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Life with Baby: Finding a workout that you love to stick with!
Nov 21, 2017
Some women are natural-born gym-bunnies. For them, getting back on the treadmill after Baby’s birth is a no-brainer. It’s their time, their sacred time. And they love it and look forward to it.
For others, exercising can drop to the bottom of their priority list after they become mothers. Sure, we all theoretically know that raising our heart rates with a little activity can re-energize us and that it’s really good for us, but life can get in the way of doing it regularly.
So, what’s a girl to do? Here’s some advice based on my experience as fitness trainer and a mother of a 2-year-old.
1. TUNE INTO YOUR BODY:
Know your limits. If your body is telling you to stop, stop. Don’t do too much too soon. It’s the number 1 reason people fall off the wagon. Remember, exercise should make you feel good, not worse.
2. DRINK UP:
I’m taking about water, of course. Dehydration insidiously sneaks up on you, so hydrate, before and after your workout, and sip water during your workout. Consider those extra walks to the restroom a bonus towards your daily step count.
3. RESTORE YOUR BODY FIRST:
There’s no right time to start exercises after you’ve had your baby, though the general rule is to wait 6 weeks (or even 10 in case you have had a baby by Cesarean section). But that does not mean you do nothing in the meantime. Speak to a specialist and gently re-engage and re-align your postural muscles, especially your core and pelvic floor. You can do this with our special Fit New Mum program at the Rosewalk Wellbeing Studio which restores strength in your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. You will feel stronger, more confident and more in control. And this will serve you well while taking care of your little baby.
4. INVOLVE YOUR BABY IN THE WORKOUT:
My baby loved it. Mine would laugh and gurgle away as I did plank holds hovering over him and push-ups with ‘kiss the baby’ on the downward phase. Parenting is about setting good examples, and this is the best way to instill, in your baby, that health matters.
5. BUY NEW FITNESS GEAR:
Get some retail therapy (who can resist a shopping spree), and buy new clothes, shoes, equipment and accessories: stuff that makes you look really good.The bottom line: do what you must to get that body moving. Speak to a specialist if you have any queries or concerns.
Dr. Sonu Agarwal
Consultant - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Panchsheel Park
