Hi All,
We have a new contest and chance for you to win a Belly Bandit Ultimate gift bag ($572 retail value).
See here for rules and a description of the loot: https://tinyurl.com/nzuhr8
How do you enter? Just reply below with your best health or fitness tip for new moms or moms-to-be on how to get back in shape after baby. Whether it's something you're done, read, or heard, we'd love your health and fitness tips.
TIA and Good luck!
Re: Bump Contest: Share a pregnancy/post-pregnancy fitness tip
Love to dance and hate to exercise? Prenatal Bellydance is a great way to stay fit during pregnancy and a good way to shore up those abs post partum. Make sure the class or workout is modified for pregnancy. Bellydance is based on women's physiology and it's a lot easier than it looks! It's also great for DH to watch you progress as you learn (trust me, beginner or advanced, it won't matter--bellydance is HOT!)
ETA: and trust me, there aren't a lot of ways for pregnant women to feel sexy after a while!
Breastfeed if you can! The pounds literally melted away after my first because you burn so many extra calories.
Also using the work out time as bonding with baby helps--there are lot of mommy and me yoga/work out classes out there!
Don't try to do too much too soon. It too 9 (10!) months to put the weight on, it's not going to come off over night. It's better to have realistic goals, instead of an outrageous goal of losing all the weight and getting back to pre-baby body in a month (or 2, 3!).?
I also agree to include baby/children in exercising. You're not as rushed because you don't have to worry about squeezing in time to exercise during naps, etc.
If you can't or don't want to exercise with baby, feel comfortable to leave DH alone with the baby so that you can have some Mommy time to exercise. Don't feel guilty about it. Working out and doing things for yourself only makes you a better Mom ?
Yoga has been wonderful this pregnancy. As I've gotten farther along it has gotten more difficult, not only because I am tired, but because I am HUGE. However, afterwards I feel great!
Also, being pregnant in the summer has definitely been my friend (I know I might be in the minority)! But the pool has been great. I love getting in and just kicking around. It doesn't feel like I have worked out too hard, but I know a good couple laps is better than nothing.
Lastly, like PP mentioned...walking the dogs. DH and I have had a dog for over year, but I did most of the "taking care of." As I have recently incorporated long walks into our routine, DH comes along. It is not only great exercise for me and the dog (DH, too!) but gives us a chance to relax and catch up without the interruption of TV, computer, work or chores.
Go for a walk..even if you don't feel like it, do it! It helps!
Limit the junk food / empty calories, drink lots of water and walk/move often. You don't need an elaborate diet or exercise regime.
Walk every day--even if you don't feel like doing it or the weather isn't cooperating. It is the least expensive exercise (only takes some comfortable shoes) and can be done almost anywhere.
Take your newborn with you, your dog, your neighbor, or your DH and just walk for about 30 minutes...especially after dinner when your metabolism slows down. It will help lower your blood pressure and avoid unnecessary weight gain. In no time you will feel soo much better.
Join a Strollerfit class! It allows great exercise targeting your "mommy muscles" with your baby. It is always easier to exercise with people in similars circumstances as you!
I've read that exercise is good for the baby and if you exercise while pregnant it will allow you to get back into shape easier after the baby comes. While pregnancy brings exhaustion, the motivation I use is to remember that it is good for the baby.
Make sure not to neglect exercise during pregnancy, it's just like training for a race. Your body has to be prepared for childbirth.
The better you keep yourself in shape the easier your birth will be.
Try to walk/swim/elliptical etc 3-4 times a week and don't neglect strengthening your muscles! Lift weights as your body is going to be carrying around some extra weight for a few months!
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Focus on eating all your vegetable servings a day. The more veggies you eat, the more likely you are to fill up before consuming too many calories! Also, invest in a crockpot! An amazing low calorie soup not only makes a great lunch/dinner/appetizer, but since it's in the crockpot, you have extra time to play and work out with baby instead of slaving over the stove or eating something not as good for you. Here's a recipe for one of my favorite low-cal soups, that's really filling (but warning you, cabbage smells TERRIBLE!) :
Spicy Cabbage Soup
1 large onion
4 ribs celery
4 carrots
1 small head cabbage, shredded
48 oz. spicy tomato-based juice (e.g., bloody mary mix, V-8, etc.)
2-3 cups water
Low sodium vegetable broth
1 big pinch dried parsley
1 big pinch basil
3 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
2 sprinkles garlic powder
2 turns of pepper mill
Optional:
2 cans Rotel tomatos
Mushrooms, sliced
Chop vegetables. Combine all ingredients in large pot, cover and simmer at
least 1 hour. Remove bay leaf. Makes about 3 quarts. Or, in crockpot: combine all ingreients, leave on low overnight, crank up to high 1 hour before meal time. So yummy!