#507: Strength Training and Building Muscle For Women with Ashley Nowe

Your guide to strength training and building muscle with Ashley Nowe of Get Mom Strong. Ashley also talks through postpartum issues that most moms experience, including core and pelvic floor issues, back pain, and diastasis recti, and exactly what to do to fix them. Let’s get strong!

Timestamps:

[3:40] Welcome Ashley Nowe
[5:45] How often should women be strength training?
[8:05] What do you recommend women do on the days that they are strength training?
[12:11] Do you recommend simple movements or compound exercises and why? What about set and rep ranges?
[14:20] Define progressive overload
[15:15] What’s the first thing women should do postpartum to set themselves up for success?
[18:07] Do you think every women needs to go to pelvic floor physical therapy postpartum?
[25:36] How do you know when you’re actually ready to get back into fitness postpartum?
[29:54] What are some good mental cues that you use to make sure you’re actually engaging your core properly?
[33:16] When is it safe to do core work after a c-section? How do we get back into strength training post c-section and any tips to smooth out the pooch around my scar?
[36:30] Is it true diastasis recti won’t truly heal until I stop breastfeeding and how long does it take to fully heal?
[45:24] What are some red flag signs that pelvic floor physical therapy may be indicated?
[48:16] How is back pain connected to pelvic floor disfunction?
[50:08] What are some strength training exercises that also strengthen the pelvic floor?
[52:09] Is it possible after four kids that diastasis recti never goes away, even with proper physical therapy?
[53:28] I’m a year postpartum and want to get back into strength training but fatigue is taking over. Any recommendations?
[55:24] How long would you suggest doing the same routine before switching or incorporating other lifts?
[56:55] I lift and am feeling great but I have really tight hips no matter how much I stretch. Any tips?
[58:58] I am not seeing any progress in my upper body postpartum. Could breastfeeding be effecting this?

Episode Links:

Follow Get Mom Strong on Instagram
Get Mom Strong’s Website
NPR: Women who do strength training live longer
NIH: Women may realize health benefits of regular exercise more than men
C-Section Scar Massage

Use code WFWOMEN30 for a 30 day free trial of Ashley’s SLAM program at Getmomstrong.com 

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