I recently received an email from a fellow entrepreneur who wanted to book a session with me because she is unhappy with her tummy and she has back pain.
She wrote:
I've been wearing my wrap lately b/c my belly is out of control. Baby weight all gone - but serious issues with my belly - I feel like everything is just hanging out and putting a lot of stress on my back. Also, I still carry my daughter. No, I haven't been exercising or doing anything that you told me to do :(
This morning, I woke up with shooting pains across my abdomen and up and down - put on my wrap and felt immediately better. I need to do something and would like to see you in a formal capacity.
This wrap really holds it together for me (literally/figuratively).
My response:
The big question I ask though is what prevented you from doing the exercises? In a session I will do a full assessment and then give you more exercises... Will you do them? ;-)
You also need to see a pelvic floor physio… Remember?? ;-)
Her response – this is the best part...
Okay - got it.
Why I didn't do the exercises:
Yes, I will do the exercises (can I watch Netflix at the same time?)
Yes, I will go to physio.
Girlfriends, you NEED to make time for self care! No guilt, no excuses, no rescheduling – just do it! And do it BEFORE you have a problem.
It is amazing to me how pain is a motivator. Women are more prone to fix a problem – especially a painful one – than they are to prevent it from happening in the first place.
With the right information ahead of time (i.e. during or ideally before pregnancy) women can make choices that build their body for birth and set themselves up for an optimal recovery.
Fixing a problem a year and a half after your third child is born is certainly possible, but taking steps to prevent the ‘broken body’ (a term I hear ALL THE TIME) is easier and preferable.
Now with all due respect to my fellow entrepreneur, I would put money on the fact that she has not yet made her pelvic floor physio appointment. This email thread was from a month ago. She is busy running a company and a household with three young children - I get it, but you gotta make time for you. Following up on that now…
I URGE you – if you are pregnant, see a pelvic floor physio and join my Prepare To Push™. If you are a new or even seasoned mom, see a pelvic floor physio and take the Buff Muff Challenge to retrain your core.
If you have a vagina, even if you have never had kids, even if you never will have kids, even if you have no symptoms, just see a pelvic floor physiotherapist!
Just DO IT!