My Journey to Getting Healthy After Kids
The Hard Truth No One Talks About
Being a mom is hard—physically, emotionally, mentally. But for me, the hardest part wasn’t just the sleepless nights, the endless diaper changes, or the constant worry. It was losing myself.
Before having kids, I was in the best shape of my life. I was competing in triathlons, duathlons, running (even though I hate running, still do!), swimming, biking, and going on long walks with my husband and dogs. My time was my own. If I wanted to spend hours training, I could. My body felt strong, my energy was high, and I didn’t have to think about how to “fit” health into my life—it was just part of it.
Then came kids.
Suddenly, my life was not my own anymore. I was caring for tiny humans who needed me constantly, and both pregnancies had set me back physically. I developed HELLP syndrome with both of my children, forcing me into emergency C-sections, difficult recoveries, and long stretches where my body felt completely broken.
And I’ll be honest—I got depressed.
I wondered if I’d ever feel strong again. If I’d ever mentally and physically find myself. And if I’d ever have time for me again—while I was still young. Not when my kids were grown and out of the house, but right now.
But instead of finding solutions, I kept comparing myself to the “before motherhood” version of me. I was so desperate to get back to that feeling—that body, that mindset—that I would start off strong, work out for a week, eat healthy for a few days, only to fall back into exhaustion, stress, and eating whatever was in the house.
With my son, it took me two years before I finally had the energy and time to focus on myself again. I slowly started making time for workouts, going for walks after work, and finding ways to include my little monkey in activities like hiking, camping, and outdoor adventures. It felt like I was making progress.
Then I had my daughter.
And everything changed again.
Postpartum Struggles: Something Wasn’t Right
This time, it took me even longer to find my way back to myself. Her medical needs, her NICU stay, the stress, the hospitalizations with every cold, RSV, and upper respiratory infection—it was like I never had a chance to breathe.
I told myself that it’s normal to be exhausted as a mom. But after a year postpartum, something still felt off.
No matter how much sleep I got, I was still drained.
No matter how healthy I ate, I still felt foggy and sluggish.
No matter how much coffee I drank, I still had zero energy.
Something wasn’t right. And I needed answers.
Digging Deeper: What Was Actually Happening in My Body?
After a lot of research, I learned about functional medicine doctors—practitioners who focus on treating the root cause of health issues instead of just handing you a prescription.
Honestly? I was skeptical.
But I figured, what do I have to lose? So I went for testing, and here’s what I found out:
My adrenal glands were shot, and my cortisol levels were sky-high.
My T3 and T4 thyroid levels were out of balance.
My testosterone was basically nonexistent.
What does this mean?
Cortisol (the stress hormone) and adrenal glands work together to regulate energy and stress. When cortisol is constantly high—like when you're exhausted, stressed, and running on empty—your body goes into survival mode, storing fat, slowing metabolism, and burning out.
T3 & T4 are thyroid hormones that help regulate energy, metabolism, and mood. Even though my T3 looked "normal," my low T4 was affecting my ability to feel energized.
Testosterone isn’t just for men. Women need it too—for energy, muscle strength, metabolism, and mental clarity. But I barely had any, which meant I was running on fumes.
At first, I thought, Okay, I’ll take some natural supplements, and I’ll be fine.
But I wasn’t fine.
Trying Everything… And Hitting a Wall
I started taking supplements that my functional doctor recommended, and some helped—but only for a little while. I felt an energy boost, but after a few months, I crashed again.
So I tried oral steroids to help with my hormone levels. Again, it worked for a little while, then stopped.
At this point, I was frustrated, exhausted, and completely lost.
The Turning Point: Finally Getting the Right Treatment
In July 2024, I went to my annual checkup with my primary doctor, and I finally admitted, Something is wrong. Nothing is working.
She immediately told me:
Oral testosterone steroids don’t work the way people think they do.
Testosterone should be taken as a cream or pellet (not pills).
Since I already had an OBGYN appointment coming up, she told me to ask them to check my testosterone levels again and discuss the best treatment options.
At the same time, we also went over my Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. That’s when everything finally started to make sense.
What’s Next? The Real Work Begins
Now that I finally understand what’s happening in my body, I can work with it instead of against it. In my next few blog posts, I’ll be sharing more details about:
My Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis & What I’m Doing About It
Testosterone for Women: What I Wish I Knew Sooner
My Go-To Supplements for Energy, Hormone Balance & Stress
This is my journey. If you’re struggling, know that you’re not alone. Let’s figure it out together!
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