Are you, one of them?
While this is common, it’s not normal at all. And if we just ignore it, then you are going to end up in an adult nappy.
First of all, you’ve got to stop, stop doing the things that are causing you to leak that are causing you to wet yourself. Just for now, we’re going to pull back until you’ve been assessed, and until you’ve regained control of your pelvic floor muscles.
Then you’re going to start by doing your pelvic floor exercises, and I have got a teaching video and Pelvic Floor cheat sheet to help you with it. You’re also going to get checked out by a woman’s health or pelvic floor physiotherapist.
There are so many reasons that you could be leaking. They nail it really well. And they also make sure that your technique is right.
Did you know that 30% of women who are doing pelvic floor exercises are doing them wrong?
So ineffective, pelvic floor muscles that are not being done right, are helping keep your knickers dry.
So we, if we’re leaking, we want to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and fake sugar. Real sugar as better for your pelvic floor than fake sugar. And you want to start making sure that you are drinking enough water. Often we can think, reduce your water to stop leaking and to stop going to the toilet so often and then is not the case at all. We want to make sure we are drinking enough water.
So before you exercise, you want to go to the toilet. Exercise on an empty bladder.
And if during exercise, you need to go to the toilet or you’ve leaked, go. Empty yourself again, then look at what you were doing. And you just need to pull back. Whether that’s the depth of your squat, whether that is the speed of your run, or your punch, you may need to pull back from running, you may need to lighten your weight, take the weight out completely. We’re just looking at what we were doing that wasn’t working that was too much on your pelvic floor and pulling back from that because being active and exercising is really important for us.
Side note, if you cannot lift your pelvic floor muscles during exercise or while you’re standing, then you shouldn’t be exercising standing. You can still exercise when you’re sitting. Swiss balls are amazing.
So invite your pelvic floor into your workout. You’re going to use your breath on the exhale, is when we use our pelvic floor muscles. And you’re also going to use your pelvic floor with movement. It’s honestly that simple.
Did you know that holding your breath causes intra abdominal pressure, which pushes down on your pelvic floor? That is one of the causes of leaking or wetting yourself. Breathing well and not holding your breath – is so important. It’s that simple.
On your exhale, squeeze in your pelvic floor.
You want to use your pelvic floor and invite your pelvic floor into everyday life:
Okay, it is so simple, seriously simple, to stop wetting your knickers.
Go through the list. Give yourself some time, figure out why you’re leaking, and then give your pelvic floor muscles and you time to readjust and improve. We’re going to improve your self-esteem and we’re going to prove your self-confidence. How awesome is that?
Remember, while it’s really really common to wet yourself, it is not normal at all.
This article has been written and supplied by Kirstyn Campbell. Co-creator of the Sub30 Core Restore Workout Program and business owner of KC Fit, New Zealand.
I’m driven and passionate to train women safely, repairing and building strong core foundations. Learning how to listen to my body, how to train myself and mums safely and effectively is what drives me to help other mums from going through what I have (by splitting my tummy from top to bottom when my daughter was 7 years old).
“Society expects us women to have children. Then when we do, our bodies are expected to look and function as though we haven’t.”
This way of thinking is exactly what tore my tummy down the middle. I’m not interested in sculpting bikini bodies. Rather empowering mums to learn how to love themselves from the inside out, to show them their self-worth in the season of life they’re in. To enjoy the quality of life they’d like, without the embarrassment of leaking. To be the best version of themselves, not comparing or trying to match-up up to the pressures, false images and expectations in social media.
I’m driven to remove the shame of a mum’s body, rather encourage them to wear their mum badges with pride. Enabling them to be healthy, happy, and confident in their own skin. The strongest and fittest they’ve ever been, enjoying the quality of life they deserve – with, of course – leak-free laughter!