Becoming a mother is one of the most incredible experiences you will ever have, but it can also be stressful. Your whole life completely changes when you enter parenthood. Everything you do now revolves around your little one and how you can provide the best life for them. 

Focusing on your own health and well-being will directly impact your new baby. The healthier and happier you are, the better care you can provide for your little one. 

Believe it or not, powerlifting is one of the best things you can do as you enter motherhood, and in this article, we’ll explain exactly why this is the case. 

Here are five ways that powerlifting can make you a better mom:

  1. Increases power and strength 
  2. Reduces stress 
  3. Increases motivation and discipline 
  4. Improves aesthetics 
  5. Easier weight management 

 5 Ways Powerlifting Can Make You a Better Mom 

  1. Increased Power and Strength

It’s always nice to feel strong and powerful. By taking up powerlifting, you can quickly build muscle and make your body stronger. You won’t struggle to lift your child as they start to weigh more during their first few years of development. You’ll be able to spend more time playing with your child as they get older. 

Having stronger and more powerful muscles will also serve you in other areas of your life. You won’t need to ask for help carrying the grocery shopping from the car into your home. You can lift heavy boxes if and when you move to a new house. You will become more independent and self-reliant, and who doesn’t want those things? 

As you get older, the rate of muscle mass loss (sarcopenia) increases. Following a well-structured powerlifting program that includes the most effective muscle-building exercises will negate this muscle loss and keep you stronger for longer. 

You can improve your powerlifting technique with a range of exercises. Your program should include exercises such as the traditional barbell-based movements like the deadlift, barbell back squat, and bench press. You can also practice some machine-focused exercises, such as the hack squat machine and leg press to complement your barbell lifts. 

  1. Reduced Stress

Although becoming a new mother is a blessing, there’s no denying that it can also be incredibly stressful.  

Exercise is a well-known stress reliever. Lifting weights is one of the most effective forms of exercise for long-term stress reduction. It makes you feel strong and empowered and boosts your self-esteem. These factors can lower your stress levels. 

Plus, the fitter you are, the less stress negatively affects you. Regular powerlifting enables you to build resilience to the stresses of being a first-time parent. 

  1. Increased Motivation and Discipline 

Powerlifting provides you with something to work towards as a new mother. It is one of the most disciplined forms of training and provides you with the perfect opportunity to set your monthly or even yearly goals. 

As a new mother, you might have a tendency to do everything with your little one, but it’s also important to have your own personal goals. 

Powerlifting provides you with something to work towards that is unrelated to your baby. Taking time for yourself means you can be an even better mother and cherish the time you spend with your little one. 

  1. Improved Aesthetics

With increased muscle mass, power, and strength, you will also notice changes in your appearance. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with gaining weight during pregnancy (it is often necessary to support your growing baby), many new mums are on a postpartum weight loss journey to lose the so-called ‘pregnancy weight.’ 

Generally, doctors recommend taking a break from exercise for a few months after giving birth. However, nothing is stopping you from getting into the gym and starting a new powerlifting routine once this rest period is complete. 

When you do so, you’ll notice rapid (but positive) changes in your body. Your muscles will become more toned, and you’ll be able to build your dream physique. 

  1. Easier Weight Management

Powerlifting is more effective for fat loss and long-term weight management when compared to cardiovascular exercise. The more muscle you have on your body, the more calories you burn at rest on the easier it will be to maintain a toned and sculpted figure. 

Studies show that weight lifting is more effective at reducing body fat, particularly central body fat, than cardiovascular exercise. It increases growth hormone, known as a fat-burning hormone, and lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.