Exercises To Get Rid Of Mommy Fat

Despite what you may have heard or what you may be feeling, it is possible to get your pre-baby body back. Combining strength training with cardio activity will help you get rid of mommy fat and shrink your post-pregnancy stomach. A number of exercises exist to help reduce fat and build muscle so you can look like you did pre-baby.

Pelvic Tilt

Women who exercise within six weeks of delivery feel better about themselves, according to "What to Expect When You're Expecting", by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. The pelvic tilt exercise helps to strengthen your abdominal muscles and hasten fat loss. Begin by lying face up with your knees bent and your arms resting at your side. Inhale deeply, and exhale by pressing your lower back to the floor for 10 seconds, flexing your stomach muscles throughout the move. Relax, and repeat five times.

Standing One-Leg Fly

This exercise targets upper back, shoulders, abs and glutes and combines leg and arm exercises. Stand with feet placed shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your sides, and extend your left leg behind you. Lean your upper body forward slightly, keeping your arms extended in front of your chest and your palms facing inward. Exhale, and lift your arms up and out to the sides, pulling your shoulder blades together. Slowly lower your arms and legs, and repeat five times, then switch to the other side. Tighten your core to remain balanced throughout the move.

Incline Push-Up with Leg Extension

Combo-lifting techniques increase your heart rate, helping you burn more calories, thanks to the fatigue and strain of performing two exercises simultaneously, according to Jillian Michaels in "Making the Cut." To perform this exercise, place your hands on the edge of a chair or step, shoulder-width apart, with your eyes facing down. Extend your legs out so you are in a push-up position. Bend your elbows, and lower your chest until it is about two inches from the chair. Exhale, and push up. When you reach the top of your push-up, lift your right leg to hip height, and hold it for five seconds. Repeat the push-up, leg-lift combo on your opposite side.

Leapfrog

You can burn up to 13 percent more calories with the leapfrog exercise, according to Amy Dixon, a columnist in "Women's Health Magazine." Stand in front of a 12-inch step with your feet placed hip-width apart. Bend your knees to a 90-degree angle. Tighten your stomach and core muscles, and power yourself onto the step with both feet, bending your knees and landing softly with heels first. Pause briefly, then bend your knees and power yourself back down to the floor, again landing softly. Jump on and off the step for one minute.