Post Pregnancy Exercise Thread

[Jbouck5]

I hope it's not too soon to start this thread! There were of few of us who seemed interested in the mamas with babies thread.

I've already lost 23lbs, and am 8lbs above my pre pregnancy weight, but I want to loose an additional 15-20lbs that I was trying to loose before getting pregnant, I also just need to get my fitness level back to what is was before I go back to teaching yoga in October!

So today I am 4 weeks +1 day pp and I did my first real work out. I have the Jillian Micheals 30 day shred dvd, so I did level 1 today. It's a 20 min workout that has strength + cardio + abs, and I really like it. Man did it kick my butt though! I haven't done any kind of jumping around for at least 8 months, so when I did the first few jumping jacks I got sooo dizy. lol.

I feel really good about getting a nice workout in, and i'm excited to get back in shape

[Baby_Cakes]

Subbing!!

I'm only 10 days pp, so I'm not ready to work out yet but I soooo want to.

Anyone know what I CAN do before actually getting into a real routine?  

I've so far lost 18 lbs but still have 31 to go to get to pre-preg weight, and ideally I'd like to lose 10 more than that. So.  I've got my work cut out for me for sure!

[jillybeans]

I'm down about 14, and have been doing kegels a ton. I have to get my prolapse in order before I can do much exercise, although walking has been approved. I can't even lift the car seat till at least 6weeks pp!

But I've started adding more walking when i can. We've had appts three times this week so I add in an extra stop at the store and do some light walking around. It feels great to move!

[PoetryLover]

I'm still waiting to have my baby. But I'm wondering how long you ladies are waiting before starting an exercise routine? My midwife last time didn't want me to do any type of exercising until 6 weeks postpartum and I was wondering if there is a reason to wait that long.

This is a thread that I can't wait to really join Thanks for starting it.

[Beckily]

I've been wondering what types of things I can do post c-section. My normal exercise is belly dancing but that doesn't seem like something I should do for another month when I'm healed.

[noorjahan]

Originally Posted by Jbouck5 

So today I am 4 weeks +1 day pp and I did my first real work out. I have the Jillian Micheals 30 day shred dvd, so I did level 1 today. It's a 20 min workout that has strength + cardio + abs, and I really like it. Man did it kick my butt though! I haven't done any kind of jumping around for at least 8 months, so when I did the first few jumping jacks I got sooo dizy. lol.

I feel really good about getting a nice workout in, and i'm excited to get back in shape

Oh me too..4 weeks+1 day pp and I've that dvd too. It's impressive you've already started to follow that video. I can't imagine right now. I was planning on asking my doc at 6 weeks pp appt (on sept 20th)..and then start something. Right now, I feel with all the work I'm doing handling the baby it's already enough! And it makes me dizzy already...
 

[Peony]

I would LOVE to exercise, I just don't see how that is going to happen unless someone takes all 4 of my kids.  With my first I was doing light workout videos by 2 weeks PP, I just did it slowly. The 30 Day Shred it what I did last time to get back in shape but #3 didn't scream like this baby does. I think I started at 3-4 weeks with that. I do spend hours a day bouncing and walking a baby around, but that doesn't seem to be doing much for my love handles. For now I guess I'll just live through those of you that are exercising! 

[copper.kettle]

Thanks for starting this!!

I'm 2w1d post partum and have started doing some crunches.  I think I started at around 10 days post partum, and I started with 20, so I'm going very very slowly, lol!  I'm up to 75 crunches/day right now, but feel like I could start doing them twice per day.  I took a walk the other day, but my pain was way worse that evening, so I haven't gone again.  I'm thinking I'll try maybe 15 or 20 minutes tomorrow.  I was in the best shape of my life when I got pregnant (running and yoga), and I really can't wait to get back to it.  I don't think I'll be able to run for some time, but I just want to feel like I'm getting moving, kwim? 

I gained around 35-37 pounds, and I think I have about 10 to go.  I haven't weighed myself since Sunday, and I had about 12 to go that day.  Today I'm wearing a prepreg jean skirt, though, and loving it!!

[Jbouck5]

I just waited to start actually exercising until my bleeding was done. I was down to panty liners last week and this week I am all clear! Also, I just felt ready to start again, since I have been getting a little more sleep and have more energy.

Anyone know what I CAN do before actually getting into a real routine?

Carrie, Dr. Sears has some gentle exercises he recommends in "The Baby Book"  for starting to condition the muscles affected by pregnancy and child birth. They are very easy, and can be done as soon as 2 weeks pp. For improving posture: stand against a wall and try to get your mid/upper back and shoulders flat against it. For the pelvic muscles: keagles of course, For abdominals: instead of full crunches, just start out by doing head lifts, also: laying on your back, leg lifts.  I started these exercises on week 3, it was nice just to do something physical even though they are very basic movements.

I definitely think just doing house work, running errands and caring for kids is tiring enough! I don't forsee myself being able to do a real workout on days when I am out running errands. Just going grocery shopping while wearing the baby in the carrier tires me out for the rest of the day. I am excited to start going to fun fitness classes again. i really want to try Nia, and this fun dance and martial arts inspired class called Will Power and Grace. Now I just have to get a milk bank stored up so DH can feed the baby while I'm gone.

[cakemama579]

I have to wait at least 6 weeks post partum (@ 2 weeks pp now), but the plan is to walk the trail around the park by my house while wearing DD and after dropping off DS at school in the am.  Thinking 3, maybe 4 times a week?

I dont own a scale, but i'd be surprised if i wasnt down 15 ls or so already, which means about 20 more to go...just hoping it doesnt take 2 years like it did w DS!

Great thread thanks for starting it!

[CrazyCatLady]

I wanted to start a thread like this a while ago...but was too chicken.  I started working out again at about four days post partum.  I got a little enthusiastic because I was looking pretty skinny already after the birth.  I had assumed before-hand that this pregnancy weight would take a long time to work off.  So losing weight so fast was a real bonus.  Now my goal is to be back to modeling by the end of September.  No idea how realistic that is, but I'm working towards it.

My diet is just whatever I feel like eating (which is lots and lots) lol.  For exercise I'm doing a lot of the Butt Bible work outs.  Really anything on exercisetv.  I'm avoiding straight cardio-only work outs, but anything else I feel ok taking on.  I also like Jillian Michaels stuff. 

I have no idea how much I weigh or anything.  Don't think I want to know.  I'm just going off of how I look and feel for now. :)

[MrsMike]

Oooh, I'm in. I'm 2 weeks post partum.  I started this pregnancy at 142 lbs and ended up at 183 when I gave birth. I'm currently at 158. Numbers don't concern me too much as I want to focus on strength. I had pretty bad SPD all throughout my pregnancy and then other health issues that kept me off my feet most of the time. I wasn't able to do a lot of exercise. So, I'm feeling especially weak right now, especially my abs and back. I forgot to ask my midwife when I can start exercising again and I don't go back for another 6 weeks. Maybe I'll call her. I had stopped bleeding a week ago and then gushed a ton of blood on Monday. Stopped since then and then had a lot of bloody discharge this morning. Sucks, because I want to get moving. I'm so tired of not moving, but I don't want to stress my body too much. I plan on starting with light walking, belly dance and yoga.

[earth-mama]

I am 3 week PP today!  I started doing some short walks during my first week PP and am now walking about 1 mile every other day--if I feel to tired I skip it.  I also started doing some crunches and other simple stomach strengthening excercises.  It feels good to get my body moving!  I weighed myself this morning and I am about 5 pounds above my pre-preg weight.  I would like to loose that and maybe another 5-10, but I am mostly interested in getting back into shape and building my endurance up.

[Baby_Cakes]

I texted my mw and she said light exercise is fine now as long as my bleeding doesn't increase.  Yesterday I didn't bleed at all, and so far today is looking the same!  Yay!  

Jbouck - THANK YOU for those exercise ideas!!  

I can't believe I have 30 lbs to lose, wah.    I guess it could be worse.  I can get my size 8's up over my thighs but that's about it.  And the 12's I had from after DD don't even zip.  I really need to tear apart my closet and see if I can find those jeans from Express that I lived in after DD.

I found my postpartum support belt thing, and I wore it for awhile yesterday -- it's a tad annoying.  It keeps rolling down and riding up!  Gah.  So, I'm still in maternity pants.  I'm just wearing normal t-shirts though, my bewbs are so big that nothing fits right on top!  Ha!

[happylemon]

Thanks for starting the thread! I am not even 2w PP and have not really done anything yet. I still have some red bleeding occasionally, despite being totally lazy, so I am going to wait until I have several days of no bleeding. I have a follow up appointment with the MW this week too, so after I talk to them I will feel more comfortable working out. I am looking forward to walking DD to school again, it is just under 2 miles round trip. I will also probably start with some Jillian. I have a few other DVDs I can do pretty soon. I love my Insanity workouts, there is one that is pretty easy that I did all through the pregnancy, so I plan to start that again, just modified a little until I hit the 6 week mark. My MIL is staying with us this week and I really do not want her watching me work out, so I likely will not start anything until after she leaves, which will be close to 3w PP. I will start doing some more walking this week though.

I am not sure how much weight I have left. I think I have lost around 20, but I have 25 or so more. I mostly just want to look good and fit back in my pants, which loosing weight wont mean anything on that front, it will just take time for my hips to get back to normal.

[Baby_Cakes]

DH and I are thinking of doing P90X or Insanity once I'm cleared for moderate exercise.  Anyone do those before?  Sarah you said you did Insanity?

[Chaika]

I want to exercise so badly but I don't think I can yet   I will be 3 weeks PP on Monday, but I had a c-section.  Also still bleeding a bit.  There's a gym near my house that offers child care,  I might try it at some point.  I used to do Spinning but stopped when I found out I was pregnant.  I miss it so much!  But it's a pretty hardcore workout so I'm thinking I won't do it until probably October. 

I don't own a scale, and from the looks of it I've lost a good deal of weight, but I did gain 50lbs during the pregnancy so I'm sure I still have a long way to go. 

[nald1]

Originally Posted by PoetryLover 

I'm still waiting to have my baby. But I'm wondering how long you ladies are waiting before starting an exercise routine? My midwife last time didn't want me to do any type of exercising until 6 weeks postpartum and I was wondering if there is a reason to wait that long.

This is a thread that I can't wait to really join Thanks for starting it.

Don't know if my example is the best- Im truly addicted to exercise!!!!  i walked short distances starting the day we came home.  I increased as i felt ready.  I think I started jogging 2 weeks postpartum - I was SO stressed out- middle of winter, baby that wouldn't sleep - day or night- and fed constantly.  Exercise is my coping skill and i remember feeling I could run 20 miles - but couldn't be gone more than a 1/2 hour without her wailing for another feeding.  

This time Im HOPING nursing goes a little better- and it'll be gorgeous fall weather and Ill be able to get out more in general.  Hoping for short walks with baby in Moby or Ergo - and eventually can't wait to run again :)

[Chaika]

Gah, I just realized I'll be 3 weeks PP on TUESDAY, not Monday.  I already managed to forget which day of the week my baby was born.  I am a terrible mother, LOL.

[bethrw]

I'm three weeks pp today, and I'm dying to start exercising! I think I'm going to try to hold off for one more week to get me to four weeks, because I have milk supply issues and want to build up as much as I can in the first month and I'm afraid exercise might have negative influences on that. I think I have about 20 lbs to lose (gained 37 lbs during pregnancy), but I haven't weighed, so I'm really not sure. I'm thinking of doing a yoga video this week, and then incorporating level one of the shred video next week. I did level one (modified) during my third tri, so I don't think it would be too hard to get back into that. I'm really, really wanting to start running again, but I'm worried it might kill my milk supply. Does anyone know about that?