3 Exercises For Post Pregnancy Pooch

Regardless of the age of their children, moms never stop being moms. Priorities shift from diapers to soccer training to prom shopping and finding “me-time” is often one of the biggest sacrifices.  As such, most women resign themselves to the fact that their body will never be the same again post-baby but you don’t have to do that.  Here are some simple exercises for post pregnancy pooch.

Leah Keller, pre and postnatal fitness expert and founder of the Every Mother Program, a revolutionary new exercise system, has developed three simple exercises that can be incorporated into your daily routine proving it’s never too late to bounce back to your pre-baby body, no matter if it has been five months or five years.

Below, Leah recommends performing this mini-workout 3-4 days a week to strengthen and tone the entire body while specifically targeting the infamous post-pregnancy pooch.

Simple Exercises For Post Pregnancy Pooch

You will need: a 2-5 lb. dumbbell; a wall, countertop or stable furniture; resistance band and water.

1. LUNGE WITH TRICEPS OVERHEAD

To lift the butt, tone the thighs, flatten the abs, firm the upper arms, and elevate the heart rate.

Begin by taking one big step forward, and then bend the back knee slightly, lifting the back heel off the ground as you tuck your pelvis into neutral. Aim to make your torso as flat as possible in both the front and the back. Feet should be hip width apart, toes pointing straight ahead. Bring the weights overhead and tuck your elbows toward the head so they point forward. Take a breath as you lower into your lunge and bend the elbows, lowering the weight behind your head. Then exhale and draw your abs toward the spine as you lunge up and straighten the arms. Perform 2-4 sets of 12-15 repetitions of these exercises that target post pregnancy pooch.

2. CHEST OPENER

To strengthen upper back and rear shoulders while opening the chest and restoring shoulders to neutral posture.

Stretch the band across the chest so that the middle of the band rests tautly on the sternum. The arms are just shy of straight. Keep wrists straight and shoulders low, away from the ears throughout the entire set. Take a breath to prepare, and then exhale and draw your abs toward the spine as you pulse the arms further back and down at a diagonal angle, drawing the shoulder blades toward the spine to open the chest. Keep the ribs together! Think about widening the collar bones with each pulse, but the ribs should stay together and the spine remains straight (do not arch the back). This is a small but powerful movement that anchors the shoulders and restores healthy posture. A welcome relief for new moms who spend so much time rounding their shoulders as they cradle little ones! Perform 2-4 sets of 15-20 pulses.  Great for helping moms regain their natural posture after baby carrying!

3. PUSH-UP TWIST

To flatten and firm the abs, trim the waist, lift the chest and define the upper arms.

Stand facing a wall or a secure piece of furniture. Place hands shoulder-width apart on the wall or other stable surface, draw the body into plank position with shoulders down away from the ears, and your entire spine in a straight line. The feet should be hip width apart or wider. Take a breath to prepare. Then exhale and draw the abs toward the spine throughout the entire pushup– all the way down and all the way up. At the top, inhale as you lift one arm and twist to the side, pivoting your feet so your entire body faces sideways (perpendicular to the wall); exhale as you pulse the abs to the spine three times in this side plank position. Then inhale as you return to starting position. Repeat, alternating sides. Perform 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps of these exercises that target post pregnancy pooch and strengthen upper body.

Leah Keller is an expert in pre- and postnatal fitness with a proven track record of restoring clients to fitness levels that surpass their pre-baby shape. This past Mother’s Day, Leah launched The Dia Method™, a revolutionary home exercise system that equips every mom to embrace the best body of her life – right now, as a mother. For more information, visit @every_mother.

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