Best Suited Workout for Mother
Once a childcare routine is established, it becomes easier to include fitness in your day.
The sooner you make the decision to get in shape, the happier you will feel; and the happier and better you feel, the more you can give to your new baby and family. On the other hand, the longer you put it off, the more difficult it will be. New moms can gain fat fast because their body has been through some serious changes. Here are some ideas to get you exercising and back into shape!
Make exercise a priority
Your body is sleep-deprived. It has gone through intense labor that requires healing. You probably don't feel like exercising. But exercise is the energizer you need to get you going physically and emotionally. Make it a priority.
Baby steps
Start out slow. No need to do too much too soon. Fifteen to twenty minutes a day should suffice. Be sure to discuss post-partum precautions and limitations with your doctor.
Be realistic
Don't be hard on yourself about your post-baby shape. You're looking exactly how you should be! If you accept and understand that this is how a normal woman looks after pregnancy, your results will be much better and quicker as you get back in shape.
Keep it simple
Head to a nearby park and enjoy some cardiovascular exercise such as walking. Set a goal to walk for a certain number of minutes before you go. Don't overdo it. If you get tired, sit and rest for some time. Later, if you feel like it, resume walking.
Plan your time
Exercise time doesn't have to be separate from baby time. Let your baby watch you exercise. Place him or her in a bouncy seat or swing while you do your favorite exercise, perform sit-ups, use a large exercise ball, or run on a treadmill.
Rope in friends
It's amazing how time flies when you're walking with a friend and chatting about baby stuff or anything else. Find somebody interested in exercising and keep in contact with her each week. Motivate and encourage each other.
Work out at home
Money can be tight after a new baby but if it's possible, find a trainer who can come home and help you work out. This will eliminate any worries you have about exercise safety and save you the trouble and expense of a reliable help, or having to travel and leave the baby home alone. You will enjoy your exercise better if you do it along with friends.
Enjoy exercise
It's a choice. It's something you want to do. So it's not about the total effectiveness of your routine at this point. It's about finding an activity that you enjoy and that you will do on a continual basis because you want to.
Reward yourself
Treat yourself to some workout clothes. This is fun because it's a victory every time you go shopping and your size gets smaller and smaller. Or, eat out at a place you really enjoy. By staying fit, you will be able to keep up with your little one's activeness. Stay in shape and enjoy every moment of motherhood.
Finally, you should be patient. Your body has undergone profound changes.
As you get back into shape, remember how many months it took you to get out of it. If you know right from the outset that it's going to be a process of months and not weeks, you will enjoy your routine better. I like the idea of a race with no finish line. You'll be running for a while, so might as well enjoy yourself!