While pregnancy is a beautiful thing, it does take its toll on our bodies. After your pregnancy, you lose muscle definition and gain baby fat. Getting your body back in shape after baby is not a quick and easy process. It will take a lot of patience due to the delicate condition of your body, especially after the first two weeks of your pregnancy.

The First Two Weeks

This is the time where your body is most venerable. You will need to avoid any heavy lifting and abdominal exercises since these can cause your body to react negatively and cause serious injury. During the first two weeks you can try walking as early as the day after your pregnancy. Walking can help tone muscles as well as help your bowels function properly and prevent blood clots from forming. Keep your walking to a minimum by starting out slowly and avoid pushing yourself. An easy way to add walking to your busy day is to take your baby for a walk. Start with about 10-15 minutes a few days a week.

The Third and Fourth Week

During the second two weeks after your pregnancy, you can try doing some abdominal crunches if you feel comfortable doing so. Start off slowly and keep your reps to a minimum. Now is also a great time to increase your walking to 30 minutes a day, or you can try simple exercises for the legs such as leg lifts. You can also begin working out your arms. For variation you can add very light weights to your exercises. Don’t forget to incorporate some light stretches into your workout routine.

The Fifth and Sixth Week

Now that your body has had some time to heal, you can start adding the exercises you did before you were pregnant, back into your routine. Don’t add them all at once, however. Keep things gradual until you are comfortable with your workout routine. Don’t forget to stretch before your workout. If you went to the gym before baby, why not set up a gym at home? Or you can try a workout video if space is limited at home.

Keep in mind that the above is only a guide. If you’re breast-feeding your baby, you should workout after you have nursed since exercise can cause your breast milk to taste differently. Also, overdoing your workout can cause your milk supply to decrease.

Another thing to keep in mind is that not every woman is the same after pregnancy. Some women may require more time for their body to heal before they are able to start any form of exercise again. If you have had a c-section, you should be especially careful and consult your doctor before starting any exercise regimen.

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