Fitness
The Best Workout Routines For Losing Weight After Having A Baby
As a new mother, your first priority is obviously going to be your new baby, but there is also that side of you that still wants to put your own health and well being at the top of your list of things to take care of. Therefore, if you want to lose weight fast while gaining muscle and getting an even better physique than what you had before you got pregnant, you need to start working out shortly after giving birth. But the key is to utilize the right types of workouts so that you will be able to shed the pounds in the areas of your body where you gained the most weight while you were pregnant.
Read on to learn about some of the best workout routines for new mums who want to lose the extra weight they still carry after giving birth.
Participate in Workouts that Get Your Heart Rate Up
Cardio or aerobic workouts work at getting your heart rate up so that your body can burn through calories and fat quickly, allowing you to lose weight. After you do an aerobic workout, your metabolism temporarily remains elevated, continuing to burn more fat. This is why you may feel really hungry for a few hours after your cardio session, so be sure to supplement with protein shakes and other healthy foods. Cardio is a great way to get your entire cardiovascular system in shape while also losing weight and building muscle.
To incorporate cardio into your daily routine without having to join a gym, consider going for brisk walks, jogging, or purchasing one of the many home workout DVDs available so that you can do your workout while you are out and about with your baby in the stroller or while your baby is napping at home.
Lift Weights to Build Muscles
In order to build muscle, you need to incorporate some resistance training into your routine. You are already building your muscles just by lifting and lowering your baby during playtime or simply picking her up and placing her in the crib, car seat, bath, etc. But you should incorporate workouts that use light weights, even as low as 3 pounds or 5 pounds so that you can continue to condition your muscles.
Do squats and lunges for easy ways to build the muscles of your legs, and do bicep curls and tricep lifts with your weights to keep your arms slim and toned. The more muscle you build, the more fat you will burn. Just keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you find that your weight isn’t really going down but you definitely see an improvement in your shape, don’t worry.
You certainly don’t need to join a gym to lift weights if you don’t want to. Much like your cardio routine, incorporate these types of workouts into your daily life by utilizing one of the many workout programs available on DVD or just doing basic weight lifting while your baby is playing or napping.