Easy Tips to Get Back in Shape After Pregnancy

By Kathryn Bolling 

So you just gave birth to a beautiful bundle of joy... Now what? The majority of your time is probably consumed with feeding, bathing, nurturing, and caring for your new adorable infant, and you may be scratching your head as to how you are going to squeeze in even a spare second to exercise. Does that sound about right?

If so, there is no reason to give up hope just yet because it is possible to get your body in shape after pregnancy, even if you aren't Heidi Klum!

• Give your body time to recover.Whether you have given birth vaginally or through a C-section, your body does need to recuperate and heal itself. This may be a shocking and anxious time as you see your body for the first time with a belly without the baby, but you do need some time to recuperate before you get back on track.
• Start slowly.The easiest way to get back into exercise after having a baby is to break up your exercise throughout the day. This can be as simple as doing sit-ups while your baby is taking a nap, walking around the block with the stroller at lunchtime, or even going for a 15 minute jog before you go to bed. You probably have realized by now that your baby's schedule is erratic and unpredictable, so you need to squeeze in exercise whenever you can, and it will all add up by the end of the day!
• Work out a buddy system.If you have siblings with children or fellow moms in your neighborhood, swap babysitting several times per week for an hour or two so that you each have the opportunity to exercise. Other moms will be just as appreciative that they have some time to workout or even take a nap, and you can use these swaps to exercise for an hour or two per week.
• Focus on weight training whenever you can.As a woman, weight training will give you more bang for your buck so that you don't have to become a slave to the treadmill. Muscle is more compact and denser than fat, and it also burns more calories. When you take the time to tone your body, it will naturally burn fat and additional calories, even when you are at rest.
• Get your diet under control.Many women make the mistake of thinking that they can eat as much as when they were pregnant, but if you don't start to cut back on your calories, you will not be able to get back into shape. Yes, you may need more calories while you are breast-feeding, but make sure that you are supplementing your diet with healthy and fresh foods that are good for you to give you additional energy.

And the best tip of all when it comes to getting your body back in shape after having a baby is to be patient! You have just brought a wonderful gift of life into the world, and no one is expecting you to model a swimsuit in the near future. Take this opportunity to improve your relationship with your body by caring for it, getting enough rest, and getting physical exercise to stay healthy and fit.

Kathryn Bolling is a fitness and beauty expert with the best information available in her extensive health e-books at www.beauty-books.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Bolling