




08
You’ve been home with a brand new baby for six weeks, and realize your post-baby body more closely resembles your newborn’s than your pre-baby body did. Armed with your favorite workout DVD, your first attempt at a new mom workout routine is interrupted multiple times for feedings, diaper changes and soothing cuddles. You try to grab a walk, alone, when your husband gets home, but get only as far as the street corner when the cell phone rings: the baby is crying, and only you can remedy that. What’s a girl who wants to get back into shape to do?
Luckily, there are options, and one often over-looked solution is to scout out a gym that has a dynamic childcare service. In fact, many nurseries will take babies as young as 6 weeks old. The problem? New moms are often uncomfortable leaving her new found love in anyone else’s care longer than a nanosecond.
Here are a few tips to make the transition to a regular exercise regimen a bit easier:
Ask and you shall receive. “Build your network of support,” says Cram. “You are with your babies 99% of the time. There needs to be a period of time when mom is focused on mom.” Help might be just around the corner (literally). Enlist the help of friends, neighbors, grandparents, and your spouse.
Make it a family affair. “The kids love the daycare area, and despite frequent trips to change diapers, it is totally worth the effort,” says Riley. “My kids have made friends (at the gym) and are learning about fitness, rock climbing, swim lessons…it is excellent family time.”
Get fit with friends. Exercising with a group of women who have similar interests and goals can provide both the structure and incentive you need to stay committed. Stroller classes (for infants 6-months and older) are one great example. But don’t overdo it. “Moms with multiples need to be very careful pushing strollers that are too heavy,” says Riley
And don’t forget to get the “go ahead” from your OB/GYN before beginning an exercise plan. By six weeks postpartum, most women who have no medical contraindications can return to a scaled-back version of their pre-pregnancy routine. Muscles, tendons and joints take time to return to normal. Maternal fitness expert and author of Pregnancy for Dummies, Catherine Cram, M.S., recommends short bouts of gentle exercise, such as walking in 15 min increments, three times per week for several weeks before increasing exercise intensity. “Start slow, and remember, every woman is different, so pay close attention to how your body feels,” says Cram.
12
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 3 live births every minute, every day. Wow! That means there are a lot of moms out there who are wondering, “how on earth will I get my pre-baby body back?” I’ve been there, done that (3 times, including twins). The good news: it is possible to return to your pre-baby weight. If you exercised regularly prior to having your baby, odds are you will bounce back faster than your sedentary counterparts, so if you put in your time and hard work before baby, I commend you — you will be glad you did.
If you are new to exercise, then you have even more reasons to get moving. Studies show that mothers who participate in regular, post-natal physical activity (3 to 6 days per week for 25 to 60 minutes) experience the following improvements:
( Obesity Research 10, 841 – 853 (00 Aug 2002)
So where do you begin? After an “all clear” from your OB/GYN, start by walking.
Find a class near you:
Stroller Strides
Stroller Fit
Baby Boot Camp
Here is a great resource for all things baby jogger-related: Jogger Mom