Looking after a baby is hard work and it is common for moms to let their health and fitness habits slip after giving birth. It is often more difficult to stay fit when you have a baby to take care of, but there are lots of clever ways to fit in quick workouts and maintain good nutrition. Here’re some helpful tips to stay fit after pregnancy:
Ease into postpartum workouts gently
Your body goes through a lot when you give birth and you shouldn’t rush straight back into an intense exercise schedule. Give your body time to heal and avoid pushing yourself too hard. According to verywellfamily.com, the general advice is to wait six to eight weeks after giving birth before starting a fitness routine.
When you start exercising again, ease yourself into postpartum workouts gently by choosing low-impact workouts such as yoga or pilates. Gradually increase your level of fitness but remember to take regular breaks to give your body time to heal and recover.
Join a fitness club for moms
Finding the motivation to exercise can be extremely difficult if you’re a new mom, particularly if you haven’t exercised in a long time and are struggling with the demands of parenthood. Joining a fitness club for moms can encourage you to exercise more regularly and can also be a great way to meet other moms in your local area.
If you don’t have the time to go to a fitness center, then you can join an online fitness community like moms into fitness. This site is specially designed for busy moms and offers online exercise classes, nutritional advice, and a community of moms to meet and connect with online.
Track your calories
It is easy for healthy eating habits to slip when you’re busy taking care of a baby. This can lead to unwanted weight gain and put you at risk of health conditions like type two diabetes and high blood pressure. Your body needs to heal after you give birth and you should follow a nutritious, energy-rich diet that will support good recovery and health.
Tracking your calories and fat consumption can help you manage your diet and encourage you to make healthy food choices. You can use a fitness device like a Fitbit watch to monitor your daily diet along with other health signs like heart rate and sleep quality. Try to make healthy food choices and snack on nutritious, low-fat foods instead of junk food.
Enjoy regular naps
Every parent knows the effect that a baby has on sleep and many moms find themselves surviving off just a few hours of sleep per night. It is normal for your sleep pattern to be affected after you have a baby, but you must still try to get the recommended amount of sleep every day. One of the easiest ways to increase your sleep is by taking regular naps during the day.
BistroMD states that regular naps daily naps can boost your mental wellbeing, improve your physical health, and contribute to weight loss.
Naps can help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism and controlling feelings of hunger.
