1. Post-Partum Physical Fitness
The combination of pregnancy, child-birth and motherhood can make physical activity seem like a thing of a past and nearly impossible to fit into a busy parenting lifestyle. New mothers rarely have the time, energy or motivation to follow an exercise routine, let alone a third set of hands to hold and care for their baby. Nevertheless, physical activity is extremely important after having a baby and should not be avoided. Fitting a healthy fitness routine into a mother's lifestyle can help her regain core strength, improve balance, heal and strengthen muscles and give her energy throughout the day.
2. Get Moving Slowly
Although it may seem impossible to exercise with a baby, learning how to get moving post-partum is easier than you think and is very important if you want to be healthy and fit for your little one. Check with your physician before beginning any exercise routine and always wait four to six weeks post-partum before doing any sort of strenuous activity. Try beginning your exercise routine in the simplest of ways; set aside 15 minutes per day to get moving with your little one. This could mean standing and rocking him deeply around the house (the deeper you bend, the more this move resembles a squat), dancing to a favorite song (your baby will enjoy the music and motion) or doing an extra lap around the grocery store or mall. After the first one to two weeks of basic movement, increase the exercise by setting aside 30 minutes per day to get moving with baby. Try purchasing a stroller to walk a local track or path, or take your walk indoors to a mall or gym if it's too cold outside.
3. Carry Their Weight
Pushing a stroller can burn surprisingly more calories than merely walking alone, and holding the weight of your baby in a comfortable sling, pouch or baby back-pack is another amazing way to get in shape with your infant. Try taking walks or gentle hikes while carrying her weight, or begin a basic routine of climbing stairs until you are fatigued (but never in pain.) After you have adjusted to moving around with your baby, a more intense exercise routine (and healthy weight loss) can easily be achieved post-partum.
4. Community and Creativity
Begin a post-partum weight loss routine by researching groups or gyms in your area that might offer mother and baby fitness classes, which are a fantastic way to bond with your child while getting fit. If you cannot afford a health club class, then try researching mother and baby exercise videos online, such as the videos by www.infantastic.com. Creating a strength routine can be done simply by holding your baby carefully in your arms and using his increasing weight as resistance. Try researching strength-training moves, or begin by pressing baby over head, curling him in for a bicep curl, squatting, lunging, twisting at the core and even doing sit-ups (place baby on your knees as you curl up for a kiss.) In the end, every chance you find to move your body or lift your baby throughout the day counts towards a healthier lifestyle, family and post-partum physique.
