equinox

Motherhood is a balancing act so a BOSU balance trainer ($130) is an appropriate device for moms to use when they are fighting the postpartum pounds! Our friends over at Equinox set me up with Amy Fiske, an NSCA-certified personal trainer, who is helping me get back in shape. Here are some of the BOSU exercises she recommends.

BOSU Hip Raise
(Targets the glutes and hamstrings)
Lie face up with your knees bent and feet flat on the BOSU. Raise your hips up toward the ceiling by squeezing your glutes and pressing down through your heels. Try to imagine a straight line going from the top of your knees to your shoulders. Hold for a few seconds and then return to your starting position.

BOSU Plank
(This targets the core)
Lay flat on your stomach, position your elbows under the shoulders on top of the BOSU, then curl your toes under and push your body up by resting your weight on your elbows and tightening your torso. This can be done by pulling your navel in toward your spine so your hips don’t sag. Your body should be in a straight line from head to heels. The neck should be kept in-line with the rest of the spine. Keep breathing naturally throughout the exercise. Hold for about 30 seconds. Make the exercise less challenging by holding this position on your knees or by placing your forearms on an elevated surface. Make it more of a challenge by adding in a leg lift.

Keep reading for two more exercises.

Stretch it out! Before you burn the baby fat, you've got to prep by stretching your body. Our friends over at Equinox set me up with Amy Fiske, an NSCA-certified personal trainer, who is helping me get back in shape. She said, "Stretching is a vital part of an exercise program since it helps prevent injury and assists with increasing blood flow to the muscles, motor unit activation, muscle lengthening, and a person's range of motion." Here are six dynamic stretches she recommends and why. She said:

During postpartum training it is crucial to be conservative with your range for several months due to potential joint laxity, especially if a woman is breastfeeding. Dynamic stretches are done before a workout and are different from a post workout stretches because they are done more quickly and are held for a shorter time period. The dynamic warm up should take 5-10 minutes and moms should aim to do about 10 reps of each stretch holding each for no more than a few seconds.

Leg swings
(These target the hips.)
Hold onto a stable surface with one hand and pull the navel in towards the spine. Stand on one leg and swing the opposite leg forward and back continuously to comfortable range of motion. Keep the torso upright.

Walking High Kicks or Toy Soldiers
(These target the glutes, hamstrings and hips.)
These are similar to the leg swings, but this time you move forward. As you do so, bring one leg out in front and swing your arm to the opposite leg. Take a step forward as soon as the leg touches back down to the floor. Repeat the movement with the opposite side and then alternate.

To try the other four stretches, read more

Just in time for bikini season is Us Weekly's "Hot Body" issue, which gives the lowdown on bikini secrets from stars like Lauren Conrad, Jessica Szohr, and Fergie. Here's a sneak peek on what you'll find inside:

• Jessica Szohr tells Us Weekly, "I watch what I eat during the week, and on weekends I kind of splurge. If you starve yourself, you’ll go nuts." A typical day for Jessica might include an egg white breakfast, a salad for lunch, and pasta dinner. To stay in shape, Jessica takes kickboxing and yoga classes at Equinox. "My legs were a little muscular," she says. "But yoga is one thing I do to look less bulky."

Find out what Lauren and Fergie said when you read more

For moms who feel a little off balance after having baby, invest in a stability ball! Women who used the rotund objects during labor can just dust theirs off once they get their doctor's OK to exercise. Our friends over at Equinox set me up with Amy Fiske, NSCA-certified personal trainer who is helping me get back in shape. Here are some of the exercises she has me doing. She said:

Body Weight Wall Squat. It works the quads, calves and glutes. Hold the ball behind you and stand so that the ball is pressed between your back and the wall. Place your feet in front of your body about hip distance apart. The center of the ball should be against the lower back. Keep in contact with the ball and lower your body by bending your knees until your upper thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold down there for one to two seconds and then return to your start position.

Rollout. This is for core stability. Get on your knees behind the ball. Place your forearms on the ball, your back should be naturally arched and your abdominal pulled in. Slowly roll the ball forward, keeping your abs braced, extending the arms out straight and not allowing the back to collapse. If you begin to feel it in your back you have either gone too far or lost control of the abs. Use your core to pull the ball back to the start position.

To see the rest of the exercises, read more

Work it out! For some people, the postpartum pounds fall right off, and for others, like me, they don't! Our friends at Equinox set me up with a postnatal trainer who is helping me get back in shape. There are women who prefer getting their exercise in the great outdoors or incorporating their kiddos in the activities, but for those who hit the gym, here are some reasons to consider a personal trainer.

Amy Fiske, NSCA-certified personal trainer, advises that a mom get her physician's OK before she starts exercising. Here are thoughts about the benefits of a trainer. She said:

1. Personal trainers are professionals. They have the knowledge to deliver a safe exercise program specific to your needs. Whether you have worked out before or are starting from scratch, a trainer can challenge you.

2. Trainers hold clients accountable. Making an appointment with a trainer means you are less likely to skip going to the gym. I usually ask my clients if they have been doing their "homework" — cardio workouts and keeping good nutrition — so they get results quickly. That is a constant motivator!

3. Trainers create time effective workouts. A mom has a busy life, you can spend two to three hours a week with a trainer and target specific muscle groups with the correct form so you don't waste your time.

To see the other suggestions, read more

Motherhood happens! In January, I decided to take the FitSugar Challenge and vowed to lose 20 plus pounds by the end of the year and vlog through the process. But, like lots of other moms juggling a job, three kids, and a marriage, the first thing that fell off my to-do list was my own goal. Now my son is six months old, and my clothes still don't fit, but I've got hope.

Our friends at Equinox set me up with a postnatal certified trainer who is going to show me how I can shed these postpartum pounds in an attempt to get my pre-baby (or at least something that vaguely resembles it) back! And, because many mothers don't have time to hit the gym or the money to spend on a personal trainer, I'll be relaying my trainer's tips to you!

If a mother can commit to working out three times a week, Amy Fiske NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer, says there are three tips for prolonged weight loss and toning. She said:

1. Cardio that works in your training zone.
2. Lift weights or do body weight exercises for at least 30-60 minutes, include warm up, cool down, and stretch! Your metabolism stays working at a faster pace after lifting weights (more cals burnt).
3. Nutrition – maintain a healthy diet full of whole foods, don't eat all your calories for the day in one sitting, eat little and often to help maintain a stable metabolism, otherwise, the body will think it's starving and store any food which it's given.

Follow the Battle of the Baby Weight series here!