HEALTH & FITNESS: Losing the Baby Weight ? Easy Exercise Tips ...

As mentioned earlier, this blog is more than just about me or my team?s experiences and more in sports, health and fitness. Its a blog for the people, BY the people. And I?m pleased to share with you this amazing article by one of our readers, Katie, on tips which would benefit our female readers and friends.

Photograph by Jennifer Bradford

After giving birth, you can begin to shed the pounds you gained during your pregnancy without ever?having to set foot in a gym. There are many ways that you can get exercise at home and around your?neighborhood, which will give you more time and flexibility to attend to your newborn. Taking care of a?baby is a full time job, so having the freedom to squeeze in a workout at any available time of day right in?the comfort and privacy of your living room is both convenient and easy.

Before you begin an exercise routine, be sure that you listen to your body signals so you don?t overwork?it. Right after you give birth, your body needs some time to adjust and recover from pregnancy and being?in labor. Your immediate goal should be to incorporate healthy habits into your lifestyle, rather than trying?to reach a certain goal on the scale. Even though many celebrities are able to shed the baby weight at?an incredibly fast rate doesn?t mean that this is ideal, so don?t worry about trying to match their standards.?Gradually you?ll be able to increase the duration and intensity of your workouts as you get stronger and?fitter, and the results will start to show in a healthy way.

For most women, light exercise can be incorporated into your post-pregnancy lifestyle within several?weeks of getting birth, and usually after six weeks or more for C-section births. Always consult with?your doctor and discuss your plans for exercise and weight loss after giving birth. Your doctor answered?all of your questions concerning labor and delivery and provided advice on options like cord blood and?immunizations, and your doctor can do the same for you concerning your lifestyle habits and different diet?and exercise options. Once you?ve gotten your doctor?s approval, it?s time to burn some calories!

MOVE AROUND

To start out, try moving more during your day by walking and doing light activities around the house, like?cooking, cleaning, and gardening. Taking walks around the neighborhood while pushing your baby in its?stroller is a nice way to spend time together while getting some good exercise. Eventually you can also?switch to a running or jogging routine several times a week. Wear a pedometer so you can keep track?of your steps each day. This will help motivate you to move more, and it helps you to see the progress?you?re making ?throughout the day. Set a reasonable daily goal, and try to meet it, or even surpass it if
you have extra energy.

SWIM

If you have a pool, try swimming laps or treading water to burn calories. Swimming and water aerobics?are great calorie burners because you have to engage so many different muscle groups to keep yourself?afloat and move through the water. You?ll work your core, legs, glutes, and arms, and it doesn?t take?much time to get a good calorie burn. Visit a local community center with a pool if you don?t have your?own.

AT HOME EXERCISES

At home, you can turn your living room into a mini home gym. Roll out a mat and do sets of push-ups,?crunches, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, punches, kicks, leg lifts, and some stretching. Try lifting light?weights or using a resistance band to add toning and sculpting moves to your workout, which will burn?calories and build muscle to help you burn more fat all day long. Yoga and Pilates are other great ways to?firm your body and lengthen your muscles, increasing flexibility and giving you a long, lean look. You can?either create your own routine, or follow along with a workout DVD. Some are even designed especially?for new mothers!

Overall, try to keep your workouts fun so that you?ll stay motivated. Listen to fun, upbeat music while you?exercise, or try a dance-based routine like Zumba or belly-dancing (great for toning up your midsection!).?Don?t worry if you don?t have time to do a long workout every day. Even making small changes, like going?up and down the stairs more often during the day, will help you to burn extra calories. Take advantage?of your baby?s naptime to squeeze in some exercise, and before you know it, the pounds will start to?melt away.

As long as you stay committed, you?ll get back to your pre-pregnancy weight again and you?ll?increase your levels of fitness and energy along the way; making you a happier, healthier mom!

This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who?discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche. If you?have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From?Katie or her twitter @moorekm26.

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