Body After Baby: New Mom’s Biggest Mistakes

Reclaiming your body after baby is a challenge for a lot of moms. After all, you’re balancing the needs of your baby with your own needs – and quite often, the baby wins. Don’t worry, your Los Angeles personal trainer is here to help! There are several mistakes women tend to make when getting back to exercise after baby that may hinder their goals more than help. Here are some of the biggest mistakes you should avoid when trying to get your body back after baby.

Mistake No. 1: Setting Unrealistic Goals

According to personal trainer Lalo Fuentes, CSCS, one of the best things you can do when getting back on your fitness journey after baby is to set goals that are realistic. Unrealistic goals are the enemy of moms everywhere. No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to do it all, so be honest with yourself and set goals you know you can meet. You may not be able to make it to the gym every day or lose those last 10 pounds in a month, but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying to work toward your health and fitness goals.

Mistake No. 2: Too Much Cardio

Many people associate cardio workouts with weight loss, but this isn’t necessarily the case. “Too much cardio puts too much stress on your joints, raises the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your system, and can slow your metabolism,” says Lalo Fuentes, “It can leave you feeling fatigued instead of energized.” So, cardio can do more harm than good at this point in your fitness journey.

Many Los Angeles personal trainers recommend training smart. You should create a workout plan that combines HIIT, full body circuits, and strength training. Steady cardio should be kept to a minimum.

Mistake No. 3: Neglecting the Warm Up

Every single time you exercise you should be warming up and cooling down. Remember, your body has changed since you had your baby and you need to help it be the healthiest it can. Warming up and cooling down will improve your overall fitness level, help you to perform better during exercise, and help you to avoid injury. After all, you can’t exercise or even be the mom you need to if you’re injured!

Mistake No. 4: Taking on Too Much

Spending a lot of time at the gym may not yield the results you’re looking for. Los Angeles personal trainers warn that it can be counterproductive to do too much in one workout. So, don’t feel like you need to take a tour of each and every machine when you’re at the gym. Instead, choose three or four exercises per muscle group and then try for about 15 minutes of HIIT exercise after.

Having a baby completely changes your life – and your body. So, go easy on yourself as you work with your Los Angeles personal trainer to get healthy and strong! You’ll get where you want to be eventually!