5 Top Tips For Post-Pregnancy Exercise

Love it or hate it, exercise is here to stay and we all need it. But let’s look at why we need it so badly. Very simply, our health and wellbeing depend on it and by health, I mean health in body, mind and spirit.

Exercise serves each of these areas in such a positive way and it is the string that ties them together. You would be forgiven for thinking that exercise is all about weight loss because in the western world it seems as if that is what it has become. We see people being punished and put through their paces in an effort to get results and it all looks very unappealing and hard. Personally, I feel that weight loss is a side-effect of living a healthy lifestyle and for once this is a side-effect you want and need.

We are all unique and different, which means we will all have different tastes in food, men, clothes, make-up, jobs, holidays and people. Exercise is no different, so please, ladies, stop forcing yourself to do an exercise that makes you miserable. I’ve lost count of the number of mums who tell me how much they hate the gym but they have to do it because they need to lose their baby weight. Newsflash: No, you don’t! There are hundreds of different exercises out there to choose from, so have fun trying them all until you find one that suits you.

We need to move away from feeling that we have to do things and then doing them and being miserable before, during or after. When you become a mum, time is precious and if you only have an hour maybe once or twice a week, please don’t waste it being miserable.

For years, I got up at the crack of dawn and went to the gym and mindlessly went through the motions because I felt I had to for my job. The key word here is ‘mindlessly’ which means I didn’t really benefit from it in the ways that I should have. Now that I finally have confidence (after only thirty-odd years) there’s nothing I won’t try. I run, walk, jog, workout with a trainer, practice yoga and pilates. The best part is I have fun doing all of it. Sometimes I get to exercise only once a week and sometimes a lot more, which is all part of being a mum. I switch it up depending on how I’m feeling and I don’t put pressure on myself anymore. I listen to my body and I always come out with a smile on my face and you can too.

Here’s how:

• Don’t take it too seriously and have fun.
• Use affirmations silently during exercise or out loud if you’re on your own.
• Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a week/class.
• Push yourself and try new things.
• Congratulate yourself on your achievements as you go, big and small.

As women, we spend our entire lives worrying about our weight. We are dictated to by magazines and celebrities. No matter what and believe me, I know, I’ve been in the fashion business for over half my life – we’re never happy with the way we look. We’ve said this before and it’s time to say it again: don’t compare yourself with anyone else. Learn to embrace and love your body type and know that if you nourish your body from the inside out and exercise regularly, you’ll be on your way to being healthy in both body and mind in no time.

Nature really is truly amazing and from a tiny egg, your body has formed a little person. Imagine how much work and just how complicated it is to make organs, bones, and tiny little hands and feet. Phew, I’m tired just thinking about it! I cannot stress how important it is to give your body a rest immediately post-pregnancy. Yes, this is a chapter on exercise and how crucial it is but for new mums, adequate rest and relaxation is equally important. It’s that old chestnut – balance – that’s what you’re aiming for in exercise as much as in food.