For new mothers, exercising is the last thing on their mind but once your body heals from giving birth, you also need to take care of yourself so you will be stronger, healthier, and able to keep up with the demands of your new baby. The good news is that you don’t really have to head to the gym just to workout. As a matter of fact, you can squeeze in some body workouts while watching your baby.
- Tush tightener. Lie down on the floor on your belly while your baby sits before you. Bend your legs to form 90 degrees with your chin resting on your hands in front of you. Lift your knees as high as you can slowly while keeping your feet flexed and pointing towards the ceiling. Hold this pose for 20 seconds then release. Repeat 10 to 12 times.
- High chair lunges. Place your baby on his high chair with you standing a few feet away. Lunge forward with your right leg and bend both knees until they are 90 degrees or when your right thigh is parallel to the floor. You can give a treat to your baby or blow him a kiss every time you lunge forward. Push yourself back to standing position then repeat 12 times to complete a set. You should do 3 sets per leg.
- Front carrier squats. Stand up straight with your baby’s carrier in front of you. If your baby is heavy, you can put him on the ground in front of you. Your feet should be positioned a bit wider than the width of your shoulders and your toes turned out a bit. Inhale deeply then lower yourself into a squat. Your weight should be shifted on the heels of your feet with your navel tucked in and your back straight. Go back to first position and repeat.
- Here’s one type of workout that can help you lose weight while toning and firming your body. Walking with your little one around the park can help with your cardiovascular health not to mention build happy moments with your baby plus you can squeeze in jogging or interval walking and jogging.
- Tick-tocks. Keep in mind that during your pregnancy, your hips expand to accommodate the baby within you. Afterwards, you can probably lose weight but buttoning your jeans may be another matter. If this is the case, doing tick-tocks will be worth it. Start by standing up straight with feet together and hands at your waist. Raise your right leg out to the side without bending your upper body or your left leg. Go back to first position and repeat. You should do 10 reps per set for each leg.
Kneeling pelvic tilt. Go down on all fours with your arms extended downwards from your shoulder and your palms touching the ground. Your toes should be touching the ground behind you. Keep your back straight and relaxed rather than arched or curved. On inhale, pull your rear towards you while tilting pelvis to bring pubic bone upward. Hold this pose for three counts before releasing.
