I have to say, I am one of the most laid back people ever.  I really have to light a fire under my butt (so to speak) to exercise.  However, when I do, I have so much fun that I wonder why I had to motivate myself to do it in the first place.

Exercise at any time in your life is important.  After having gained over 50 lbs with my first pregnancy, the harsh reality was that I needed exercise to try and get my figure back.  I would just like to briefly point out some of the benefits of regular exercise.  First, exercise releases chemicals in the brain which in turn decrease stress levels and can leave you in a happier mood than when you orignally were.  If kids and a husband don’t cause you a little stress than I don’t know what does.

Regular exercise also helps to manage high blood pressure, cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.  It also promotes better sleep at night.  It can add a little pazzazz in your sex life.  It can give you energy and make you feel better about yourself. 

My personal best reason is that exercise is good for weight management.  It delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues.  After gaining weight during pregnancy, it is a great way to try and get your figure back into pre-pregnancy clothing.

After listing all those reasons for why we should exercise, why on earth would we not ?  It makes the response “I don’t feel like it” or “I don’t have time” seem really inferior.

As I was struggling to do sit-ups yesterday at my “Have a Ball with Mom” class, the instructor said something really nice.  She said “take a minute to thank your abdomens for giving you such beautiful babies”.   As I was sitting there in mid sit up, I forgot about the strain on my abdomen and I thought about what she said.  I am very lucky because I can always work on my abdomen through exercise, but I couldn’t imagine my life without my children.

Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting an exercise routine.  If you are postpartum, you should wait until your 6 week follow-up appt with your doctor before you start and exercise routine.

Before my workout, I felt like a lazy blob.  After my workout, I felt re-energized for the rest of the day.  It was great!  And as I always say,

“Short term pain = Long term gain”.