Every mom can attest that once the initial excitement of giving birth wears off, you begin to notice how much your body has changed. The most obvious physical change of all is your stomach. While pregnant with Katie, I sincerely had no clue that once I gave birth; my excess tummy would just sit there. Seriously, I thought it would instantly snap back to normal. Now I know how ridiculous it sounds, but nobody forewarned me so how should I have known?
If you are a postpartum like me then chances are, your stomach is still sporting a post-pregnancy pooch, even if you've lost the bulk of your baby weight. Try these tummy exercises after pregnancy to firm up that stubborn midsection.
Tip 1: Keep It Simple There are lots of tummy exercises after pregnancy that will help you flatten the flab. Basic crunches may be the most, well, basic, but they work. If you haven't done them before (or in the past nine months or so), start slowly and don't push yourself too hard. A better way to start is with pelvic tilts and simple ab contractions: Lie down on your back with your knees bent, feet on the floor. Slowly tighten your abs and tilt your pelvis toward your head. Tighten the pelvic floor as you do this (what a great time for some Kegel exercises!).
Tip 2: The Real Deal Ready for real crunches? Lie on your back, put your feet on the floor, knees bent, and place your hands behind your neck to support your head. Press your lower back into the floor, then lift your head and shoulders off the ground. Repeat 10-15 times. As you get stronger, add difficulty (lift your feet off the floor during reps, for example) and variations (like tilting your legs to the side and reaching for the opposite knee as you come up to tone the oblique muscles on the sides of your torso). Working different muscles is essential for losing that belly fat after pregnancy.
Tip 3: Recruit an Exercise Buddy If you like, you can get your baby into the act, too! Blast your baby fat after pregnancy with a baby bench press: Lie down with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor, holding your baby so he's resting on your belly. Inhale and lift your baby skyward, pulling in and contracting your abs at the same time; then exhale and lower your baby. Do as many reps as you can. (Get more tips for exercising with baby).
Tip 4: Stay on the Ball A yoga ball is another great tool for tummy exercises after pregnancy. Ball crunches work like regular crunches, but you'll be adding the element of balance, which makes your moves a bit more challenging. If crunches just aren't your thing or you want more of an overall workout, try yoga or Pilates, both of which place an emphasis on a strong core. A sensible diet (like the Postpartum Diet) and regular cardio exercise will also help you burn belly fat after pregnancy (not to mention overall fat, too).
Tip 5: Drink Coffee!
If you are anything like me then a cup of coffee is exactly what you need to get a (much needed) boost of energy to start your day. However not any "cup of joe" will do. Things like sweeteners, cream and syrups could easily turn your cup of low calorie coffee into a formidable feast for fat cells. Not to mention - spending $4.50 on coffee every day can turn into quite the monthly expense.
A friend of mine gave me a sample of Skinny Genes coffee a few weeks after having Katie and it has literally changed my life. I was able to lose 18lbs in 45 days -- at the same time it reshaped, retoned and redefined my body to reveal something underneath that I could be proud of!
Click here for your risk-free order of Skinny Genes coffee to try for yourself.
