Working Out and Eating Well After Your Baby is Born

This post was written by Vanna Belt, creator of Gel-V and the V-Belt which helps women tone the skin on their hips, thights, stomach and bottocks after pregnancy and weight loss.

Hello there! I’m Vanna Belt and I help new moms regain body confidence through healthy eating and fitness!

As a new mom, it might seem nearly impossible to block out time for exercise and healthy eating. However, in order to take care of your baby, you need to take care of yourself.

Follow these guidelines to get fit, get healthy and have the energy you need to keep up with the demands of being mom.

Tips for Staying in Shape

Getting back into a fitness routine after your baby is born takes a little time, but you’ll get there if you have the right plan.

1. Create a Workout Strategy

Taking care of a new baby is a full-time job. That’s why you need to schedule a specific time to exercise every day. Whether it’s before everyone gets up in the morning or while baby is down for an afternoon nap, pick a time that you can devote solely to working out without interruption.

2. Skip the Gym

There are plenty of workouts that you can do right at home if you don’t have time to drive to the gym. Fitness DVDs and free online workout videos make it easy to break a sweat without leaving the house. Invest in light hand weights or a resistance band for strength training. Look up fun workouts that you can do with your baby for some quality bonding time.

3. Don’t Push It

Remember that your body has just spent the better part of a year going through some serious changes. Doing too much too soon can delay the healing of the muscles in your pelvic floor and abdomen. Ask your doctor about safe exercises that you can do to start and check in again when you’re ready to move on to something harder.

Tips for Eating Right

Just a few simple changes to your kitchen routine makes it easy to eat healthy even when you’re worn out from taking care of your baby.

1. Choose Whole Foods

Ditch processed snacks and pump up your energy levels with foods that support wellness. Reach for whole grains, nuts, fresh fruits and fresh or cooked veggies. Put together your own healthy treats like trail mix or homemade granola and portion them out into baggies that you can grab when you need an afternoon pick-me-up. Also, add some workout gummies to your diet for a pre and post-workout boost.

2. Prioritize Your Cooking Time

If meals are an afterthought, you’ll wind up grabbing takeout or convenience foods instead of healthy fare. Make time to cook large batches of simple foods like soup and chili as well as accompaniments such as brown rice. That way, all you’ll have to do is pull a container out of the freezer and warm it up for a quick dinner.

3. Get the Family to Help

With so much of your attention and energy focused on your new baby, it’s time for the family to step up to the plate and help with meal preparation. Teach older kids to prepare favorite dishes and enlist help from younger children with tasks like setting the table. Ask your spouse for a hand with the cooking and you’ll find that meals come together in no time.

Thank you so much for reading this post. For even more healthy eating and fitness tips please check out my blog! -Vanna