Lose
Baby Weight
This is page 2 of our Lose
Baby Weight guide. For page 1, see Losing Baby Weight
- Get off the couch. There’s no way
around it. The good news is – especially for a new mom,
that working out really does boost energy and helps you get
back to feeling like yourself. Find something you enjoy and
start. I bought a gym membership for Christmas and I made
working out a priority. I also had back-up DVDs for when I
couldn’t get out of the house. Currently, I do squats or
planks when my kiddo is watching the tube and I do a boot
camp-style class once a week. Do what you can, when you
can. It doesn’t matter what, just do something!
- Try resistance training. Yes, you have
to burn off the fat – so not doing cardio is not an option.
Sorry. However, building and toning your muscles will burn
more fat making the most out of your cardio sessions. I
love what it’s done to my former bat wing arms, shoulders
and saggy butt. Resistance bands are a quick and easy way
to add resistance and you can get ideas for exercises from
the web or a trainer at the gym. Try it- you’ll like
it!
Click Here for the
Official 'Strip That Fat' Guide
- Make a plan. Pick a few things that
you can change in your life and commit them to writing.
Post your plan where you’ll see it every day. Even better,
where others will see it (built in accountability). My list
contained exercising at least 4 times a week, eating more
veggies, portion control, and not eating when I wasn’t
hungry. I still struggle with the last one. (You may want
to use the commitment contract on the last page of this
losing baby weight guide.)
- Take your before pictures and post them with
your “plan”. I took my pictures in a bathing suit
and posted them on my fridge with my plan to get healthy.
For me, it was a motivator because I wanted to do anything
I could to change the pictures that I was looking at.
- Set achievable milestones. It was
overwhelming to think of how much weight I wanted to lose.
So, I set small 5 pound milestones. It helped because I got
to celebrate the small successes more frequently, rather
than the one big success at the end. Also, reward yourself
when you do see results. It’s a lot of work to change a
body after a baby and you should be proud of yourself when
you reach your final goal.
- Enlist a buddy. It could be another
mom, your husband or a friend. I kept track of my success
on the fridge -my weight and measurements posted for all
the world to see. It’s nice to have someone to be
accountable to. It’s also nice to be accountable to
yourself.
- Remember: Nine months on, nine months
off. Even though you may not like it - it’s just a
reality. It took me every bit of 9 months to get back down
to my pre-baby weight. Be patient. Your body’s been
supporting a second life for so long, it takes time to
switch gears.
If you’re totally clueless about fitness, you may want to go
to the gym to get some personalized advice from a trainer.
Realistically, we all want a routine that is easy to do,
effective and takes little time away from our new family. Don’t
forget, though, to burn fat – you will have to expend more
calories that you take in…i.e. cardio! Again, it could be
anything from running up and down your stairs while the baby is
napping, to dancing around the living room to some funky music.
There are lots of stroller classes – or you could start your
own – to get new moms moving. As well, there’s always the
option of including your baby in your workout. Use your baby as
weight – you’ll feel the burn in no time! Here are some great
exercises to target that soon to be strong core:
1. The Plank
Lie on your stomach. Prop yourself up, balancing on your
forearms and toes. Hold for 15-30 seconds and lower down. Try
to keep your body in one straight line and keep your butt as
low as possible. (15 reps)
2. Side Plank
Lie down on your side and prop yourself up on your elbow.
Stack your feet one up on top of the other. You may want to put
one hand down in front for support. Lift your hips off of the
floor, (using your stomach muscles) balancing on your elbow and
feet. Hold for 5 seconds and slowly lower to the floor. (15
reps per side)
3. Sit and Press
Sit with your feet flat on the floor, keeping your knees
bent. Lean back slightly, until your core is engaged. Open your
arms wide, at shoulder height. Lift your feet off of the floor
and bring your knees and your hands to your chest. Straighten
your legs, trying to keep your feet off of the floor and open
your arms. (15 reps)
Page 3 of this Losing Baby Weight guide is here:
Weight Loss after
Pregnancy
Click Here for the
Official 'Strip That Fat' Guide
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