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Posts tagged with: PiYo

How to work out with a newborn

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It’s crazy, right? When you’re juggling a total lack of sleep (umm, hello 3 hours!), other kids, trying to get food into all the mouths, including maybe your own, changing a gazillion diapers, and feeling like you’re glued down with a nursing wee babe. Yep, the last thing most of us want to do in that situation is work out.. but often it’s the one thing that can give energy and help make us stronger in the long run.

How can you do it when it seems like there’s a free-flowing to-do list? I follow a few little steps:

  • Set out workout clothes so they’re easy to grab and pop on when you’re in a mad dash
  • At the slightest sign of sleeping baby, set him down in a bouncy chair (or Momaroo in my case), and RUN to get your gear on and the DVD queued up
  • Press play and get as far as you can. Sometimes I have to nurse the little guy, pop him back down, and carry on where I left off.
  • Try to get your spouse on board. Having the help of someone who can occupy the kidlets during your workout, or even for the last few minutes when things get crazy is soooooo helpful!

Obviously none of this would be possible yet if I had to head to a gym. I haaaate gyms, so there’s that too. Workout DVDs that I can do on my own time at home are almost a luxury.

Want to get going on your own with workouts at home? You can get the one I’m doing (PiYo) here. It’s PERFECT as a first workout program to do after having a baby, and also great for during pregnancy!

Here’s some PiYo in action:

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how i’m staying healthy while pregnant

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Oh the pregnancy struggle.. The one time in your life when everyone else gives you complete permission to do nothing and eat whatever you want.. but is that really the best choice for your body?  In my first pregnancy I started out trying to run 4-5k as much as possible, but that quickly became a bit of a joke.  Runs turned into walks, which turned into skipping it altogether.  Not this time!  I don’t want that feeling of absolutely dying when I try to play my first game of ultimate, or spending a year + wishing about my pre-pregnancy clothing.

I’m at 20 weeks now, and am doing pretty well!

Fitness
This time around, I have a plan for fitness.  I’ve jumped into the PiYo workout program, and have found that it’s PERFECT for pregnancy.  I’d never been into yoga or pilates, but this is faster paced and upbeat, plus I just plain feel GOOD after I do it.

It’s easy to modify!  In the videos, there’s a modifier that is so easy to follow.  I just love her.  You bet I’m modifying already, and will likely be a whole lot more as the weeks go on, but I’m not just going to quit.  I don’t want the terribly hard road back to fitness when I have this baby. I have high hopes that it’ll be easier than last time because I’m not spending a year or two inactive.

Other bonuses: No impact, increased strength and flexibility, and I can do it whenever I have a bit of time at home. No heading to the gym.  I still try to get it done when the little one’s sleeping, but sometimes she just has to sit and play or eat while watching me. Even better is seeing her attempt the moves along with her mama!  Plus, some of those workouts are less than 20 minutes long!

Nutrition
I have a nutrition plan too, although let me tell you, this has been a STRUGGLE for me.  My cravings are strong and my willpower doesn’t exist right now.  Do I want to make a million cookies? Totally.  Do I do that sometimes, and then eat most of them? Yep.  Still, I keep pulling myself back towards my plan, which has got to be better than no plan at all.

This is where the 21 Day Fix nutrition plan comes in (the workouts are amazing too, but I’ve delved deep into PiYo).  There are easy to use containers for portion control, and food lists.  I have so much fun combining foods and making delicious meals that work with the plan.  Healthy can be good.  My favourite part is that there’s room for things like chocolate! YES!

Want to join my next challenge group for either of these programs, or have any questions? Send me a note here.  I’d love to help get you started on your journey too!

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