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Lose Your Pregnancy Weight
August 27th, 2011
How to get back in shape after your baby is born
by: Sydney Loney
In This Article
Losing Baby Weight
    

  • Wait until your six-week checkup before starting strenuous exercise.
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  • 20-minute walks are a good way to ease back into fitness.
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  • Protect muscles and joints with specialized post-natal fitness  programs.
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  • Work out after nursing and invest in a new sports bra to prevent  breast pain.
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  • Talk to your doctor if you think you have diastasis recti (a  separation of the abdominal muscles) before doing abdominal exercises.
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I
f you've discovered that those extra pregnancy pounds don't just magically disappear after your baby is born, this article is for you. Here's how to get back in shape post pregnancy:


When can you start exercising?


Depending on your fitness level before and during pregnancy, you may  find that walking is all the exercise you need until your six-week  post-partum checkup. "Start by walking as fast as you comfortably can  for a minimum of 20 minutes," says certified trainer Andrea Grace.


Once your doctor gives you the all-clear, you can begin more  strenuous exercise. "Just remember to go at your own pace and modify the  intensity of the exercise, working up to three times a week of active  movement for at least 20 minutes at a time," she says.


Try checking out your local gym or community centre for post-natal  fitness classes. "Specialized post-natal classes take into account the  changes your body went through during pregnancy," says Grace. "They're  not necessarily less intense, they're just paced more slowly. They're  also lower impact and incorporate a fuller range of motion, which is  safer for your joints."


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Safe post-pregnancy exercises >>