Which tape to buy for postpartum shape up??

[amynicole]

Hi Cathe,

I am planning on buying some of your strength tapes. As I posted on the fitmoms forum, I am 6 1/2 months pregnant but itching to get myself in order to workout post-partum. I know from my first 2 baby's that since I workout during pregnancy it is pretty easy to get back into it.

Anyway, I have all your cardio tapes (and love them!!) but have been doing FIRM for strenth since I tend to build muscle easily and bulk I have been afraid to try your strenth tapes. Everyone raves about them, so I've decided to take the plunge and try them. My upper body seems to have turned to mush this pregnancy since my doctor banned me from weight work (due to back problems) so I have been doing only cardio. I am primarily interested in gettin my toned/slim upper body back and adding variety to the FIRMs.

I though I could start with the wedding tape which I own- I have done the cardio over and over but never done the weights part.

Here is the question- DH asked me what I want for mother's day and I told him some of your tapes. I was thinking bodymax, power hour, and maximum intensity strenth would be good choices for my goals. My goals are to lose my pregnancy weight, plus and extra 20 lbs and tone up. I'm not sure the CTX would be a good choice since I will only have 4-5 days a week to workout. (with 3 small kids it will be tough!) Also, I think the pure strenth tapes might make me larger than I want in my upperbody/shoulders. I naturally have big boned shoulders which I want to tone but not add any size to.

Sorry for being so long winded here.

Good luck with your birth- I hope its quick and uneventful and you will be holding that healthy baby boy soon!!

 

[arogerson]

I strongly suggest CTX. I had a baby 14 mo's ago and that series worked the best for me at that time because the workouts weren't very long. If the baby wakes, you could at least get in the cardio portion which is usually less than 30 min. You could then go back later and do the weights portion of the tape. I thought CTX was great to ease me back into my normal routine (the planks should be avoided until you make sure you don't have any split in your abs.) Two of the tapes you mentioned are only strength tapes, Powerhour and MIS strength. I found it easier to get the weight off with more cardio work and I think BodyMax is more intense than CTX.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Amynicole! I wouldn't try anything to out of the norm from what you are used to at this point in your pregnancy. I think you will be fine doing Power Hour and the weight portion of the Wedding tape (modifying both tapes wherever needed for pregnancy purposes)before you deliver. But after you deliver I would suggest adding Body Max and Max. Int. Strength to the list. Good Luck!