anyone exercising?

psherman42wwsa

 I just weighed myself today and I weigh less than before pregnancy which is exciting. However, I still have a "mom pooch" and I just feel weak. With very little sleep and energy I haven't had any motivation to work out. I keep telling myself once LO starts sleeping through the night I will start, but its been 5 months and I don't see that happening any time soon. I need to just get over the sleep deprivation and hit the gym!  Has anyone started to get in shape post baby? Also where do you even start?

randimt16

I think I just commented on your other post, but I'll post it here too It can be hard to get over the exhaustion, but you can do it!! Just think of all the other things you've done that you didn't think you could do!

Diet is huge, as you just want to make sure you're getting enough protein to build muscle. Your body can't build or tone anything if it doesn't have enough building blocks from your food

A little cardio never hurts, but to tone up and gain muscle (which is ultimately what toning up is) you will want to lift weights or do body weight exercises! I would start small, with 3-4 days/week. Pick 5-6 exercise moves and do 3-5 sets of 6-12 reps for each move. Take a break in between each set. Something like this:
- bench press: 8 reps, 3 times
- push ups: 10 reps, 3 times
- weighted squats: 6 reps, 4 times
- burpees: 10 reps, 4 times
- lunges: 12 reps, 4 times
- scissor kicks/flutter kicks: 12 reps, 4 times

But of course there are a ton of different exercises you can use! And if you join a gym with a lot of machines, this becomes even easier as you just pick a machine and go for it good luck!

psherman42wwsa

thanks for the replies!

some good suggestions I will definitely try out. I do need to try to increase my protein!

BabyBean815

Hi!  I feel your lack of motivation and sleep deprivation.  I'm working full time so I'm really finding it difficult to squeeze in workouts while dealing with work, my commute, spending quality time with the LO, and dealing with his wakeful periods at night and at like 4:00 a.m. (when he should be sleeping).

But since I've been feeling pretty blah about myself, I'm going to try a new plan:  My goal is to work out 15 minutes in the morning (pre baby wake up) and 15 minutes after LO goes to bed.  I feel like 15 minutes at a time is a lot less daunting than a big 30-45 minute commitment.  And really, I'm just doing 15 minutes at a time to start a routine.  Once I get into the swing of things, hopefully it'll become a habit and I can extend the length of my workouts.

In terms of where to start, I don't have a gym membership, but I love finding online workouts.  If you have streaming capabilities, then you can stream from your phone to the tv and save yourself money on gym memberships and dvds.  Here are two of my favorite exercise websites: https://www.fitnessblender.com and https://jessicasmithtv.com/ 

If anyone wants an accountability buddy, let me know.  I could use the extra motivation!

mrsb30

I just started a couple of weeks ago! I have sadly gained weight since I had my baby I have pcos and really struggle with my weight. I lost a lot before I got pregnant. I exercised through my whole pregnancy and then maternity leave but once I went back to work I stopped exercising. I wanted to exercise but couldn't bring myself to go to the gym when I was already away from LO 10 hours a day. I could only walk on weekends since it's dark when I get home. I started the 21 day fix a couple of weeks ago and feel so much better already! I didn't realize how out of shape I had gotten, particularly how stiff and inflexible I had become. I have only lost 1lb so far but I feel a lot better physically. I really struggle with how much I have gained during pregnancy and then after.

psherman42wwsa

BabyBean815 said:

Hi!  I feel your lack of motivation and sleep deprivation.  I'm working full time so I'm really finding it difficult to squeeze in workouts while dealing with work, my commute, spending quality time with the LO, and dealing with his wakeful periods at night and at like 4:00 a.m. (when he should be sleeping).

But since I've been feeling pretty blah about myself, I'm going to try a new plan:  My goal is to work out 15 minutes in the morning (pre baby wake up) and 15 minutes after LO goes to bed.  I feel like 15 minutes at a time is a lot less daunting than a big 30-45 minute commitment.  And really, I'm just doing 15 minutes at a time to start a routine.  Once I get into the swing of things, hopefully it'll become a habit and I can extend the length of my workouts.

In terms of where to start, I don't have a gym membership, but I love finding online workouts.  If you have streaming capabilities, then you can stream from your phone to the tv and save yourself money on gym memberships and dvds.  Here are two of my favorite exercise websites: https://www.fitnessblender.com and https://jessicasmithtv.com/ 

If anyone wants an accountability buddy, let me know.  I could use the extra motivation!

Exactly my situation! my LO is also wide awake at 4am! So hard!! I'll check out those exercises, thanks! I currently have a gym membership that I've been paying for and not even using...

NurseRieger

I have started Jillian Michaels 90 day challenge, it's 30min a day 6 days a week and I just pop in the dvd and workout during LO's nap. I'm nearly at prepregnancy weight but have the lower stomach pooch to tighten up. I just tell myself it's not that much just 3 hours a week total. It's actually making me feel more energized not that I'm not still exhausted.

jadetree1080

I can't make it to the gym cuz I have nobody to watch LO. And I have a jogging stroller that I was using every day for 3-5 mile runs, but now the weather is too cold to take him out. So, no I do a 20 min yoga rutien in the morning when he is playing in his walker. And all day when carting him around I do squats and lunges. Every time I have to lean over to pick up the toy he dropped, or the coffee mug off the coffee table, I squat or lunge to get it. Sounds silly, but I must get 50 in every day. It's not a gym workout, but it is something.

psherman42wwsa

jadetree1080 said:

I can't make it to the gym cuz I have nobody to watch LO. And I have a jogging stroller that I was using every day for 3-5 mile runs, but now the weather is too cold to take him out. So, no I do a 20 min yoga rutien in the morning when he is playing in his walker. And all day when carting him around I do squats and lunges. Every time I have to lean over to pick up the toy he dropped, or the coffee mug off the coffee table, I squat or lunge to get it. Sounds silly, but I must get 50 in every day. It's not a gym workout, but it is something.

thats a good idea

KAR8706

I was going to recommend https://www.fitnessblender.com/ but someone else mentioned it first.
 I love this site and the couple. I dont have time for a gym nor am I a fan. I can do all these work outs at home and it has built up a lot of endurance for me. I work full time and get in at least a 30 minute work out daily. I also weigh less than before I was pregnant but had a c-section so I am not comfortable with how my lower abdomen looks. I highly suggest checking fitness blender out. Once you make time for you, you will start to feel better and eventually have more energy. best of luck!

zoeconstable1234

Hiya! I go to the gym every evening at around 10pm. I find it's much easier to go with a friend as you can set challenges and encourage eachother. I had never ever stepped foot into a gym until after pregnancy and hated the though of it but now I love it! It makes you feel so good and gives abit of you time. I go in and warm up and do a bit of everything Treadmil, squats, crunches, step machine, bicep curls, tricep dips and lots more. You could make a routine say you do your legs one day or you could train a bit of each part of your body. I sometimes do 15 minute spurts on bikes and treadmil. 15 sets of 3 of squats, weights etc.

Ps it took me 2 months to actually enter the gym after getting my membership! Good luck!!

marieva

Hi there! So I started working out off and on shortly after my 6 week postpartum check up but lately I have been going almost every day (except Sundays).  I have a membership at the YMCA and though I love it I mainly have kept it because it is super convenient to take LO there so they can watch him while I work out or take a class.  Before I got pregnant I was always in the gym.  My husband is the one who motivated me to work out and if I had a problem with the way I look "then go work out and change it don't just sit around and complain." (those were his words to me).  So I went on this website called bodybuilding.com and I did Jamie Eason's workout which was awesome.  During my pregnancy I discovered she had a postpartum workout which I started doing after my 6 week check up.  I did that for maybe a few weeks before I started back to my regular weight lifting routine. 
Now I used to do protein shakes and BCAA drinks but since I'm breastfeeding (and I want to know what the heck is going in my breast milk) I make my own protein shakes.  I blend up a fruit of my choice, 2% milk, oatmeal, a handful of almonds and sometimes a little ice to make it nice and cool.  Once I stop breastfeeding I'll be going back to the protein powders just because they are a little more convenient. 

Also note that if you want to lose weight or the pouch that you speak of, don't just limit yourself to cardio.  Encompass a weight lifting routine AND cardio AND eat healthier and you will be good.  You don't have to go on some crazy fad diet trust me.  Just cut out a little here and there and remember everything in moderation and you will be good.  Oh and invest in some workout DVDs for home. Right now where I live it is snowing and I'm not taking my baby out in that mess.  But I need to keep moving so I plan on popping in one of those DVDs and do something.  Remember something is better than nothing.  Ok I truly hope this helps out!  I truly hope everything works out for you and you can do this!