I do heavy combat with the s.c.a as a shieldmaiden, take my kids on hikes, chase my kids, and attend weight lifting classes. When i started my classes i had trouble engaging my core after the birth of my youngest. After my last epidural, i felt as if i was a bug that had been squished at the spine. Cut in half. I recovered after many months of spinal headaches and an instructor barking at me to not "die " in his class. I was not determined to be skinny, I was determined to lift my shield. It was not a beach body I was after, it was stamina to fight. I didnt want to be a size 5, I wanted to fight in the shieldwall. I am still on my journey, and i have noticed with every passing week I can hold my shield up longer! The side effect ; I am comfortable in a bikini.
Helga bloodaxe