fluteangel
11-22-2008, 03:04 PM
I have a friend who had a baby this year and she's stuggling with a lot of things. As I've never had a baby, I'm looking for a little advice for her as she's looking for advice from me! She was very very athletic before the baby and was not happy to be pregnant, though I'm sure she's thrilled with her son now.
Here's her direct email:
Okay, so I have been working on the "postpartum" issues and I just wanted to know what you think about what I am doing. Since I have been needing some motivation, I have been taking some classes at the gym just to mix things up a bit. My gym has the Les Mills classes, so I have been doing Body Attack 2x/ week (a kick- butt cardio class) and I have added Body Pump 2x/ week. Each of those classes is an hour long. On the days that I do pump, I am also doing 30 min. of extra cardio. I was also doing yoga once or twice a week, but recently had to switch gyms and I don't like the instructor, so I am not sure if that will stick or not. Basically it ends up being that I work out weights and cardio 4-5x/week. What comments do you have on that?
I was also wondering if you ever have to deal with seeing other people at your gym that make you feel insignificant and how you deal with that. It can be in any way from the matching workout clothes to their muscle tone or whatever.
So here is to trying to answer your questions. My goals: mainly to get back to the size I was (I can't afford to purchase new clothes!), but I would also like to have a bit more tone and definition. I have only been in the Body Pump class for a couple weeks, but I think I am going to like what happens when it starts. I am starting to see more muscle in my legs already, but the arms are going to take some time. I really need to target the inside of my legs, but I have never had much success with that. Any suggestions? There is always an abs segment of the classes, but I feel like I do better to do ab work on a stability ball. When I am on the floor I can't focus the muscles the right way; especially my obliques.
About the eating part of this. In paying attention to what I eat, I take in a lot of carbs for 2 reasons. 1) they help with milk production for nursing and 2) they are easy on my grocery budget. We are also eating a lot of rice and stir- fry veggies because it is cheap! Do you have any suggestions as to foods to eat/ avoid that won't break the budget,or as to an eating schedule?
Thanks so much for your encouragement! It get hard to stay motivated when other people around you are always amazed at what I do because they do nothing at all and I feel like it is never enough!
SUggestions?
Here's her direct email:
Okay, so I have been working on the "postpartum" issues and I just wanted to know what you think about what I am doing. Since I have been needing some motivation, I have been taking some classes at the gym just to mix things up a bit. My gym has the Les Mills classes, so I have been doing Body Attack 2x/ week (a kick- butt cardio class) and I have added Body Pump 2x/ week. Each of those classes is an hour long. On the days that I do pump, I am also doing 30 min. of extra cardio. I was also doing yoga once or twice a week, but recently had to switch gyms and I don't like the instructor, so I am not sure if that will stick or not. Basically it ends up being that I work out weights and cardio 4-5x/week. What comments do you have on that?
I was also wondering if you ever have to deal with seeing other people at your gym that make you feel insignificant and how you deal with that. It can be in any way from the matching workout clothes to their muscle tone or whatever.
So here is to trying to answer your questions. My goals: mainly to get back to the size I was (I can't afford to purchase new clothes!), but I would also like to have a bit more tone and definition. I have only been in the Body Pump class for a couple weeks, but I think I am going to like what happens when it starts. I am starting to see more muscle in my legs already, but the arms are going to take some time. I really need to target the inside of my legs, but I have never had much success with that. Any suggestions? There is always an abs segment of the classes, but I feel like I do better to do ab work on a stability ball. When I am on the floor I can't focus the muscles the right way; especially my obliques.
About the eating part of this. In paying attention to what I eat, I take in a lot of carbs for 2 reasons. 1) they help with milk production for nursing and 2) they are easy on my grocery budget. We are also eating a lot of rice and stir- fry veggies because it is cheap! Do you have any suggestions as to foods to eat/ avoid that won't break the budget,or as to an eating schedule?
Thanks so much for your encouragement! It get hard to stay motivated when other people around you are always amazed at what I do because they do nothing at all and I feel like it is never enough!
SUggestions?