LilSugar

5 Exercise DVDs New Moms Will Love (and Might Even Use)

Natasha Dantzig — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:41:13 PST

Work that body! Of the many pressures new mamas face after giving birth, the desire to get back to their pre-baby bod ranks pretty high for many women. New mamas want to get back in shape for more than aesthetic reasons (although that's clearly one motivating factor); moms have a lot of responsibility; they're often taking care of a newborn with very little sleep, and a healthy, strong body is essential. Even the most committed pre-baby gym rats will likely have a hard time making trips to the actual gym or yoga studio a priority, which is why at home workout DVDs are a major life (and butt) saver. Check out five workouts tailored to meet the needs and tastes of different mamas, and tell us: how did you get back in shape post-baby?

Must Dos For Getting Rid of a Post-Baby Muffin Top

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:24:57 PST

The Muppets star Amy Adams admits that 18 months after giving birth to Aviana Olea she's OK with the baby weight, "I have a muffin top, and that’s OK right now." Most new moms can relate to holding on to post-baby weight since they're sleep-deprived and way too tired to exercise, or are too busy taking care of their little one to hit the gym, but if you're ready to get rid of your post-baby muffin top, here's how.

Ramp up your cardio sessions: Unfortunately you can't just do back exercises and expect a muffin top to disappear as fast as you can eat one. To slim down trouble spots like love handles and back rolls, you must reduce overall body fat. Aside from eating a healthy diet, you need to burn fat through heart-pumping cardio. Aim to do 60 minutes, five days a week. Mix it up with running, swimming, cycling, hiking, and cardio classes. Be sure to include speed intervals as these are proven to get rid of stubborn belly fat.
Pay attention to your core: Once that layer of fat disappears, you want to reveal sleek, toned muscles underneath. Be sure to complement your cardio workouts with strength training moves that target your entire core. Include crunches for your abs, deadlifts and Supermans for your back, side bends to target the sides of your waist, and push-ups for your abs and upper back. Try doing moves on an exercise ball or Bosu as the instability forces you to engage your core. Building muscle is also a great way to burn calories and rev up your metabolism.

Did You Rush to Lose the Baby Weight? Amy Adams Didn't!

Michele Foley — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:27:24 PST

With the exception of a baked good, a muffin top is not something most women are usually OK with - unless you're Amy Adams. The Muppets star recently told InStyle that the last few pounds of baby weight have been hard to drop. But she's in no rush (Amy gave birth to her daughter in May 2010): "I read about these actresses who get on a stationary bike two weeks after giving birth and I'm like, 'What? Where did you push your baby out of?' Since having Aviana, I have a muffin top, and that's OK right now."

Amy's comments are definitely spot on; given that Hollywood puts an emphasis on beauty, there can be a lot of pressure to maintain a tight and toned bod - even after delivering a child. And regardless of whether you're an actress or not, extra weight gained from pregnancy may be enough to spur any woman into a ramped-up fitness regimen. This isn't the case for everyone, though, as Amy illustrates. For the moms out there, how did you deal with losing the baby weight?

The Next Nine Months: Postpartum Exercise Time Line

LilSugar — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:03:10 PDT

It's no secret that pregnant women easily put on a few pounds each month until their bundle of joy arrives -unfortunately getting rid of that weight is not so effortless. Along with eating right, exercise is a sure way to getting your body back to the way it was pre-baby. Our basic postpartum exercise time line helps you determine how and when to slowly add exercise so that you can watch the number on the scale drop as your baby grows.

Be Well Bites: The Best Foods to Eat After Having a Baby

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:01:14 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Ah, motherhood. You've gained a new little bundle of joy - and to go with it, some extra pounds. Don't let food worries add to your stress and sleepless nights as you adjust to your new schedule. We sought out the best foods to keep you going and slim you down in the process.

Rev Up Your Engine
The key to your energy isn't just how much (or little) you sleep each night, but instead, what's on your plate. "One of the main things a healthy diet can do is give new moms energy," says Kathy McManus, RD, a Fitness advisory board member and director of the department of nutrition at Brigham Women's Hospital in Boston. "It's important to spread food throughout the day so that you get an even amount of calories. This will give you lasting power to take care of your baby and yourself."

See more tips after the break!

Hey Momma! Check Out How Many Calories You Burn

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:22:19 PDT

Pregnancy and motherhood can definitely lead to weight gain, but there are many reasons being a mom can make you a healthier person. Aside from eating right and exercising to set a good example for your children, all that running around and cleaning up burns tons of calories. Curious to know how many? Check out the chart below.

Activity	Calories Burned
Running after/playing with kids (20 min.)	78
Playing outdoor games like hopscotch or dodgeball (30 min.)	104
Carrying your infant on a walk (30 min.)	109
Walking while pushing a stroller (30 min.)	78
Picking up toys (10 min.)	29
Vacuuming up the plant, food, sand or whatever else your toddler dumped over (10 min.)	29
Mopping up milk, maple syrup, and other spills (10 min.)	44
Washing dishes (10 min.)	22
Sleeping while they nap (45 min.)	41
Putting away groceries (10 min.)	26
Dance party to The Wiggles in the living room (15 min.)	88
Reading stories before bed (10 min.)	10

Aside from burning all those calories, here are some other tips to prevent momma weight gain.

Selma Blair Not Worried About Her Baby Weight

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:23:48 PDT

The pressure in Hollywood to bounce back and lose the baby weight sometimes seems like a competition, but one new mom is not playing the game. Selma Blair, known for the movie series Hellboy, my personal fave Legally Blonde, and her latest film Dark Horse, says she didn't have time to hit the gym after having her son, Arthur Saint Bleick, in late July. She told Us Weekly:

"I actually haven't lost any weight since the day I left the hospital. I still weigh the exact same number. I haven't really been focusing on that at all, because I've been running around to different things like Toronto [International Film Festival] and Venice [Film Festival]."

She still looks pretty darn amazing for having had a baby almost eight weeks ago. Her secret? The 39-year-old actress says, "I've been following Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet. It helps with my clarity and endurance. In a few weeks I think I'll start getting into [the gym] when things slow down a bit - it'll be Pilates in L.A.!"

I find Selma's attitude refreshing. I don't know about you, but this makes me feel better about wearing my maternity jeans until well after my daughter's two-month birthday!

Jessica Alba Hit the Gym Shortly After Giving Birth - Did You?

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:29:06 PDT

Just two weeks after giving birth to daughter Haven, Jessica Alba is already back at the gym. Last night Jessica tweeted: "I did my first day of wrkout [sic] since I had the baby, just cardio for 40 min. - it's a start. Anyone else starting a fitness regimen?" Jessica went on to tweet that her doctor gave the OK to resuming a fitness routine. Jessica is keeping it light though by sticking to the stationary bike and elliptical machine. Jessica debuted her postbaby body a few days ago, and it looks like she's having no problems dropping the baby weight.

When it comes to exercise after pregnancy, it varies from woman to woman depending on her birthing experience. After delivery, always check with a doctor before resuming any exercise program and make sure to approach it with caution and moderation.

DrSugar Discusses Mommyrexia

DrSugar — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:38:53 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's discussing mommyrexia and the implications of eating disorders during and after pregnancy.

I recently read an article from the New York Post on "mommyrexia," a phenomenon garnering a lot of public attention recently. Mommyrexia describes pregnant women obsessed with staying skinny during pregnancy and then doing whatever they can to get back, as quickly as possible, to their prepregnancy weight/size after delivery. According to the article, these women count calories, exercise excessively while pregnant, and sometimes even forgo breastfeeding after delivery to free their schedules for tons of personal training and exercise. Society today is so obsessed with celebrities and body image, and in my opinion, is placing unwarranted pressure on women to maintain their slim physique during pregnancy, like Victoria Beckham and Rachel Zoe, and to be bikini-ready three weeks after delivery like Bethenny Frankel. As if there isn’t already enough pressure on the general population to be ridiculously skinny, this pressure now extends to the sacred time of pregnancy?

I feel compelled to write about eating disorders and their potential implications in pregnant women. However, I must add that there is a large spectrum of what can be considered normal regarding weight gain and activity during pregnancy. Every woman is different and will gain differing amounts of weight. Both activity and weight gain in pregnant women depend on multiple factors and should be determined on a case-by-case basis between a woman and her OB-GYN. By no means am I here to judge anyone on how they behave during their pregnancy. The purpose of this week's DrSugar column is to provide information on how eating disorders can affect pregnancy. To learn more, keep reading.

Momma on the Run: Tips For Running With Your Baby

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:06:26 PDT

I ran before I became pregnant, during my pregnancy, and as soon as I got the thumbs up from my doctor, I ran after my baby was born. If you're itching to get back into your running kicks and you're bringing your baby along, here are some tips for a successful outing.

If your bun is still in the oven, be sure to read up on our tips for running while pregnant.

Source: Flickr User Ed Yourdon