My Top 6 Takeaways From Jillian's Perspective on Health and Baby:
1. The attitude of "I am woman, hear me roar" is a really bad and dangerous thing.
The notion of "it takes a village" is a very real thing when you become a mother, and Jillian suggests that you shouldn't be afraid to ask your mom, sister, in-laws and friends for help. "Women shouldn't be these rugged individualists, saying 'I am woman, hear me roar', because ultimately, you need to be okay with asking for help. You need help!"
2. Adopt the 12-Hour Rule.
Being a parent is hard work - you need to take time for yourself. "I have found that 12 hours is the magic number for me," says Jillian. "I take roughly 12 hours each week for myself - to go to the dentist, get a couple of workouts in, meet a friend for coffee, get a manicure, and those hours keep me sane." She suggests hiring a babysitter, having your mom watch the kids, and doing whatever it takes to get those 12 hours for yourself. When I asked her about how to implement this rule with a newborn, she sort of laughed and said, "Well, with a newborn you might only get 8 hours a week. But make sure you get those 8!"
3. Set the example for your family.
Especially when it comes to a healthy lifestyle - your kids need to see you making healthy choices. "My kids see me teaching a spin class at the local gym, doing push ups that I share on my Facebook page or sharing a health tip on Instagram - and they want to do those things too." Jillian says that it's not about what you say, it's about what you do. "You have to make fitness aspirational, something that has a long-term end result that they're passionate about."
4. Tell your kids the truth.
Jillian explained how she handles Halloween at her house, "We did the Switch Witch on Halloween night. We let them eat some of the candy they got trick-or-treating, and we told them 'now the Switch Witch will come' and she buys all the candy for a present. We still give them treats, we just remove the chemicals and give them healthier options, like Justin's Organic Peanut Butter Cups or Green & Black's White Chocolate Organic Graham Crackers. And I explain to them about the traditional candy, "this stuff is bad, this is why it's bad, and here's what it's going to do to your health over time." And it sounds crazy, but they get it." Her whole point is that when your kids really hear you, and see your actions giving credibility to your words, you can have a really powerful impact.
5. Don't rush your "bounce back". But make goals.
Bouncing back after having a baby is an elusive and coveted goal of most moms. However, Jillian recommends a gradual, slow return to exercise and having "very realistic expectations" about that return. "Reconditioning your pelvic floor, reconnecting with your core muscles, helping heal up - give it time for that process." She highlights that the recovery from a c-section or diastasis especially need time to heal. "Don't go on a crash diet, but monitor what you're consuming and how much you're consuming. Identify a regimen, like - I want to take a postnatal yoga class - and commit to it. Then once you've got the eating and the fitness in a good routine for a few months, really do your best to prioritize your sleep." These might seem like laughable goals all at once, but little by little, you will have a better mood, energy and metabolism.
6. Find a balance - and realize it's not going to be perfect.
Figuring out how to schedule your workouts can be tough, but not impossible. "You just have to give up the notion that life will ever be what it once was." She shared how she goes about scheduling her workouts in the midst of juggling career and parenthood, "I started to piece together a workout schedule that wasn't perfect, but it's the best possible outcome for the season that we are in. For example, my mom will watch the kids on Saturday so we can go to this yoga class we love - that's one workout. I will have my assistant carve out another morning once my kids are at school - that's two. Can I fit in a crappy lunchtime workout in the middle of the day? That's three. Can I get one in when they're running around the house like savages? That's four. It's not ideal, and it won't be as perfect as it used to be, but it will still be a whole lot better than nothing, and it will work. Paired with relatively common sense eating, it will be enough."
