule. If it’s possible to plan that on Tuesday and Thursday that the toddler has lunch and nap time similar to the newborn's times this will work out perfectly for you. Getting them both into a rhythm daily will help the transition on your running days. (I pick Tuesday and Thursdays as our scheduled running days at runtothebestyou.com) You can feed both children lunch and then strap them into your double stroller and be a mother-runner. By the end of your run, both children may be knocked out. Major wins for you mom. Episode #64 Titled: Becoming Wonder Woman/ The Jennifer Ballance Story (Jennifer runs all sorts of race distances with her children in double stroller)

4. Busy Schedules:

With all the task that you have to do during the day such as; Wake up take care of baby, clean home, make lunch, dinner, laundry, food shop, night time routine, and more.

Solution: Take a look at your long term goals. When looking ahead it is good to look a month in advance. Look at all your appointments for the month. Make sure to schedule yourself onto your calendar. Keep your appointments with yourself. Your health is a priority.

5. Weather Conditions: 

It’s cold, it's hot, it's raining, or there is a chance for snow. 

Solution: Over the weekend, glance at the weather forecast for the upcoming week. If your days to run are Tuesday and Thursday, and it's calling for rain, consider running on Wednesday and Friday. If your schedule is fixed then prepare by having your running stroller plastic cover ready for the rainy or windy cool days. If it calls for snow, stay safe and try to find a treadmill to run on instead of risking injury for you or the baby. If it's going to be a hot day, remember to pick dusk or dawn to run in. Bring a cool rag in a cooler if you need to take a break to cool you and the baby down. ***When running a jogger stroller, wear the wrist straps so that you can control the stroller in all weather conditions. 

6. What To Wear: 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to running with or without your baby. 1. Make sure you have a new pair of sneakers. Your body would thank you. After having children, we know the toll that can take on your back and surrounding muscles. Having the right footwear that will support your body will help you enjoy your runs. 2. There is nothing more uncomfortable than not having the right bra on to carry your girls. Invest in a nice sports bra and you will be ready to run your desired distance. 3. Dressing the baby. During the cooler days, remember to dress the baby with an extra layer (although you may warm up quickly due to exercise) the baby will be cooler. If the baby gets hot, we can always take a layer off. ) Runningshoesguru.com offers great advice on this topic as well as give suggestions the perfect shoe for you

https://www.runningshoesguru.com/content/running-and-motherhood

7. Work, Life, Balance: 

What does that even mean anymore? Anyone that is great at what they do may have a big imbalance. They work on what they love constantly. Practicing to get better at what they do. The question is what do you want to be great at? Being the best mom? Work less and work on adding more life by designing a healthy active life for you and your children. Am I saying not to care about work? No, not at all. You can be great at anything you set your mind on. Just keep things in their proper place according to your goals. 

Ashley Cherie - a True Mother-Runner (Interview)

Coach: Take us back to the start of your journey, how were you feeling?

Ashley: I was miserable. Not healthy in any way. Mind, body, or soul. I was way off balance.

Coach: What was your wake-up call? Like what made you get up one day and say I need to change my habits? 

Ashley: When I saw myself in pictures and realized I couldn’t keep up with my son back then, and he was not even one years old. I hated seeing myself. I hated that I couldn’t do anything. I realized I was teaching him my bad habits.

Coach: Since this episode is helping mothers either take up running for the first time or get back into running after their child is born, I couldn’t help but ask you to share on this topic. The reason being is that it seems as though you have had to run around a busy life of being a mother. I saw a picture of your sons holding you up sideways in their arms. How many children do you have?

Ashley: 6 living and 5 not.

Coach: What’s your primary reason for running now? You may start for one particular reason but what is your “WHY” now? 

Ashley: My why now is to lead by example to my 6 kids. To teach them so they do the same and know how to properly do this. I have diseases too and I need to manage them. This is how I manage them. So the diseases don’t manage me.

Coach: What is your current exercise routine throughout the week?

Ashley:  Running 6 days a week and yoga if I can add that in.

Coach: Any special eating routine that you are currently following to support your health methods?

Ashley: I eat pretty clean. But mostly view food as fuel and eat what I want and try to keep balance.

Coach: How do you feel now since adopting this healthier lifestyle? 

Ashley: I feel amazing. I am living my best life, and it is trickling down to my children.

Coach: Wow, how much have you lost and been able to maintain since starting running? 100 plus pounds.

Ashley: 100 plus pounds!

Coach: Wow, that’s great! How do your family and friends enjoy this version of you? 

Ashley: My kids love it. They have a very active mom that is down to do things with them. Their friends are always asking to come and go on adventures with us as we always do new things.

Coach: Are there any other tips that you would like to give new mothers?

Ashley: Be the change you wish to see. Make sure you are setting the example of how you take care of and love yourself. By doing this you are teaching your children and setting the tone for how they will take care and love themselves!

Coach: Thank you for being on the show! 

Before we let you go........

WHAT can you say to our listeners who may be ready to start their journey tomorrow? 

Ashley’s Final Motivation Quote:

You are free to make choices but you are not free from the consequences. So make sure the choice reflects what you want. Continually make those choices and remember one size does not fit all. You will have to work at finding what you love, and that will make it much easier!

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