March 28, 2023

Postpartum Fitness Tips for New Moms

By Danielle Rosario

Congratulations on Becoming a New Mom! Here’s Your Lowdown on Postpartum Exercise

Your new bundle of joy has entered this world, and you’re eager to finally shed that extra baby weight you’ve put on. It’s time to get back to your pre-pregnancy body. Or maybe the pregnancy weight motivates you to aim to get in the best shape of your life. Whatever your case is, your body has gone through some major changes. Don’t forget to give yourself a little extra compassion during this time.

Yes, you’re dying to get back in shape — we get it. But we want to help you focus on getting back to your fabulous self before you ever had a bun in the oven. It’s all about you feeling confident, strong, and energized again.

Postpartum exercise comes with its own set of challenges. We will answer all of your postpartum workout questions, from how soon you should exercise after giving birth to what are some helpful postpartum fitness tips. 

Plus, we know that with your new full-time job as a mom, your time, and your energy, are very limited. Postpartum exercise doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the gym or work out every day. We understand you want to spend as much of your precious time as possible with your baby.

That’s why we think Lagree is the perfect postpartum workout. It’s a full-body, low-impact, high-intensity workout that you can do in 40 minutes a few times a week. It’s highly effective, and you’ll see results quickly. And all the exercises can be modified to accommodate you and your body’s current state. 

Postpartum Workout Benefits

Weight loss and increased physical strength are two external benefits that come with postpartum exercise. But the benefits you’ll reap aren’t solely physical.

Not only will you see your body change from your postpartum workouts, but you’ll experience a boost to your mood and a decrease in your stress levels. Your postpartum fitness routine gives you something else to focus on for yourself. Consistent exercise is super important for new moms’ physical and mental strength. Plus, you’ll also benefit from better sleep quality and more balanced hormones, which have basically been out of whack since getting pregnant1

When to Start Working Out After Giving Birth

So the big question all new moms like you are wondering is — How soon should I exercise after having a baby? The number one rule is that you shouldn’t begin any postpartum workout regimen before speaking with your doctor.

Many doctors recommend waiting six to eight weeks after giving birth, but it ultimately varies from person to person. For instance, if you experienced any complications during pregnancy or delivery, you might need more time to heal before implementing a workout routine again. 

Keep in mind that your body is different now. It just went through a life-altering experience. You need to build up to get back to certain rigorous workouts you may have participated in pre-pregnancy. And absolutely never sacrifice sleep for working out. As a new mom, you should prioritize rest, as you need to get as much of it as you possibly can.

Depending on your situation, your doctor will best advise you on when to start the postpartum exercise. It’s essential not to push yourself too hard and allow your body time to heal fully. Slow and steady is the key here.

Why Lagree Is Great for New Moms

Lagree is an awesome workout choice for new moms for several reasons. First of all, it’s low-impact, which is an important consideration for postpartum workouts. But it’s also a dynamic full-body workout that’s highly effective. You get the high-intensity factor without any added stress on your joints and ligaments, which typically comes with other forms of high-intensity exercise. 

With a Lagree class, you get cardio and strength training in one. And with limited time, now that you have another human being to care for, why would you not want to kill two birds with one stone? For many new moms, losing the weight they acquired during pregnancy is a priority. 

But another common and highly beneficial goal is to increase strength. You spend most of your days holding your baby, and that’s exhausting in and of itself. Strength training will help alleviate the difficulty of this task as you get physically stronger.

The use of springs on the Megaformer provides a safe way to get in your strength-training workout. Using variable tension allows you to modify the resistance level to fit your needs easily. Lagree is ultimately the perfect option for a postpartum workout for new moms. 

So whether your goal is to lose the baby weight or to build strength, you can achieve those with Lagree. And an added bonus is that you also get to work on muscular endurance, flexibility, and balance. Plus, you kickstart your metabolism in a Lagree workout to continue to burn calories long after class ends. 

Not only is Lagree super effective, but it’s super efficient as well. You’ll see results quickly, with even just 40 minutes a few times per week. Forget the days of spending long hours in the gym  nearly every day of the week. As a new mom, you most definitely don’t have that kind of time. Nor do you want to be away from your adorable baby for that long.

Postpartum Workout Tips

Be realistic and take it slow — you won’t be able to work out five times a week

Honestly, were you even working out five times a week pre-pregnancy? If so, well that’s fantastic. But life is different now, as is your body. A slow and steady pace is the key to achieving lasting progress.

Listen to your body, and don’t push yourself too hard

You’ll probably need to lower your expectations for yourself when it comes to fitness. Listening to cues from your body is necessary during any workout, but even more so with your new-mom body. Be gentle with yourself. 

Be patient. It’ll take you some time to get back to your fitness routine

Ease into postpartum exercise and build up to getting back to your pre-pregnancy fitness routine if that’s your goal. Starting with low-impact exercise just 10–15 minutes a day is a great option. 

Be sure to rest and sleep enough

You can plan your workouts, but ultimately rest is a priority now more than ever before. If you wake up feeling super sluggish, maybe skip your workout that day, or at least that morning. Whatever you do, please don’t sacrifice sleep for exercise.

Don’t compare yourself to other new moms

There’s a reason you need your doctor’s approval before starting to work out after giving birth — there’s no one-size fits all approach. It’s a case-by-case scenario, and just because another mom is killing her postpartum fitness routine doesn’t mean you can or should be doing the same.

Be kind to yourself

You just brought new life into this world! And went through excruciating pain to birth that tiny miracle. Show yourself the love and kindness you show to your new baby. Self-care is a must so that you can be the best mom you can be2.

Calling All New Moms to the Megaformer — Ease Into Working Out With Lagree

Okay, so your doctor has signed off on you beginning to exercise again. You’ve been patiently waiting and are eager to reincorporate fitness into your life. If you want a full-body workout that gives you optimal physical and mental strength benefits, then you must try Lagree. Sign up for your first Lagree Fit 415 class today and see it yourself!

Sources:
1 10 Best Postpartum Workout Moves for New Moms

2 How to Prioritize Exercise as a New Mom