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Health & Fitness

Fitness for Motherhood

Fitting fitness into motherhood at any stage

All moms want to reclaim their body after their baby is born. And while those first few months after baby are so overwhelming there’s loads you can do to start getting your body back to pre-pregnancy awesomeness.

Here are a few ideas to help you get back into shape no matter how old your kids are.  

Newborn - 1 year: Fit fitness into nooks and crannies of the day. This is a great stage for mommy and baby workouts. For example, you can chest press with baby or do reverse curls with baby on your legs. You can also get a great workout with baby in a front pack carrier. Squats and lunges are even more effective with the added baby weight! A stroller workout is a great way to get in shape and get some fresh air. Add intensity to your walks or jogs by taking more hills and by doing some strength intervals. You can squat and lunge behind your stroller. Want more ideas? Try a stroller workout like Stroller Strides (www.strollerstrides.com).

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1 - 3 years: Stroller workouts are still great for this stage. As your baby gets bigger, you'll get stronger! Your toddler will love to imitate you working out so don't be afraid to pop in a workout video. They just might want to join you.

3 - 5 years: Your little one is more mobile and you can be too. Go for a run as you push them along on a bike. Or, play red light green light and tag at the park. The playground is a great place to workout. Do some step ups, push ups and dips at the park bench.

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6+: From here on, anything is possible. There are lots of sports that you can play with your kids. Try tennis, karate or yoga. Create a circuit workout at the park for you and your family. If your child plays a team sport, use that time to go for a run around the field or do your own workout.

The most important thing is to just get out there and start doing something. Anything. With the terrifying facts of childhood obesity on the rise, it's more important than ever that we, as parents set examples that fitness can be fun. Even if your kid is still a baby, they are watching everything you do. So get out there and have some fun with them.

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