For years, my body didn’t really feel like my own. I experienced infertility struggles, recurrent losses, a pre-term delivery, postpartum, and then unexpectedly became pregnant again just 13 months after having my first son. Understandably, my physical and emotional energy was constantly going toward building our family. And while my boys were worth it all, there’s also a very real feeling that happens after years of pregnancies and postpartum recovery: You forget what it feels like to prioritize yourself. It honestly took me ages after my second son was born to feel fully comfortable in my body again—and ready to focus on myself in a new way.
Now that my kids are older, I’m in a completely different season. I’m done having kids, and instead of feeling guilty about carving out time for myself, I’m realizing that investing in my health and fitness actually makes me a better mom. My oldest is seven now and has been learning that not everything comes naturally right away, and watching him work through challenges in sports and school has inspired me to do the same. Last fall, we transformed our garage into a home gym, and it’s become a way for me to prioritize my wellness while also showing my boys that growth doesn’t have to look perfect.
For years, my workouts were whatever I could squeeze in: a quick run, the same 10-minute ab workout, or a basic dumbbell circuit. It worked for a while, but eventually I realized I wasn’t really challenging myself anymore. As I’ve gotten older, building strength and muscle has become much more important to me.
The problem was that as a work-from-home mom juggling work, school schedules, and everyday life, getting to a commercial gym just wasn’t realistic. Between the commute and time commitment, I knew I’d barely use a membership. So instead, we transformed our garage into a home gym last fall using RitFit equipment (they came highly recommended by my coworkers). It’s honestly been one of the best investments we’ve ever made.
Now that I’ve broken in my home gym, I can give my fellow moms on their fitness journey the real rundown. You only need a few pieces of versatile, durable equipment that can tackle multiple jobs at once.
A versatile weight bench for mom-friendly strength training
The Gator Adjustable Weight Bench quickly became one of the most-used pieces in our gym. Before having it, I mostly repeated the same workouts over and over again because they felt comfortable and familiar. Now, I can adjust inclines, target different muscle groups, do isolated exercises (like Bulgarian split squats), and get a full-body workout in about 20-30 minutes. With my dumbbell set, I can challenge myself with heavier weights and help accelerate my results.
A back extension machine for improving day-to-day movement
I didn’t fully realize how bad my “mom posture” had gotten until we added the Back Extension Machine to our gym. Years of carrying kids, working at a computer, and hunching over everything left me with constant tightness and lower back discomfort that I had honestly just accepted as normal. But after consistently using this machine, I’ve noticed a huge difference in how I move and feel throughout the day. I naturally sit straighter, feel stronger through my back and core, and don’t have to remind myself to fix my posture.
We’ve also loved incorporating the AuraSpin Grip Plates into workouts because they’re so easy to grab, carry, and switch between exercises. The grip design makes them much more comfortable to handle than traditional plates, especially during quick circuits or movements where I’m constantly changing weights.
How to start fitness goals when you feel “ready” (not just recovered)
One thing I wish moms would hear more: You don’t have to rush into a fitness journey the second you’re medically cleared postpartum. There’s a huge difference between being “recovered” and actually feeling ready (physically and mentally) to prioritize yourself again.
For me, that readiness didn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly as my boys got older and life became a little less chaotic. And once I stopped putting pressure on myself to go all in immediately, fitness started feeling enjoyable again instead of like another obligation on my to-do list. A few things that helped me ease back into consistency:
- Start with just 2-3 days a week instead of trying to overhaul your entire schedule overnight.
- Focus on compound movements that work multiple muscle groups at once.
- Prioritize quality equipment that makes working out feel exciting and motivating.
- Don’t wait for the “perfect” conditions to start. Progress matters more than perfection.
- Keep workouts realistic for your season of life. Even 20 minutes counts!
But all in all, the biggest mindset shift for me has been realizing that exercise doesn’t need to look the way it did before kids to still be effective.
Why I’ll never regret investing in my health as a mom
I would say that the biggest progress I’ve made isn’t physical–it’s that I actually enjoy working out again. For years after having my boys, exercise felt like another thing I “should” do. My brain was always somewhere else: running through my to-do list, thinking about work, wondering if I should be spending that time with my kids instead. But now, putting on my headphones and spending 30 uninterrupted minutes focusing on myself feels restorative instead of selfish.
And ironically, taking care of myself has made me more present in every other area of my life, too. I’m stronger physically, but I’m also more patient, more energized, and more confident. My boys get to see their mom trying new things, struggling sometimes, and showing up consistently, and I hope that lesson sticks with them long after they remember the details of our home gym.
Yes, my fitness goals look very different now than they did before kids. They’re more realistic, more sustainable, and much more focused on longevity and strength. And for this stage of life, having a home gym with equipment from RitFit has been the perfect solution for fitting those goals into my very full, very busy life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ally Pagar Wolf, Chief of Sales
Ally is the mom to two rambunctious boys, ages 5 and 7, and is rightfully referred to as “Chief Household Officer” in her home. You can find her family spending long afternoons swimming in their pool, searching for sea glass at the New England shore, and going on fun outdoor adventures.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
McKenna Pringle, Assistant Editor of Branded Content
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna collaborates with our sales team by creating both written and social media content, collecting and analyzing performance data to report back to our partners, and assisting our editors with their everyday tasks to ensure a smooth and productive process.
This post is sponsored by RitFit, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only feature brands we genuinely love.
