Exercising, when ?

[missjess]

When can we go back to exercising? Jogging, abs, the whole thing?

I wanna start asap so I can be back in my pre-pregnancy clothes for june!

 

[TashaAndBump]

I'd like to know this, too.

I've already been out and about, walking three miles almost every day - been on days out about London and stuff but not actually working out or anything...

I'd love to be able to wear a bikini for the summer, but when I tried to tone up my tummy muscles with crunches I found I was actually physically imcapable of doing them - think I will need to take a more gentle approach to regaining my pre-pregnancy body...

 

[BurtonBaby]

I've been walking a lot. My doctor said since I had a c-section she didn't want me doing anything strenuous until my 6 week appt. Walking just isn't cutting it tho, so I am taking Pilates. We're taking a cruise in August, so I def wanna be in shape at least by then.

Good luck with the weight loss! Pumping and breastfeeding will also help since I think you burn approx 500 calories/day.

 

[Margerle]

Be very careful of doing normal prepregnancy crunches on your abs.

https://www.mommymuscleblog.com/2005/07/diastasis_do_yo.html

Abdominal Diastasis is very typical in pregnancy and can be made much worse when you do normal abdominal exercises so soon after birth.

There are a lot of modified ab exercises that can be done to minimize mommy bulge/mommy tummy.

Normal walking and exercise should be ok, but remember you still have some of those pregnancy hormones (progesterone for one) that is still working itself out of your body. Your ligaments and joints will still be loose (careful of tearing a muscle or turning an ankle) and your veins and fluid levels will still be working to get back to prepregnancy size. You may become lightheaded very quickly or loose your breath.

Just take it easy for a while, and you'll know when to increase intensity.

(I wish Charlotte was on, she'd have a lot of good helpful advice for those who want to work off the extra pregnancy stuff. Thoughts and prayers with her though...)

 

[luckyme225]

I can't wait till my 6 week appointment just because I want the OK to exercise. I really want to do some pilates to get my abs/butt into shape!

 

[BurtonBaby]

Luckyme, are you waiting until your 6 week appt to do Pilates? I have my first class at 7 tonight. I'm a little nervous there might be some things I wont physically be able to do. With having a c-section, I'm not sure if it takes longer for your muscles to hear. DH was trying to make me call my doc and ask if its ok, but I was stubborn and dont wanna wait!

 

[luckyme225]

Luckyme, are you waiting until your 6 week appt to do Pilates? I have my first class at 7 tonight. I'm a little nervous there might be some things I wont physically be able to do. With having a c-section, I'm not sure if it takes longer for your muscles to hear. DH was trying to make me call my doc and ask if its ok, but I was stubborn and dont wanna wait!

My doctor told me to wait till my 6 week appointment to make sure I was healed properly before I start exercising. I was told I can walk as soon as I'm up to it though. I would probably call your doctor to be safe before heading to your class.

 

[BurtonBaby]

I understand why they say wait now! That was intense. Some exercises were fine but some made my incision hurt a lot! Im going to keep going, but the instructor knows I just had a baby so she was cool about things that were really challenging for me.

Thanks for the advice and good luck getting back into shape!

 

[vicky]

running around after a two year old as well as a babie is more then enough excerises for me. Hehe, But been doing alot of walking as well, need to take it easy cos it starting to hurt cos of my pelvis and back.

 

[AquaDementia]

There is a treadmill down in my building and I think I wanna start on it in two weeks or so.

 

[luckyme225]

I can't wait to tighten and one my stomach~ I laugh because it's going flat but when I walk to the bathroom in just a bra I can see my stomach jiggling a bit lol.

 

[missjess]

My stomach feels all squishy !

Ps: how great is it to be able to bend over !! And to see your feet!

 

[AquaDementia]

and to walk normally...not like a penguin!

 

[TashaAndBump]

Hear hear on both those last posts! I think I've done some damage to my stomache by doing crunches too soon - there's now what first looked like a dimple and has now grown into a line indented and dividing the two halves of my tummy ... I'm hoping the muscles will knitt back together but since my mother and sister both had this really badly after their babies I doubt it will happen some how *sigh*

Could be worse, though I guess.

 

[Margerle]

That is abdominal diastasis and can be repaired with certain exercises.

 

[luckyme225]

I love that I can put on my shoes and socks again!!!

 

[TashaAndBump]

That is abdominal diastasis and can be repaired with certain exercises.

It seems much better today! There's still a dimpley indent right at the bottom of my tummy, but it's much less noticable already! (Soooo relieved because my mother and sister both have this and have been told by their GPs that they will need surgery to repair it!)

 

[Margerle]

It seems much better today! There's still a dimpley indent right at the bottom of my tummy, but it's much less noticable already! (Soooo relieved because my mother and sister both have this and have been told by their GPs that they will need surgery to repair it!)

Oh ouch!

Glad to hear your's is much better!

 

[TashaAndBump]

Oh ouch!

Glad to hear your's is much better!

Yes it's even worse for my sister because she is still very young herself and the doctors have told her that no good doctor would allow the surgery to go ahead for her (as she's too young so may have more children and undo it again...)

My mother got hers 24 years ago when she had my older brother and since she's had it for so long (and is happy with her body, still has an active sex life etc etc (and also ick! lol)) she sees no reason to have the surgery... looks like they'll both still wear their mommy marks for the forseeable future


They're both really happy with their bodies, which is a real inspiration to me ............. but they also make me feel good because mine came out of pregnancy and birth so much better off and I know how bad it could have been and how lucky I am - Does this make me a bitch??

 

[Margerle]

Yes it's even worse for my sister because she is still very young herself and the doctors have told her that no good doctor would allow the surgery to go ahead for her (as she's too young so may have more children and undo it again...)

My mother got hers 24 years ago when she had my older brother and since she's had it for so long (and is happy with her body, still has an active sex life etc etc (and also ick! lol)) she sees no reason to have the surgery... looks like they'll both still wear their mommy marks for the forseeable future


They're both really happy with their bodies, which is a real inspiration to me ............. but they also make me feel good because mine came out of pregnancy and birth so much better off and I know how bad it could have been and how lucky I am - Does this make me a bitch??

Certainly NOT! Especially considering you see how lucky you are and appreciate what they have to endure.

I think it's awesome for women to be so at ease in their own skin. I mentioned to my 12yo last night that when the baby was born I would have some looseness in my tummy area as things settled back to normal (hopefully!) She just looked at me like OMG. Made me feel pretty hot lemme tell ya...

I just hate the idea that I'd ahve to endure a nasty belly forever. That was kinda one thing I appreciated about my body. But I'm not material about it, and I hope my attitude remains healthy through all my hormonal imbalances over the next 6-8 weeks lol.

I'll probably be here a lot during that time