Shaping up as a new mum: some shortcuts
Finding it tough to workout as a busy new mum? Check out our tips to help you get toned
You know the drill. Pre pregnancy you had and made time to keep in shape. Now that your little one has arrived, there suddenly doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everyday life sorted, never mind a workout.
The first few months of motherhood are undoubtedly all about enjoying time with your baby, recovery and finding your way with routines that work for you all. Once you find yourself in that zone and you’re daydreaming about your favourite jeans you’re ready to read on…
So, yes, priorities have changed and that’s fine. But shaping up is not just about getting your figure back; it’s about feeling good and energising yourself
But you can still find ways to shape up, you just have to be clever about it and find some shortcuts. Work smarter, not harder!
1. Less is more: Forget about hours in gym; those days are gone unless you have an extremely understanding and helpful partner or family member to take the load off. But for most new mums, time is lacking and indulging in short bursts of exercise makes a lot more sense. Commit to a daily 20 minute walk with the buggy and make it count. Keep up the pace, go uphill and feel the burn.
2. Run, run, run: Okay, so marathons are out but there’s no reason why you can’t still go for a run. Follow the couch to 5k regime: walk for five minutes, then run for a minute and gradually build up your time until you are running and walking in equal measure for about 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Home workouts: If you can’t get out due to a sleeping baby, try a home workout. It doesn’t have to be anything vigorous. Start of with some gentle pelvic floor exercises and stretches. It will all help with long term toning. If you are feeling particularly energetic, you could always put on an exercise DVD or download an app.
4. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), in which you alternate between short bursts of intense exercise and recovery breaks, is one of the best — and most time-saving — ways to burn fat. Essentially pick exercise and go as hard as you can at it for 20 seconds. Rest for 10 seconds and go again for one or two rounds. Try picking 3 or 4 exercises and do a couple of rounds of each.
5. You’ve got the moves: Remember when you danced the night away when you were younger? It was fun, not exercise. Well, clubbing may be a distant memory but you can use techniques involving music and dance to shape up — without even feeling as if you are working out. Zumba is amazing for weight loss — you can burn up to 1,000 calories with an hour’s workout. So even if you manage a 10 minute jiggle around your sitting room, you’re making a real difference without feeling too much pain. And you’ll feel great afterwards.