If you want to lose postpartum pounds it’s important that you make a commitment to yourself to get fit.  I know as mom that you can become overwhelmed by all of the things to do, but remember that taking care of you if the most important!  If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take as good care of those you love.

It’s amazing how our children pick up words that we say as well as our actions.  Our children are sponges, and it’s important that we are good role models.  When you eat healthy, your children will likely do the same.  When you exercise, your children will be more likely to exercise too.  Think of the impact you have on your child and make the choice to live healthy!

Often pregnant women in their third trimester experience difficulty breathing because the baby is taking up more space.  Here is a nice yoga stretch you can do to “lengthen your waist” and bring your breath fully into your body.  In a comfortable seated position (you may sit on the ground or on a chair with no arm handles) inhale your right arm straight up overhead, exhale exten your right arm over your head, while reaching your fingertips as far as they will go (i.e., imagine someone gently pulling your fingertips).  Hold and breathe in thru your nose and our through your nose for two complete breaths.  Repeat on the other side.  Repeat the breath with the movement up to 10 times on each side, or for as long as you feel comfortable.

While you are pregnant it can seem like a long time, but once it’s over it can feel like a blink of an eye.  Capture the time being pregnant with photos of your “new” body.  Journal about your thoughts and feelings over the experience.  Connect with your baby as often as you can by sitting still and touching your belly while feeling the sensations of your baby growing inside you.  Share how you feel about your experience with your husband/ partner.  Acknowledge that being pregnant is truly a gift!

As a new mom, one of the hardest things to do is to find time to exercise.  By changing your mindset from “I have to exercise” to “This hour is just for me”, you will notice that exercise becomes something that you look forward too, versus something you have to do to look better.  I recently told my stroller workout class, ”Fit Mommas” in San Diego, CA, “Remember, this is your hour…just for you so keep your focus on what you want to accomplish”.  One Fit Momma told me today that it was really powerful for her to hear the words, “This is YOUR hour” because it brought home the fact that getting out and exercising is the one thing that she can do for herself, and she really looks forward to it.  Many of the moms in my class echoed the same.  So try it…tell yourself, “This is MY hour!!”

If you want to lose weight post baby, start now!  Come up with a plan of what you want to accomplish and set a date of when you will reach your goal.  Make sure your goals are attainable.  For example: “I will exercise 3 times this week.”  “by 4 weeks I will have exercised 4 -5times per week on a consistent bases”;  By setting attainable goals you will feel proud of your accomplishments and it will push you forward to reaching new goals.

Pregnancy & Newborn Review: “Sara Holliday’s Postnatal Total Body Toning Workout is a great way to work yourself back into shape after having a baby. It works you from head-to-toe without overdoing it since it’s designed for new moms. There’s no equipment necessary and most importantly, the workout is only thirty minutes.”

Many moms experience nausea in the first trimester of their pregnancy because their bodies are in over-drive producing hormones to make a baby.  Besides the typical advice of eating small meals and eating crackers to reduce nausea, I’ve found that pregnant woman really benefit from exercising.  As long as you get the ok from your doctor to exercise, it seems the exercise decreases nausea.  Many of the pregnant women I work with have said it was really hard to meet me for exercise because they didn’t feel good, but once they started working out they felt better, and after the workout they noted that their nausea was minimal or even completely gone.  So remember this simple tip: When you’re feeling nauseous…get up and move and you’ll be glad you did!

Being a busy mom of two I know how challenging it can be to fit a workout into your day.  One thing I’ve found is that if I don’t exercise in the morning I rarely exercise later in the day, because of two main factors: 1. I get involved with my kids or work related projects 2. I’m too tired by the time my children are asleep.  I’ve also found that when I exercise in the morning my mood is better all day, and the same is true for the many moms I’ve worked with.  So try  it out…workout first thing in the morning, and notice how much better you feel all day!

The Opinionated Parent Reviews Sara Holliday’s Total Body Toning DVD.  Reviewer states, “It’s full of effective exercises and she targets areas which are often problems for new mothers, such as the abs, butt, thights and upper arms”.