Here is my list of reasons to get back in shape after pregnancy. Being pregnant is such an exciting time! You have that “mommy” glow, and you get to pick out cute baby things and feel the baby move, and eat an extra slice of cake. But after the baby is born, you may start wishing you can get your old body back. Here are a few great reasons to get back in shape after pregnancy. If you find yourself struggling between taking charge of your health or wanting to just lay on the couch in your spare time, let these reasons persuade you!
One of my number one reasons to get back in shape after pregnancy is to have more energy! Working out helps you feel more energized by helping you shed pounds and release feel-good hormones. Eating real food and limiting sugar and soda can also help give you energy. If you’re breastfeeding and working out, you will need to make sure you are replacing the calories you burn with good, wholesome foods!
There’s no denying that having a baby changed your body. If you find yourself wishing you fit into your old jeans again, or feeling self conscious about a few extra pounds, then go for a brisk walk! Give yourself more confidence by knowing that you’re doing your part to get back into shape after having a baby.
Post-partum depression is something that many women face after having a baby. Exercise doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have post-partum depression, but research shows that women who don’t exercise during and after pregnancy are more likely to experience signs of post-partum depression! And if you have a case of post-partum blues after having your baby, getting active is one of the best things you can do. Release those feel good hormones and get your body toned up in order to fight off the baby blues!
Weight gain is something that comes with having a baby and that’s okay! But it’s important to focus on regaining some of that core strength and muscle tone once you are healed from childbirth. If all you have is 10 minutes a day, use it to do ab crunches and other exercises to work on rebuilding that core strength.
Who doesn’t like to think about being able to slip back into your old skinny jeans? I don’t know about anyone else, but after 9 months of wearing the same few outfits, I’m ready to wear my old favorites again! Those first few weeks post-partum you may still need your maternity jeans, but once you start a schedule of working out again, the pounds will be melting off and you will be wearing and loving your old wardrobe again!
If you don’t start up a healthy workout schedule again, you may fall prey to the old yo-yo dieting in a desperate attempt to lose the baby weight 6 months or a year down the road. Working out doesn’t have to be hardcore; all you need is brisk walk around the block or a few minutes of core work! Yo-yo dieting is dangerous to your health in many ways, so steer clear of this one.
Before you attempt another pregnancy, it’s a good idea to make sure you have regained core strength and that you have lost all your previous baby weight. Weight gain in pregnancy is healthy, but not if it is excessive. Carrying a baby in your mid-section and giving birth requires a lot of muscle strength, so it’s good to make sure you have worked on rebuilding muscle tone in your core!
Having just had a baby myself, these are all reasons that I can personally relate to! When you have a baby, your body goes through major trauma. You deal with lots of hormone changes as well! Anything you can do to ease your physical and emotional health after going through the powerful experience of childbirth will be a positive plus. Are you still trying to get back into shape after having a baby?