Gemma Atkinson Instagram – It’s been 13 months since I’ve tried to lift even half of this weight. Form still isn’t Great but it’s an achievement! 55kg 10reps for 3 sets. Still a way off what I was lifting pre Thiago but 5 months ago there’s no way I could ever imagine myself lifting again. I can’t speak for all mums but I know for some of us something happens when you have a baby. You get this kind of imposter syndrome where you think everything you did pre baby is impossible. Hormones are shot, you’re exhausted and for me, with my 2nd section and a toddler to already look after, it took longer for me to feel ok physically, And mentally I spent the first 4wks worried sick about haemorrhaging again. About 7wks in I carried Tio upstairs in his car seat because I was so fed up of ppl doing everything for me. A few hrs later I lost some blood and I had to go back to hospital. It was only old blood coming away & I was home within hours. It scared me though and I was so annoyed at myself for lifting him like that. It was a big wake up call about how big an operation I’d had. Twice! I had a moment after thinking I just needed to accept mentally & physically I prob won’t be the same again and that this was a new norm I had to get used to. I have 2 happy healthy babies so what does it matter? But the thing is,it did & it does. Because if us as parents aren’t feeling good in ourselves, how on earth are we supposed to parent to our best ability? How are we supposed to set examples? Everyone had something they loved to do before being a parent (for me it’s training. Nothing makes me feel better) a lady msgd me once saying she used to run marathons but after a section with twins she assumed she’d never run that far again, but she did. On her twins 5th b’day week! To others, your little post partum successes will seem daft. Ignore them. To you they are wins! I know it doesn’t feel like it in the early months of parenthood, but you will eventually get “you” back. And both you & your kids will thrive from it. So Keep going in whatever your small successes may be 👏🏼 Pls don’t attempt any exercise without the go ahead from a postpartum specialist! I’ve been seeing my pelvic floor specialist regularly ♥️