If exercise is so obviously the answer to losing weight after childbirth, then why aren't more women doing it? The answer isn't as tricky as you may think.

One problem most new mothers will report is that they don't feel that they have enough time to exercise after birth. This is a complaint among just about anyone who has ever attempted to set up a routine exercise program, not just women who have given birth!

While it is true that taking care of your newborn should be first and foremost in your mind, it is also important that you set aside time for your own health and well being. This includes setting aside enough time to engage in routine exercise. Finding time may be as simple as blocking off a certain number of hours during the day to work out.

If you are having trouble finding time to exercise, there are a number of things you can do to ensure that you stick with some type of exercise routine:

Set aside a specific time every day to exercise. Even if you just set aside 10 minutes of time in the morning, your body will benefit from regular exercise. Remember that stretching, yoga and other forms of activity are also considered exercise, and will help your body return to its pre-pregnancy shape much more quickly.

Ask your partner to help. Ask your partner or another friend or family member if they would be willing to watch your newborn for a set time during the week. This could be two or three times per week , or as often as every other day.

Consider a sitter. You might need to have someone come in for an hour per day to watch your baby while you work out. Not sure who to ask? Consider parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors. You can even put an ad out in your local paper. If you have friends with older children, you might ask one of them if they have any children with experience watching young children. Many gyms also offer daycare for parents who need an hour to work out, as do many local recreation centers.

Take just ten minutes. If you are truly time deprived, you can still get a great work out in for the day in 10 minute intervals. There are no hard and fast rules that state that you have to work out 30 minutes in a row for exercise to be effective. If you have just 10 free minutes in your day, consider climbing some stairs or going for a brisk walk. Do that two to three times per day and you have worked in a full blown work out.

Consider home work out videos. You can pop these easily into your VHS or DVD player and work out from the convenience of you home, saving travel time and much more. There are even many videos that are targeted toward moms, where you can work out with your newborn!

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Article by Beverley Brooke
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