Meet Nikki!
Happy Leap Day! We’re excited to introduce Nikki this month for our March feature, a brand new mama to her first baby boy (only 11 weeks old), residing west of Boston with her husband. When Nikki isn’t enjoying all things Maternity leave (like excessively shopping for tiny clothes!), she works full-time as a Sales Operations Manager. We asked her how she’s Living Well today amidst her transition to Mama-hood, and here’s what she told us…
How do you typically start your day?
I’m sure this will look a lot different once I go back to work in mid-March, but my day typically starts around 6:30 AM. My husband is up for work and we squeeze in a coffee and hangout together for 10-15 minutes before he leaves.
I do a few things around the house and make a green smoothie before my son wakes up around 7:30-8:00 AM. Our first stop is his nursery for a quick diaper change (he’s currently still in a bassinet in our bedroom) and then head to the living room for playtime.
He’s ready to eat around 8:30 AM then goes down for his first nap around 9:30 AM. This is when I either pick a couple Pinterest workouts or my mom comes over so I can go to a spinning class.
What is your favorite workout now that you’re in the clear postpartum?
I’m obsessed with Spinning. I go to 3-5 indoor cycling classes a week. I actually got certified to teach when I was 7 weeks pregnant and had planned on teaching throughout my pregnancy. I came down with the worst morning sickness (nausea, vomiting, dehydration, etc.) around 9 weeks and it lasted 24 hours a day until I was 18 weeks.
By then, I’d lost all my endurance and told myself I’d just take the next 5 months off. Once I build my endurance back up I’ll be teaching my own classes.
Spin has been my go to for years now. I can make it as challenging or as easy as I need to and no matter what, I always leave feeling like I got a great workout in.
What is one of your recent go-to healthy dinners to cook at home?
My go to healthy dinner is B-O-R-I-N-G because I have one of the world’s pickiest eaters for a husband. But it’s healthy and he’ll eat it. I season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, thyme, lemon and garlic. Throw them onto a baking sheet with veggies for me (I love carrots, onions, & brussels sprouts) and potatoes for him.
Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees and serve!
What do you do when you want to have “Me Time”?
My “Me Time” includes going to the gym, running errands/shopping and sometimes it’s just taking a really long hot shower or taking a break to grab a quick coffee.
What do you love most about being a new Mama so far?
I have truly learned the meaning of unconditional love. I thought I knew what it was before, but I’ve uncovered parts of my heart and soul that I never knew existed.
Can you share a few Wellness goals for this year & how you’ll track your progress?
I gained well over the recommended amount of weight for my starting body height and weight. My first fitness goal is to get back my pre-baby body.
What works well for me is keeping a food diary. I do this through an app called, My Fitness Pal. It allows me to track all of my calories and workouts so I have an idea of where I’m at for the day and can make smart choices about what I’m eating. The real progress will show when I can wear my skinny jeans again!
Another fitness goal is to be able to run longer than 3 miles. Before I was pregnant, I was running 3-5 miles a couple times a week. It would be great to be there again. I’m planning on signing up for a race this summer and will use that as my motivation.
What has been your biggest challenge with wellness since the birth of your baby?
My biggest challenge is finding the time to exercise. When I can’t make it to the gym, I look up workouts on Pinterest and try to pick a HIIT and run through it 2-3 times. Thankfully, in the last few weeks, my little one’s naps have become really consistent, so I’ve been able to plan my workouts around them.
Who do you lean on most for support when it comes to wellness?
I lean friends and other women who have recently had a baby for support. It’s easy for me to get caught up with the celebs that bounce back to their pre baby weight in what feels like days! Talking to women in similar situations as myself is where I find the most support.
What is one piece of candid advice you’d like to share with other new Mamas?
There have been times where I look in the mirror, start to cry and think, Will I ever have my old body back? and I’m sure I’m not alone.
Please remind yourself that you just grew a HUMAN BEING inside of you for 9 months…and we’re not all Gisele (and that is completely OKAY). It takes 9 months to gain the weight, I think you deserve to give yourself a full 9 months to take it off.
What Makes You Move, Mama? 