Pre-pregnancy, Pregnancy, and Post-pregnancy shape. Gotta Love them ALL!

From the moment of conception, being a mom is an extraordinary feat of endurance, strength and grace. We may not always feel graceful and strong, but those two little eyes looking up at us think we are the most beautiful and capable being they have ever laid eyes on.

Losing weight after having a baby is easier for some moms than others. Depending on our body type before we were pregnant, activity level, and how much weight we gained during pregnancy will determine the challenge that lies ahead of us. The general rule is to wait 6-8 weeks after delivery to start exercising.

Patience: Your body has just endured a tremendous amount of change in a relatively short amount of time. Be patient with yourself and your body while working towards getting your pre-pregnancy shape back. It takes an average of nine months to get back into those favorite jeans. And sometimes you have to treat yourself to a new favorite pair of jeans if you get close, but just can’t quite button them!

Persistence: Do not give up. We can all think of 100 reasons why we are unable to work out today. Just to name a few of my personal favorites, and excuses that I am guilty of using myself, include:

The weather- it’s too cold, too hot, too wet, and even too beautiful if that makes sense

Not feeling well today

I don’t have TIME

I’m too tired

I don’t have any nice workout clothes or sneakers

My baby cannot survive an hour without me (yes they really can, even if we don’t want to believe it)

Positive Attitude: Never put yourself down for those few extra pounds you are trying to shed. You may start to tone up before losing actual weight, so try not to become obsessed with the scale. Focus on your accomplishments.

Workouts lessen lower-back pain. When you are able to strengthen your core muscles by doing yoga, pilates, or other mat exercises, your back will become stronger. Try squeezing your stomach muscles, the way a guy sucks his gut in when a pretty woman walks by. Do that as much as possible. Whether you are working, driving, or cleaning up the house give it a try. Your posture should improve and your back will thank you.

Diet: This word has become incredibly convoluted and turned into something that means much more than it’s true definition meaning the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. Basically, we should treat this word as something permanent rather than a temporary fix. Unfortunately, I am all too aware of the many temporary “diets” that are dangled in front of us everyday. It is almost embarrassing to admit to how many I have tried over the course of the past 15 years. At age 16, I can remember purchasing my first bottle of fat burners. It might have been a result from eating my 2 Big Macs and large fry that my mom would bring me after I was famished from playing a softball game. She didn’t know any better, she was giving me what I wanted and what I thought my body was craving.

After that, it was Slim Fast, Cabbage diets, eating disorders, Diet Fuel, Hydroxycut, Dexatrim, Ab rollers, step machines, and more equipment that collected dust. My point is not to criticize the effectiveness of these products, it’s that I needed to stop relying on something in a bottle to magically make me look better on the outside, so I could feel better about myself inside.

Fortunately, because I started making healthy choices before getting pregnant, I had a better understanding of the hard work that was ahead of me after delivery. By asking more questions about my body and reading reliable information, I was able to find a way to stick to a solid plan. How many times do we hear on the television or read an article that states, “The best way to lose weight is to Eat Healthy and Exercise.” If you’re like me, I usually say, “DUH.” They make it sound so easy. The fact is it really is easy. I think we tend to complicate it too much. Yes, it is difficult to learn how to eat differently than we are used to, and yes we are going to have to push ourselves physically harder than we have probably been used to, but it truly will work if you make it work.

Take a good Multivitamin and make sure you are getting at least 25-35 grams of fiber per day. According to the American Dietetic Association Americans consume less than half of the recommended daily amount of fiber. Are you eating 60 grams of protein per day? Children should eat 1 gram of protein for every 2 pounds they weigh.

More women are becoming comfortable with lifting weights or resistance band training. These women will not only be less likely to develop osteoporosis but also know a secret that many of us might not realize. They are burning more calories after their workout then those of us strictly jogging on a treadmill or doing aerobic exercise.

Find something to do that makes you sweat and in my opinion you are halfway there to a good workout routine!

Please lead by example and teach your children healthy eating habits and how to exercise properly. To this day, my parents have no idea about the internal struggles I have dealt with to overcome a childhood of poor eating habits. There comes a point in our lives when we can no longer blame others, and need to step up to the plate and make new decisions, create new habits, and learn from our pasts to teach others.

My hope, is for my 2 ½ year old daughter to always feel confident about her body when she enters into young adulthood, to understand what foods her body needs for energy, and to have the strength and knowledge to fight the temptations of “diets” by choosing a permanent healthy lifestyle.

Another great way to stay motivated is Group Exercise. Having a friend, neighbor, or even someone you just met working out with you, and working towards the same goals, is amazing motivation. Having your baby or toddler with you watching, is even more rewarding. StrollerFit is the only “exercise with your baby workout,” offered in the Lehigh Valley. It’s a 50-minute workout incorporating cardio, resistance training, and core exercises all while keeping your little ones engaged. For more information please call 610-390-4755 or visit www.strollerfit.com and click on PA.

Christina Price is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor and StrollerFit Franchise Owner.