exercising and baby

[melfitz]

Hi Cathe!

My 2-1/2 month old son, Zachary, won't nap long enough for me to do a workout uninterrupted. (I realize he's still young and hasn't really established a predictable nap schedule.) Do you think the benefits of exercise are diminished if I can't do it all at once? For example, I did Bootcamp last week and I had to stop after the 3rd cycle because Zachary woke up crying. Then, I had to breastfeed and keep him entertained for a while. By the time I was able to continue with Bootcamp, I think, an hour or so went by. I did 4 more cycles when Zachary started crying. I didn't finish the last cycle. My workouts (both cardio and strength) have been broken up like this since I resumed exercising about a month ago.

Zachary is my 3rd child and I really want to make a strong effort to exercise consistently. I was in the best shape of my life prior to having my 1st child. Since then, exercising has been sporadic, at best. My goal is to get back to my pre-child shape. I don't expect it to happen tomorrow especially since I am breastfeeding. (I breastfed my daughters past 12 months so it will be, at least, a year.)


Thanks!

-Melanie

 

[emy]

Cathe has said that the best way to fit in exercise at your stage is in little chunks through out the day - so what you are doing is fine!

I have a 5 1/2 month old, and it took 3 months at least to be able to get a workout done all at once. I usually play with him to wear him out until he naps, then try to get my workout done all at once. It happens more often now, but sometimes he still wakes up and I have to take a break to feed him then continue later. Also his swing helps to keep him occupied during workouts, but I didn't start using it until he was 4 months old. Sometimes he will even lay and play on a blanket with some toys and watch me workout.

Don't worry! You will gradually get a feel for his personality habits and establish some sort of strategy for fitting in those workouts.

 

[shopaholic]

Melanie, I have a 5 month old so
I can relate. I still have to start and stop at times to nurse and/or calm down my daughter. My goal is to always finish the workout even if a 1 hour workout tapes 3 hours. Now , i can workout longer though. Despite my starting and stopping , I am real close to prepregnancy weight and muscle tone. You may want to try shorter workouts for now though, for example ctx or timesaver. Come join us over in the postpartum/pregnancy forum, we have started a weekly postpartum check in.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Melanie! Congratulations on making an effort to do whatever you can, whenever you can, without giving up. It is so hard when kids are this young. It is easy to throw in the towel and say why bother working out when you have a little one(s) who needs mommy most of the day and night. But you chose not to quit, good for you. Every little bit of exercise counts. It may not bring you the total results that your pre-children program did but it is keeping your body active and acclimated, your metabolism hightened and burning extra calories, and your muscles responsive. That way when you have a solid chunk of time, maybe one point in the week, you can go all out without having to worry about the acclimation period. As long as you are eating balanced meals(and meeting the needs of a breast feeding mommy), you will be surprised at how all of your mini workouts will add up. And better yet, provide nice stress releases throughout the day. Keep up the great work mom