Fitness For New Moms

Becoming a new mother is certainly one way to incorporate more
exercise into your life! From lifting to bending to picking up
items, to carrying – seems like you never have a chance to sit
still now that your precious bundle has arrived!

However, you may be feeling the need to exercise to get back
into shape after your pregnancy. There’s no need to join an
expensive club, though. Start by exercising with your little
one!

One of my favorite exercises when my niece was born was dancing
with her. We swayed to Mozart, twirled to 50’s tunes, and rocked
gently to lullabies. Consequently, I became fitter, and Sarah
has learned to appreciate all kinds of music.

Simply lifting your baby up and down and saying the words,
“up”…. “down” give your arms a mini workout and help your baby
learn! That’s right! Talking and moving help increase baby’s IQ!
So sing to your baby, tell him or her that you’re moving “left”,
“right”, “over”, “under”, “around”, etc.

Purchase a sturdy stroller and take baby out for a walk each
day. The fresh air will be beneficial to you both, and it’s
another great way to introduce your child to the objects around
the neighborhood. You do want to make sure your stroller doesn’t
jiggle too much – it’s not much fun pushing a stroller and
ending up with numb hands (like you’re pushing a lawn mower!). A
quality stroller will help you want to go for more walks with
baby!

As your baby grows, he’ll mimic your movements. This is a fun
time to incorporate some silly movement games into your
“exercise” session. Watching her trying to do exactly what you
do brings tears of joy and much laughter!

As you can see, exercising with a baby is not only possible,
but loads of fun as well. It’s a time to bond, teach, and take
care of yourself and your little one. One day soon you’ll be
telling your school age child about all the fun you both had
exercising together when he was a baby. And yes, it will happen
quicker than you ever dreamed!

About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health
expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/
for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well
as reviews and comments on popular diets.