Progress comes with Patience...and a little push.
I had the best swim test - maybe ever, today. Things are starting to fall into place - 13, yes, THIRTEEN mo postpartum. And the progress hasn't come from volume, mileage, or speed work. And my coach knows it certainly wasn't due to more pool time :)
I'll admit it, I'm a lazy swimmer. I don't like swimming fast. I like to feel strong in the water, but I don't often push myself. Every time I do a test I surprise myself. The one season I worked my tail off in the pool and really tried, it paid off. So it shouldn’t shock me when I do well. I should just try harder, more often.
I take more rest time than I'm prescribed, due to child/life/work stress, but related to #1, I've been pushing myself to…push myself. You don't have to ruin yourself to train for anything if you do it right - but, especially important for postpartum moms trying to get competitive again…you can't take it easy forever.
I got out of my head. After our whole family (minus Mike) was sidelined with C*VID I was tired of languishing, and of my training feeling sub-par. I need to feel success and that doesn't come from feeling stagnant.
I lost a bit more of the baby weight. I have never tried to lose it, rather, I let the weight respond to my training over time and continued to eat what I needed-and wanted. I don’t overthink any of this - no one should, especially in your first year postpartum. But by default, being a bit lighter has helped. (Please note that if you need nutrition advice I am not your gal, but I can certainly recommend you to qualified people who are!)
For better or for worse, I've figured out how to function decently on continual sleep interruptions. I don't let this go too far, and it's a fine line, but I've been able to walk it better. Until Emett has some surgery to correct his sleep apnea, I can't get a full night.
'm doing the best with what I have. I had a bit of a job change which has helped the overall stress level. I only get so much sleep, I sometimes eat fast food or PB&J or a whole day of snacks. I sometimes drive when I should walk and I sometimes run to get rid of stress when I probably needed rest instead. I try to look at the overall goals of my training but break it into microbursts - day by day and week by week, am I doing the best with what I have?
Ask yourself the same thing - ignoring what you want, need, or wish you had more of. If you're truly doing the best you can with what you have to work with, can you find success there?
Stay patient, but be persistent. It may seem like recovery is taking forever sometimes but I promise, with continual adjustments, you'll get there!