Help a new mom exercise again

[Anonymous]

30 yo. 10 months pp and want to start working out again. I SAH and my husband is off work for 2 weeks so I figure it's the perfect time to get a jump start. He can watch DD. When he goes back to work I'll hopefully have the motivation to fit exercise in to my day after making it a habit. We have a gym in our building with some free weights, cardio machines, weight machines, punching bag, yoga/floor space. I don't have time or money for classes or other gyms so I want to make our gym work. After DH goes back to work I'll probably be doing workouts after DD goes to bed, so 8 ish for probably 30-45 min.

My only goals are to lose a little belly fat, tone arms and legs and generally feel better. I'm sure I need to lose weight, but I don't know how much I weigh, we don't have a scale & not too concerned about that right now. I'm still BFing. I just know it'll feel good to sweat and get my heart rate up. Before baby I did yoga once a week, went to a boxing gym a few days a week, which I always really enjoyed - but don't have time for either now. I do walk some with the stroller, but definitely less as it gets really cold.

Any suggestions on where to start? I know it doesn't matter and I should just do anything, but I'd like to go down there with a plan. Any workout plans you can suggest that I can look up/print out? Should I mix it up during my workout, like run or bike a little, then weights or resistance train or punching bag (I have gloves)? Or one day run, one day weights, etc? I clearly know nothing about exercise haha. I have Kayla Itsines plan in mind but I think I need to work up to it. I did the first day out of the blue a while back and it destroyed my legs.

Thanks in advance and any other info about me that would be helpful just ask!

[Anonymous]

I’m in similar boat and just need to get started - goal #1 for me is one week of 10 minutes minimum a day of a YouTube exercise video. Hoping just getting going again will lead to bigger goals - I think I’ve been failing partially bc the expectation for a workout is too high, like I’ve aimed for 45min runs which I only do once every 2 weeks.

If you want to share my goal we can alternate picking a video for the day and just doing that for a week and go from there.

[Anonymous]

Get some boxing gloves and watch a YouTube beginner boxing or kickboxing video. That’s fun and a full body workout. You don’t need weights or the elliptical (I find the elliptical boring). You will only last a few minutes a first but you can build up to a full 40 in two weeks.

[Anonymous]

Any chance you could get up early and work out before your husband goes to work? I find that if I work out first thing in the morning, I definitely fit it in. I'd have a hard time finding the energy for it at 8:00 p.m. after working and taking care of a kid and the house all day.

At first, that 5:00 alarm SUCKED but now I'm used to it. And when I come home in the evening, I don't have that hanging over my head. Plus you might want time with your husband.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I bit the bullet Wednesday and went down there and recreated the workout from the boxing gym.
-jumping jacks (hardest part, lol) & stretches
-2 (3 min) rounds of shadow boxing
-4 (will work up to more) rounds alternating heavy bag & speed bag
-2 (will add more) rounds jump rope
-push ups and crunches

I was kind of surprised at how good my form was after all this time. Only way is up! And yeah, like PP suggested, I think I'll look up some boxing workout videos to keep it fresh.

And fellow mom PP, please post the short YouTube workouts you found/find. My other option is working out during nap, if I can get her to nap alone in the crib (that's a whole other thread). Only downside is she's such a catnapper (two 40 min naps a day), that's my only rest all day!

Similar situation with an early AM workout - we co-sleep and the early morning hours are her most restless. She would wake up if I left the bed. Would be nice though - always something to work toward.

Thanks again, here's to all our fitness goals!

[Anonymous]

Can you get a jogging stroller? That's another way to get in your exercise earlier in the day, because it's just so easy to find excuses the later the day gets.

Add in leg exercises: squats, lunges. And planks, side planks. Free weights. Mix up the strength and cardio.

Good luck! I am ruthless about prioritizing exercise (I have three and work FT), and it's paid off in spades through these early years of parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. I bit the bullet Wednesday and went down there and recreated the workout from the boxing gym.
-jumping jacks (hardest part, lol) & stretches
-2 (3 min) rounds of shadow boxing
-4 (will work up to more) rounds alternating heavy bag & speed bag
-2 (will add more) rounds jump rope
-push ups and crunches

I was kind of surprised at how good my form was after all this time. Only way is up! And yeah, like PP suggested, I think I'll look up some boxing workout videos to keep it fresh.

And fellow mom PP, please post the short YouTube workouts you found/find. My other option is working out during nap, if I can get her to nap alone in the crib (that's a whole other thread). Only downside is she's such a catnapper (two 40 min naps a day), that's my only rest all day!

Similar situation with an early AM workout - we co-sleep and the early morning hours are her most restless. She would wake up if I left the bed. Would be nice though - always something to work toward.

Thanks again, here's to all our fitness goals!

I’ll post one later today - it will likely just be a simply strength one but I’d love to have one or several virtual workout buddies!

[Anonymous]

MommaStrong. $2/a month - 15 min a day. OK it’s 25 with set up and cool down. new “Hook” starts Jan1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MommaStrong. $2/a month - 15 min a day. OK it’s 25 with set up and cool down. new “Hook” starts Jan1

Thanks! I'll check it out!

[Anonymous]

Offering some encouragement to you! I love fitnessblender.com and they have hundreds of workouts available and all free, too. Since you’re getting back into fitness, you can spend a little money for one of their routines ~ basically they write out a sequence of their workouts for a weekly period. Your gym sounds like it has everything you need. Try some cardio, some strength and some HIIT and you’ll get there!