Getting back in shape after going through a pregnancy is tough. You have been working your butt off for so long and then suddenly you find out that you are pregnant. While you are extremely blessed and excited about it, there will be some thought in the back of your mind about getting back into your pre-pregnancy form after giving birth.
If nine to 10 months have gone by and even though you have done some exercising during your pregnancy you have still gained a couple extra pounds that you were not expecting, there is hope!
How you gave birth will determine when and how intense your postpartum workouts can be. First, you should always talk to your doctor and make sure they are OK with you starting a workout routine again. Most doctors will have you wait at least six weeks before starting any type of weight training and in some cases, it may even be longer. It all depends on how your delivery went.
Light cardio is always a great activity to start with. Something that will elevate your heart rate (brisk walking, walking up and down stairs, etc) is something that you should be able to do soon after delivery. A month after delivery, a woman has the possibility to start doing some bodyweight exercises in a very controlled and easy matter.
Once you hit your six-week appointment with your doctor, they will hopefully give you the green light to begin light weighted workouts. If you joined a weight lifting class before you became pregnant, then you should be able to start back up and ease your way back into them.
We have plenty of women at our gym who have come back from being pregnant and have had amazing results!
Always remember to listen to your body. If you become tired or exhausted during workouts, make sure you tone it down and take longer breaks. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your workouts and how you are feeling during and after. Remember that you won’t lose all your baby weight right away. Try to aim for roughly about half a pound a week and you will be back into your pre-pregnancy shape before you know it!
If you have any questions for us or would like some more information about how to get back in shape after pregnancy, give us a call or send us an email. We are always happy to help out.
