How to Stay Fit and Healthy Through the First Years of Parenthood

Having a little one around can completely zap your energy but it’s important to keep fit and healthy. Pushing yourself to stay active regardless of your energy levels is key to overcoming your exhaustion. Exercise is great for your recovering body and your mental health and as soon as you get into the habit of exercising you’ll find your energy levels rising before you know it.

The most common question new mothers find themselves asking is, when will I have the time to exercise? Well, the key is to incorporate activities into your daily routine so you won’t necessarily need to leave your child to go to the gym or a group class; the term you’re scrambling for is ‘killing two birds with one stone’. Luckily there’s great companies like Joolz that support this idea. They use innovative design concepts for their mother-baby products that support new mum’s choices to live a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. Continue reading to find out what steps you can take to reignite your passion for an active lifestyle.  For a great option, be sure to check out Primo Fitness USA discount gym equipment.

Walking

Walking is one of the few activities you can get straight back into after a natural birth. Your lower back and core muscle will be weaker after pregnancy due to the immense pressure your body has been under. Walking is the ideal stepping stone back towards your active lifestyle and can work wonders for your mental health too. Once you feel comfortable taking brisk walks with your little one in the pram why not incorporate some more strenuous activities throughout your walk such as squats and stretches. Your pram will double up as a great leaning post should you need a little breather during your workout.

Online Resources

Taking advantage of the free and easy to access online resources is a great way to stay fit and healthy. On the rare occasions that you get 10 minutes to yourself you can practice some meditation or complete a short exercise class. Use your time wisely when the baby is sleeping by focusing on yourself and creating opportunities for your wellbeing to come first. A short work out or a well led meditation session can be more energising and meaningful than a short sleep that comes to an abrupt end once the baby wakes. Mothers also report that dedicating 15 minutes a day to other activities that they enjoy such as painting their nails or blow drying their hair can make them feel more themselves and less ‘mum’.

Swimming

Can you think of a better way to spend an hour having fun with your bundle of joy than in the pool? A special experience that helps the mother- baby bond grow even stronger. Whether you want to join a swim group or go it alone it’s a great way to get out of the house and keep active. For a more intense session, it’s a good idea to take the family so you can let father and baby bond while you do some lengths and really get your heart racing. If you child is a little apprehensive when it comes to the water, make bath time more regular and use that as an opportunity to get them used to the water.

Summary

By incorporating exercise into your daily routine you’ll find yourself feeling fit in no time. Walking, swimming and making time for yourself are easy first steps towards an active and happy lifestyle and you’ll get to spend quality time with your baby whilst you’re at it.