After the baby is born, you’re going to notice that a lot of things have changed including your personal energy levels. You’ll be delighted to know that your bladder function returns to normal almost immediately for most women. This means when it’s time to go to the bathroom, you’ll actually go to the bathroom rather than need to tinkle.
We’ve talked about the need to make sure you attend all of your follow-up visits with your ob-gyn after the baby is born and I will stress it in any article I write about post-natal fitness. But sometime between the first and second week after the baby is born, you’re going to discover a certain amount of energy returning to you. You’ll be getting used to the baby’s schedule. Your body is going to be getting over the trauma.
If you want to get started back on a fitness plan, then your first step should be – pardon the pun – a baby step. Go for a walk.
Go For a Walk
Why start with walking? Simple, walking can:
- Burn calories
- Strengthen your back muscles
- Slim your waist
- Be easy on your joints
- Strengthen bones
- Lower your blood pressure
- Encourage time with family and friends
- Tone and shape your legs and butt
- Reduce cholesterol
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes
- Reduce stress
- Help you sleep better
- Improve your mood and outlook on life
- Be done almost anywhere
- Requires only a good pair of shoes
- Cost Nothing (It’s free)
Walking is the best first step for any fitness program because it benefits you whether you do it for ten minutes or twenty minutes or thirty minutes a day. A ten-minute stroll in the morning or the evening is a great way to go. It’s relaxing for you and it’s a great way to take a few minutes to yourself with the baby in safe hands at home with your spouse or your relative or a great way to spend time with your spouse and the baby going for a stroll.
So if you want to get started, but you’re only a couple of weeks out from your delivery date, remember, your feet were made for walking and take that first step towards post-natal fitness for yourself.
Related Articles:
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Post-Natal Fitness: So You Just Had a Baby….