I know that most don't start right after the baby is born. But what have you done or are you doing to get your body back into shape? My dh was talking to me tonight and he was saying how he doesn't mind if my stomache never gets as flat as it use to be, or if my hips don't shrink down, and he even said that he wouldn't mind if I wasn't a size 2 (which I never was a size 2, maybe a size 4 but not a 2) But what he really would like was for me to to tone up my butt and thighs. I know that this is an area of problem for me. those ugly dimples that seem to spread. After Abby I got down to a size 4, then I stopped BF and jumped up to a size 6/8 But with this pregnancy, I can see where I am gaining weight. My arms, my butt and my thighs......(how depressing)
so I need to work on these areas after Jojo is here. Do you have any tips? What work out methodes worked for you.
I want to please my husband, but I struggle when it comes to excerise, scheldule and discipline. (i'm doomed already.....)

Walking is fantastic exercise, esp. for those areas. It's also something that you can start fairly soon after having your baby, and you can increase the amount and degree of walking bit by bit. It's great exercise, it gets you, baby and Abby out in the fresh air, and it's low impact.

I understand wanting to please hubby, but just remember, some women bounce back immediately, some take a year, others find that things are never quite the same, no matter what they do. So, do your best, but remember to give your body time to adjust *hugs*

I can't, however, recommend walking enough! It just has so many benefits - physical, mental, fun for Abby, settling for baby and refreshing for you :-D

Are you tired of hearing me say this yet???

BMX

LOL

Really that's what did it for me.
I hate exercising. Really and truly. I loathe it! I have tried time and time and TIME again to get into an exercise routine..I just can't stick with it. I find them painfully boring. Even changing them up. Can't stand 'em!
And I'm not a very naturally motivated kind of person. I don't like to go outside if I don't have something to do. That kind of person.
But I like to ride the bike on the track. It worked my whole body more than I realized, more than I ever would have thought. Mind you, it wasn't anything major, but it did trim an inch or two around the middle, tone up the arms and shoulders..not 'defined' but toned at least. Same for the legs.

Of course, you don't have to go on a BMX track, I imagine riding a bike roadside would make a bit of difference. But not in the same way as BMX or mountain biking..as those work your arms as you maneuver trails and jumps ;)

But don't start anything more than gentle stretches and walking before a couple of months. Like Meg said...give your body time to rest/recover naturally.

Two words girlfriend... The Firm!!! 10 workouts and you see results!! No joke. It is a real killer workout and it gets the job done and it's really hard to grow "out" of them; you know how when you do a certain workout for a long time you feel like it stops working your body? That hasn't happened to me yet with The Firm I have and I've done it for years!

And by the way, You-Make-Me-Sick... ugh... :P I'm a size 14-16 after pregnancy and work hard to get down to my size 10-12 afterwards... but then I *am* 5'9 and not a petite gal... ::cough:: That's right... makin myself feel better here. ;) I'm just giving you a hard time.

I usually mix up my workouts to include some Tae Bo which REALLY focuses on your bottom half (abs down), I do Billy Blanks, some people find him annoying, but I love his enthusiasm, he is all about getting us post-baby mom's back in shape!

I also throw in my Walk Away The Pounds, Four Mile DVD with Leslie Sansone to get in some walking workout... I alternate all three of those throughout the week and use 3 to 5 pound weights with the walking/The Firm and use Billy's bands with the Tae Bo.... those three workouts seem to get me in shape in NO time, paired with a good diet of eating right and meeting my body's needs for B/F.

I typically start working out mildly by about 2 to 4 weeks, but I tend to recover from childbirth *incredibly* and *abnormally* fast and have NEVER had any issues with bleeding heavily and the like. I think most women wait at LEAST two months post-baby to do any real working out and even then it's carefully, which is VERY smart.

I listen to my body, if it says rest, I quit the workout and relax and try again another day, no big deal... eating right makes up a lot for not being able to workout, but it doesn't sound like you really eat horribly. Just listen to your body... :)

thanks you guys. I wanted to point out that dh mentioned it to me lovingly. He's really been trying to lose weight and look really good, not just for me but for health reasons. I just want to do the same for him.

and Jen, I can fit into a 10. not around the waist, but they sit nicely on my hips.:-D

Tara, BMX huh, well does a staionary bike work? we just got one. that's probably as close as i'll get.

Meg, I do plan on walking. I agree with all of your reasons. I just would like something in edition to that to quicken the process. gently of course!

I did buy a fitness ball and stand. I heard those were great for working out your core and you can hold baby while doing it. Thanks for the encouragement. I would love to hear more ideas!

Hi,
I found after my baby definitely I did lots of walking, and I also got back to going to Curves again.
Even my eating habits I tried to work on - which for me is really hard! I LOVE to eat starches - e.g. pasta, potatoes, bread, etc. but that is my body's worst enemy. I saw a nutrionist and that helped a lot, I finally learned what I was eating that was making me keep on my weight.
Another thing I would recommend (if you like the water) would be going to a program (I don't know where they offer it) but it is called Diaper Fit. If you are familiar with Aquafit (exercise in the water) then it is similar, but the babies participate in the class with you, in little floatable rafts, and you use the babies as 'resistance' when you do your exercises. Women who have gone to this class say they love it and they really enjoy it.

I love my spinning classes, Esther! You burn around 500 calories in a 45 minute class. I take one three times per week and it would definitely target the lower areas you're mentioning. For me personally I need to join a class or something similiar to stay motivated. I'm so frugal that once I lay out some$$$ I will force myself to go :-). If you're not that way then a little bike ride, walking, or a stationary bike or treadmill at home could work for you.

If you want to quicken it up a bit, throw a couple of hills into your walking routine, it really, really works that butt and thighs! Add in pushing a pram/stroller, and you've got a good workout for your arms, too, lol. Lunges are good for toning up thighs/butt, and leg lifts too. Easy to fit in a few here and there during the day, too, without even leaving the house :-D