10 Ways for New Moms
to Shape Up at Home
by Gayle Kesten

The quickest 8 pounds I ever lost was the day my son was born. Even the following 15 pounds melted off in a month. But the remaining 10 required big-time effort. If you're like most new moms, with little opportunity to leave behind your little one to work out, these 10 tips will help you reclaim your pre-pregnancy figure:

1. First, check with your doctor. Your body is still delicate in the first six to eight weeks after you give birth. Before you begin dieting and exercising, wait until your doctor gives you the green light.
   
   
2. Easy does it. Your body endured nine months of stretching. It could take just as long to get your body back in shape. The American Council on Exercise (A.C.E.) recommends starting with Kegel exercises to help strengthen the pelvic floor.
   
   Also, exercising for 10 minutes up to six times a day can be just as effective as doing it all in one hour, says William McArdle, nutrition and exercise author, and professor emeritus at Queens College's Department of Family, Nutrition and Exercise, in New York.
   
   
3. Take a walk. Whether we wandered through the neighborhood or walked to the pharmacy, my son and I took advantage of the crisp fall weather every day.
   
   
4. Invest in exercise equipment. A stationary bike or treadmill may cost a few dollars, but you'll have them for the long term.
   
   "With Hannah, I NordicTracked during her naps three times a week," says Monica Chusid, of Westport, Conn.
   
   
5. Find a personal trainer. Again, not inexpensive, but the personalized attention can be key to your weight loss.
   
   "I push someone more so than they would push themselves," says Cindy Speter, an A.C.E.-certified personal trainer in Huntington, N.Y. "Depending on the person's fitness level, I design different programs to fit the individual."
   
   
6. Work out with your baby.
   
   "I walked around a lot with my son in a baby carrier, sometimes on the treadmill," says new mom Robin Weisberg, in Commack, N.Y.
   
   
7. Pop an exercise tape into your VCR. This can be an inexpensive and convenient way to get back in shape. "Make sure the exercise videos are done by certified individuals in the health care industry," Speter advises.
   
   
8. Find an online buddy. Web sites including BabyCenter and ParentSoup offer bulletin boards for dieting moms, who cheer each other on for every ounce lost.
   
   
9. Eat sensibly. This is particularly important for breastfeeding moms, who require more calories per day; this could, in fact, put your diet plans on hold.
   
   "I really didn't start losing any weight until after I stopped breastfeeding and was able to go on a serious diet," says Kathleen Ford, of Woodland Hills, Calif.
   
   But whether you're breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, keep plenty of easy-to-grab, healthy food around. Also, drink lots of water.
   
   
10. Maintain perspective. Even if the weight is slow to come off, remember why it's there in the first place.
    
    "What your stomach looks like doesn't seem very important when you are looking at perfect little faces and bodies," says Philadelphia mom-of-two Amy Fleck.

back | top