Melissa Paris Fitness

Dec 08, 2014

Meet Me

by Melissa Paris

So if you read my birth story you will already know that it did not go as planned. I like to consider myself a laid back person and I tend to roll with the punches. I was not that girl that walked into the hospital with a written out plan for my labor BUT I did think I would be able to have a vaginal birth. Well, that DID NOT happe; but it is OK because I have a healthy, happy, handsome little boy.

So if you read my birth story you will already know that it did not go as planned.  I like to consider myself a laid back person and I tend to roll with the punches.  I was not that girl that walked into the hospital with a written out plan for my labor BUT I did think I would be able to have a vaginal birth.  Well, that DID NOT happe; but it is OK because I have a healthy, happy, handsome little boy.

I bounced back pretty quickly and even with sleepless nights, wacky hormones, and a healing body I forced myself to walk and walk and walk as much as I could and immediately.  It was very important to me to get my new baby out breathing fresh air and for me to get out of the house and start the road to recovery.  I know that if it wasn’t for my rigorous training schedule and my dedication to my body and baby that I would have been able to feel as strong and capable as I did just a few days post birth.

I was one of those women that LOVED being pregnant.  I did not experience nauseous or back pain.  I was able to workout and workout hard up until the day I delivered.  If you have ever trained with me, seen me workout, or taken one of my group classes you already know my style.  I like to incorporate lots of plyometrics paired with strength training (using Kettlebells, dumbbells, and bodyweight).  Of course as your belly gets larger, balance starts to shift, and possible joint laxity takes place some moves are modified or omitted.  But I continued modified burpees up until the end of my pregnancy.  My workouts were an integral part of my recovery process.  Because of the emergency C-section my abdominal muscles (which are used in every movement) were non-existent for a few weeks.  I counted on my strong legs and arms to pick up my new baby, hold him for hours, get out of bed to breast feed at 2,3,4 am.  I NEVER felt weak.

So, I guess you can say my style is intense but with a heart.  There were and still are days when I JUST don’t have the energy and those are the days I take a nap with my baby instead.  But most days if I can get in at least 45 minutes of movement walking, dips, pushups, a run, TRX I do it and it always feels better.  I strive to be a good example for my son, my husband, and other moms and moms to be.

 

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