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Finding the Time to Exercise

When my eldest son was born, my friends and I joined a gym that offered babysitting. It was fabulous. The babies were happy (most of the time), and we got a chance to work off the baby fat. Exercising set a routine for my week and got me out of the apartment; it allowed me to spend time for myself, while my son was in a safe environment only a few feet away.

If you’ve had a C-section, like I did, you’ll need to wait at least six weeks before your doctor gives you the go ahead to bust a move. It’s hard to muster up the strength to make it to a yoga class, but in the end, exercise gives you the energy boost you need to help you through the day. Regular exercise after pregnancy can:

– Promote weight loss
– Improve your cardiovascular fitness
– Restore muscle strength
– Build back your abdominal muscles
– Boost your energy level
– Improve your mood
– Relieve stress
– Help prevent postpartum depression

Here are a few suggestions to help you get motivated:

For a small additional fee, many gyms offer in-house childcare. The entry age for babies is different at every club, so make sure you ask. Hiring a personal trainer can be expensive, but having someone push you to the limit while having a weekly scheduled “date” is perfect motivation if you can afford it.

My favorite workout gear when I was pre- and postnatal is lululemon. They have comfortable, breathable and flattering clothes—you could wear them all day. In fact, I sometimes do post workout—shhh, don’t tell.

Let’s face it, trying to exercise while the baby is napping can be tough. There are a million things to do when you’ve got a quiet moment, and sometimes Facebook seems like a better option. That said, including your baby in your exercise program might be the perfect solution. There are some great Mommy and Baby classes out there. Stroller Fitness is very popular. I’ve seen a ton of moms pushing strollers while doing some serious squats.

If you stay at home with the kids, find someone else who does too and swap an hour while you workout. The next day you do the same for them.

Invest in a sturdy jogging stroller, put on a pair of running shoes and hit the ground running or go for a brisk walk. The Schwinn Turismo Swivel Single Jogger gets good reviews. A 30-60 minute walk can give you all the exercise you need to feel great. After giving birth, going on walks with your baby can be the perfect way to ease into a fitness routine.

What’s your fitness routine? I’d love to hear your tips.

Johanna Guest Blogs for Word of Mom

Sunday 1st of June 2014

[…] week Johanna is offering her prenatal exercise tips and advice over at Word of Mom. You read her exercise post here on Project Nursery last week focusing on how to fit in exercise as a new mama. At What to […]

Staying Fit During Pregnancy | Project Nursery

Tuesday 10th of January 2012

[...] Johanna, I can’t say enough great things about Lululemon’s tank tops. Sure, they are a little [...]

Rachael

Tuesday 15th of November 2011

We do what we can as mothers. That's it!

Maria D

Sunday 6th of November 2011

Oh No, Rona! Don't ever feel bad about the way your feeling after having "produced a human being"...it takes a lot out of you. And then the upkeep...whew! What I didn't clarify is that my walking buddy was the one who called and got me out every day. I was lucky to have her (and then the girlfriends with whom I went to the gym). Just find one motivated mom and latch on!

Rona

Saturday 5th of November 2011

I feel so bad after reading this. I am one of those moms who are just too lazy to exercise. After giving birth to my daughter, I lost a great deal of my energy and never seemed to have gotten it back.