You spent the last nine months watching your body change in ways you never imagined it could. You’ve got stretch marks, saggy skin, a belly blob, and a host of other things going on. Now that the baby is actually here, chances are you’re ready to reclaim your body. As anxious as you may be to get your sexy back, it is imperative that you give yourself a few weeks to heal and adjust to being a mom. After you’ve been given the go-ahead by doctors, you’re ready to work your way back to fabulousness.
Start Walking
A great beginning postpartum exercise for women who’ve recently given birth is to take a walk. This helps to get the blood flowing, increases your heart rate, and helps you to shed calories. It is recommended that you take at least 10,000 steps per day to get in a good exercise. Since your body is still healing from childbirth, it’s a good idea to start with smaller goals and work your way up. You can even take your baby along with you. You can purchase the best double jogging stroller if you have twins or multiple children or be on the lookout for a regular jogging stroller.
Kegels and Pelvic Tilts
Now here’s an exercise that you can start trying not long after you’ve given birth -Kegels and pelvic tilts. They can be very instrumental in helping to strengthen your muscles and speed up recovery time from the delivery. Slowly inhaling and exhaling as you suck your stomach and pelvic muscles in and out will help to strengthen your abdominal muscles making it easier for you to work on that six-pack. You can also use firming body creams to help tighten the skin back up.
Breastfeeding
Did you know that nursing your newborn can help you get your sexy back? Outside of the occasional embarrassing leakage or hardening of the breasts, the truth is, the benefits of breastfeeding are numerable and include helping to shrink your uterus and burning several hundred calories per day just feeding your little one. The snuggles and bonding time is an added bonus!
Start Strength Training and Cardio
Once you’re feeling up to it, you can up the ante on your post-pregnancy workout routine by incorporating some strength training and cardio. You can walk around the park and do squats, lunges, and shoulder raises for a few minutes to tone your body. For cardio, you can try turning your walks into morning jogs, joining a gym class like Zumba or aerobics (if you can find the time), or taking a mommy and me swim class.
Don’t Slack on Food Choices
If you think that delivering your baby entitles you to start indulging in a bunch of junk you shouldn’t have, think again. If you’re going to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight, you’re going to need to be mindful of what you’re eating. Steer clear of things that are high in sugar, salt, or fat as these can pack on the calories and pounds. You can look at resources like StorkNet.com to find ideas on how to maintain proper nutrition after having a baby.
Connect with Other Moms
For many women, although they want to get back in shape, they lack the motivation to do so. Having a baby can not only put a lot of physical strain on you, but emotional strain as well. To get the emotional support and accountability you need, consider linking up with other women who’ve just had babies. You can meet at the park, join a gym together, or even share healthy recipes and mom tips to make parenting easier.
Getting you sexy back isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight. Remember, you just had a baby and your mind and body need a chance to heal after going through such dramatic changes. The best thing you can do is follow the doctor’s orders, pace yourself, set goals, and gain the support of others. Lastly, start incorporating some of the exercises above and before long, you’ll be looking and feeling like your old self again.
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