Fitness

crunches dont really do anything for the lower abdomen. what i found works is to sit on the floor and put your body into a v shape by lifting your upper torso and lifitn your legs and holding them in place for a count of 20 do this as many times as you can. i usually do it on the edge of the couch because its softer and my bottom is bony. for the hips mule kicks get down on all fours and lift your leg so that it is even with your back. tighten up your bottom and getnly push with your foot up make sure your toes arent pointed then after 3 sets of 10 swing the leg over to the side in the same position and bring your knee to the other one that is down and lift up again. i hope this makes sense

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B., it sounds like you and I are struggling together. I have a variety of workout videos I love, from prenatal yoga (which I still do even though I'm not pregnant anymore) and pilates to something called Callanetics. That variety not only keeps me from getting bored and quitting, it also keeps me from working the same muscles each time and getting into a rut there. My favorite is a video called "Bounce Back After Baby" from Denise Austin. It incorporates aerobics, toning, stretching, floorwork and specialized tummy, hips and buns exercises for moms trying to get there figure back. This is also awesome for building energy.

And of course there is the walking and, in my case, elliptical training. Focusing on keeping the abs in really helps trim it down, and the hips often come down with it. I also used to rollerblade a lot and really felt it in the hips and glutes.

Make sure to stretch and drink plenty of water and enjoy your workouts! Merry Christmas!

~ R.

Hi B.
As a mother of two i have had great success with this. i agree that your body is never the same after having kids, especially more than one vaginally, but i disagree that it is worse after kids. I tell women I work with that it takes a good year of hard work to get real weight off and body shape back. aerobic work will burn the fat, and in order to do so, you must burn more than you consume. figure out your basal metabolic rate and then subtract 500 calories and this is how much you can eat if you dont exercise. to trim the butt, cycling and running will do it. to tighten the abs, a class or swimming can help. the fitness clubs always have great classes for toning and you can often check the kids in to daycare for an hour or two!

B.,
Once you have kids your body is never the same. Walking is great as well as swimming. The one I find most effective is leg curls which is sit ups with your leg instead of your head. I also found water aerobics effective. The only problem is you have to keep at it and that is not always easy with a busy schedule.
Good Luck
C. B

Any kind of abdominal crunch for the abs. Good ole fashioned twists-standing still and twisting side to side, from waist up. Use a Hoola hoop, or learn to use one for the waist. Hips: Walk a lot, try not to sit too much...

I'm doing Lindsey Brin's PostNatal Bootcamp!

Leaves me sore, but that's a good thing.

I like it because it's tailored for mama bodies that went through childbirth.

Hope this helps.

Cheers! - ika

Hi B.,

Breathing excercise while you multi task.
Breath in and tighten tummy count to 20 and release.
Do this as much as you can and all day long.
It will become a habit.

C.

spinning classes. If you go 3 times a week or more, I guaruntee that you will lose weight from all over your body. A lot of gyms also have abs classes, and they are great too.

Also, if you are stuck at home....buy a taebo video. They are intense....and again, they work your entire body.

I used to teach aerobics, and I have tried just about every type of class, peice of gym equipment, video etc. These are my favorites.

Hope this helps.