7 Tips to Shape Up OR Babies Need Strong, Flexible, and Balanced Parents with Stamina

You had a baby? Congrats! You are getting confident in your parenting skills and are finding your own rhythm. Good! Being a parent can be challenging. It can also be the best “growing” experience of your life!

For Moms: When your health care provider gives you the green light to start exercising, you have to take time for YOURSELF to get in shape so you can have the stamina your new role requires. It is important to take care of yourself so you can take care of others. You cannot give if you do not make time for your own needs. Let go of the guilt!

Here are my 7 tips to shape up successfully. Exercising will help you keep your sanity, and be the patient, loving, and fun parent you want to be.

1- Start at your fitness level - You will quit exercising if you are overwhelmed, especially at this busy time in your life. Find exercises that you can adapt for your body.

2- Perform strength and cardio exercises - Burn calories and build muscles. Those toned muscles will allow you to burn more calories as you move through your day.

3- Diversify - Surprise your body with new moves to keep your muscles guessing. You will not get bored and your brain will also stay challenged, helping you relax and think with more clarity during this stressful time. Yes, having a new family member is stressful!

4- Add intensity - To incinerate calories, really push yourself. This will kick your metabolism into high gear and you will like the results. Meaning your pants will fit better.

5- Simplify - No need for complicated and expensive equipment, you can work out in the comfort of your home. People tend to quit when it is difficult to make time to work out or to access the gym.

6- Work your whole body - Make sure you work all your muscle groups. Maximize your workout time by working multiple muscle groups simultaneously.

7- Use good form - Always use good technique to get an efficient and safe workout.

If you need ideas:
With their customizable intervals and exercises, our fitness apps will help you apply these tips with ease. Even better, when short on time you can shorten the intervals or perform only one circuit. Remember that a little bit of fitness in your day is better than no fitness at all. Be ready to build endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility for a great new life!

Below is a picture of myself when I was a new mom in 1989.