I want to be a MILF

That’s right--I said it. I want to be a MILF. When I’m pushing the stroller down the street, I want to turn heads. I want to crack walnuts with my butt cheeks. But let’s be real here, Mamas. After a baby, some things never quite return to their former glory, so I’ll settle for adjectives like “fit” and “in shape.” I don’t have to do more chin ups than a Marine, but I do want to be able to lift my baby and run up and down stairs without getting winded, and I'd like to avoid splitting my jeans when I bend over.

So, how does a new Mama stay in shape? For me, the key has been exercise videos and my stationary bike. It’s also important for me to remember that I may not be able to finish a workout because the baby wakes up, and that’s okay. If I get hung up on the possibility of not being able to finish, I might not put on my sneakers at all.  I figure it doesn’t matter whether I complete my workout in one attempt or if it takes several attempts, as long as I do it, I'll receive the benefits. 



For me, Baby’s most reliable nap is his first morning nap, so I put on my workout clothes on before we head to the nursery, and as soon as he drifts off, I start my warm up. If he doesn’t cooperate with the napping, he loves watching me work out, especially if I make faces at him throughout. 


Workout videos to try

When I was pregnant, I rented Moms Into Fitness by Linday Brin’s Prenatal series from Netflix. The series includes one cardio/toning workout and one yoga workout for each trimester. I had pubic symphisis dysfunction starting at about 12 weeks, so I had to modify some of the yoga poses, but these workouts helped keep me fit all the way to delivery (I did the third trimester video the day before Baby was born). So, naturally, I absolutely had to have her Post-natal Bootcamp video. I was browsing through Target one day, and I found the entire set (all three trimester videos and the bootcamp) for $15. I bought it without thinking, and have never regretted it. The bootcamp includes a warm up, several different ab toning sections, and several cardio and toning sections that you can mix and match to make your workout as long or as short as you want or need.





Another great cardio and toning video is Crunch Bootcamp with Sue Hitzman. I did this video before I got pregnant, and it’s a great way to kick your ass into gear in 30 minutes. You do need a bit of space and a modicum of coordination for this one, but I always feel like Super Woman when I finish.

For those times when I am in the mood for something a little less energetic, I hop on the stationary bike and watch a 20-minute show on Netflix (it’s That 70s Show at the moment). I follow that up with either one 10-minute segment from Kathy Smith’s Tummy Trimmers or her Lift Weights to Lose Weight series (each workout is 20 minutes long).


I did not enjoy Prenatal Workout with Summer Sanders. I have always thought that exercise bands are awkward (I'd rather just use weights, which is perfectly acceptable during pregnancy as long as they are not too heavy), and Summer's banter with her sister-in-law, who is also her personal trainer, got on my nerves within minutes. The set up of the workout is also pretty boring. You do a 20 minute workout...and then you do it again. It's like they didn't have enough time to come up with new exercises, so they just make you repeat the entire workout.


I did Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea by Giam throughout my entire pregnancy. It’s about an hour in length and worth every minute. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t slow down easily, even when pregnant, so doing a relaxing  yoga video once or twice a week really did me some good. It helped with my lower back pain and to stay flexible despite all the changes to my body. 


I mentioned Sarah Ivanhoe’s 20-Minute Yoga Makeover in a previous post, and it’s a great option when you want to do some flexibility work but only have 20 minutes. I’ve been doing this series for years, and my abs always thank me afterward. 


My Fitness Coach for the Wii is also a good option. It allows you to do workouts in 15 minute increments, which is great if you are short on time. I’ll spare you my commentary on the functionality of the game, but I will tell you that the workout is good. If Linday Brin’s and Kathy Smith’s videos are an A, My Fitness Coach is a B. There are times I supplement what Maya the trainer is doing with something a little more challenging, but in general, you get a warmup; a cardio, upper body, lower body, or yoga workout; and a cool down. The cardio workouts have me breathing like I’m running a 5K, and this video has introduced me to new upper and lower body exercises, so it’s worth the investment.