Rebuilding Strength after C-Section: A She Moves Success Story

16 Aug

Meet She Moves member Tracey Fleming! Tracey’s journey is a shining example of what can be achieved with She Moves workouts and consistent action. After undergoing a c-section, Tracey found herself starting from scratch with her fitness. Through sweat, commitment, and the right guidance from She Moves, she carved her path back to an active lifestyle. Let's dive into Tracey's inspiring adventure back to feeling fit and vibrant!

If you are looking to start your journey back into exercise be sure to check out our new ‘She Starts - Beginner Challenge’ starting soon.

When did your journey back into exercise begin? What gave you the push to get started again?

Before the birth of my daughter in late 2020, I was a Les Mills gym gal! Doing crazy amounts of group fitness classes a week or busting out some cardio and weights sessions. During the lockdowns, I jumped on the Les Mills on-demand bandwagon and kept very active during my pregnancy.

Following an emergency c-section and getting those steps in with daily walks, I knew I needed more and a close friend suggested joining She Moves. I had followed She Moves for a few years on social media - loving the values and positivity they shared but hadn't really thought it was for me (maybe not as hardcore as I was! haha).

I remember signing up during one of the challenges and messaging my gf with my sweaty face after doing a She Tones (4ish months post birth). I was very fit before the birth of my daughter and pretty shocked how much muscle tone I'd lost but muscle memory was definitely there and it was great to have the support through the likes of She Restores and She Tones to help rebuild my fitness from the ground up!

How did it feel starting from ground zero with your fitness?

I was loving my walking, pram or front-pack walks but I needed more! The She Moves community gave me the right mindset and tools to start to prioritise some me time. I am a huge advocate for the benefits exercise has on your mental health so popping a workout on for ME (not walking to get my wee babe to sleep!) was so good for the soul! I knew I had some work to do on my core post-c-section and knew more babies were in my future so She Moves gave me all the right tools to get started safely and go at my new, slower pace.

What did your journey back into exercise look like?

I am a very motivated person, but there are many days as a mum where you can put up every excuse under the sun to not get that workout in! However, I am so competitive and love the community motivation of posting in the comments that you've completed your workout! Getting that notification that a friend has done a workout is the biggest driver on those days I feel like not showing up. I love the variety that She Moves provides - let's not even talk about my lack of exercise during my second pregnancy (hello 7 months of constant nausea and sickness!).

Where are you at with your exercise now, how are you feeling? What goals have you got for the next few months?

Surprisingly my recovery from my second birth was completely different, faster and back to feeling myself a lot quicker. I didn't have the same baseline fitness this time round so took my time recovering with She Restores and rebuilding my core strength. Right now, I am ticking off 3+ workouts a week! A mix of She Tones, She Lifts, She Extends and trying to add in She Explodes!

I am loving the new Mini Movement Bites which are that extra little 5-10 minutes to up your workout! My goals are to be more consistent with my workouts (hoping this ties in with my wee babe learning how to sleep a little more!) and to challenge myself with at least one She Explodes a week and commit to She Flows each Sunday night.

How has She Moves helped you get back into exercise?

The community is such a good space to feel supported! I love the constant reminders the trainers provide during the workouts for your core and form. She Moves provides great variety for your workouts and the trainers are so encouraging! You feel like just as you are about to give up they provide those little boosters to keep going!

What's one piece of advice you have for a mum who knows they need to get started but can't seem to get going what would it be?

Sign up with a friend! It's so motivating seeing your friend's name pop up saying they've ticked off their workout if you're on the fence to squeeze in your workout! There is something for everyone and don't be shy to search in the archives for some old workouts! There are some absolute gems in there!