Exercising with your baby

Exercising with your baby

Exercising with your baby can be challenging ??? and tempting to avoid altogether.?? Don???t miss this golden opportunity.?? Work out with your baby at home or at a local park, using your baby as your ???dumbell???.?? An average two month old baby can weigh up to 10 pounds, which is the perfect weight to be lifting to get back into shape.?? Before you begin any weighted exercise, please consult with your doctor or midwife and never do these exercises if you are still bleeding postpartum.?? In that case, just go for a walk and get some fresh air with your baby.?? A tip I got from a mom recently: ???Make your playlists as long as you plan to exercise!?? It will keep you from constantly glancing at the timer.?? The less you think about how much time is left, the more likely it will just fly by!???

Grab your snugglie or baby bjorn (borrow one if you don???t have one), and securely strap your baby into it.?? For young babies (1-3 months), let them face you ??? your movements will probably even put them to sleep (yeah!).?????? Here is a sample workout.?? To warm up, go for a five minute brisk walk and then do 10-15 walking lunges.?? Next, do 3 sets of squats, making sure to keep your knees over your toes.?? Alternate 10 lunges on each leg with those squats.?? Walk again for 1 minute.?? Repeat once.

For your upper body, use either two hands holding your baby to do arm curls, or leave baby strapped on and grab your dumb bells.???? Alternate 3 sets of bicep curls with 3 sets of tricep dips off a chair.

Work on your chest and back strength next.?? Pushups are a great way to build your chest and back muscles.?? Start on your knees and work your way up to full pushups on your toes.?? Always remember to bend your elbows to 90 degrees and get low! Do three sets of 10 pushups.

Abs are essential to rebuilding your core, reducing any back pain you may have and helping you stay strong for your baby.?? It???s super easy to do too! Make it a game of peek-a-boo if you want, but do those crunches and plank work.?? For your crunches, place baby on your thighs, facing you or on the floor beside you and work up to 30 crunches.?? Do it in sets of 10 if you need to.?? Repeat once.?? Next do a simple plank.?? Start with your knees on the floor and work your way up to being on your toes.?? Place your baby on the floor in front of you as you do the exercises.

And finally, always do your stretching.?? It will prevent injury, and help relax those sore muscles!?? Cardio Blast offers a full suite of stretching and strength videos that all moms can do at home. Remember that by taking a half hour for your own health and strength, you will be less tired, less prone to injury, and better able to care for your baby!

About the Author: Alex K is an online Fitness Professional providing health and wellness to the world through his online workout program Cardio Blast. Members of www.Cardioblast.com receive new cardio workouts every week, strength training programs, 50 page meal plan, fitness tracking and personal training included with their membership.

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