The New Mommy Workout

I still have a few weeks until my 6 week follow up at the obgyn, where I should be cleared for baths, exercise, swimming pools, and, to DH's relief, hanky panky, but in the meantime, it is nice to get a little light activity in.

Turtle has been most accommodating in this pursuit. Following are two routines that are sure to help you keep in shape until you can hit the gym again. Enjoy!

The Mealtime PressUp
What you need: a chair, a dinner table, a loaded plate with utensil of your choice, a settling down baby just out of arm's reach.
How it works: As a new mom, the slightest noise from your baby is enough to make you sneak a peek. Especially if he's already been fed and changed. This works to your advantage in this exercise. Sit down and load your utensil with food. Before it reaches your mouth, listen for baby noises. If you hear something, immediately drop your fork. Use your thighs and butt muscles to press up from your chair and walk over to the baby. Note that all is well. Return to your chair and use your thigh and butt muscles to return to a sitting position. Repeat for 40 minutes or until dinner ends. The combination of getting up and down and never actually getting a full fork to your mouth is the secret.

The Bedtime Crunch
What you need: a bed, a settling down baby just out of arm's reach.
How it works: Again, when you're turning in for the night (or until the next feeding, those little baby noises will get you every time. Lay down flat on the bed, and turn up your super-sensitive-mommy-hearing. When sounds emerge from the pack-n-play/bassinet/etc, use your abdomen muscles to sit up in bed to take a peek. If all is well, again, use your abs to lower yourself back down to the mattress. If you can't tell, you can increase the intensity of this move by actually getting up from the bed (you can utilize your mealtime pressup technique here) to check on baby, and then return to the laying down position.

THE SMALL PRINT
These exercises are not approved or endorsed by Chuck Norris or any other pseudo-celebrity. They are not for sale via infomerical, ebay or other. Please consult with your doctor before embarking on any new exercise regime. These "workouts" are shared merely for my own amusement and the readability of my blog. Any injuries you may sustain from taking me seriously are due to your own lack of common sense, and probably because you did something wrong. Consider yourself warned, or Chuck Norris will be knocking on your door. :)