I am so excited to introduce you to my good friend and fitness guru, Becca. We met four years ago, and at the time I was pregnant with Luke and she was a boot camp instructor, so I obviously drilled her with question upon question about how to be fit and healthy. She is honestly one of the most fit and amazing women I know and is such a huge inspiration to me. (And I am constantly texting her for workout, healthy eating, and cleaning tips! She is a GENIUS, I tell you!) Luckily for us, she has an amazing fitness and healthy eating Instagram where she shares daily tips, which you need to follow, like, immediately.Today Becca is sharing her workout routine for getting that post-baby belly nice and toned! She is a mother to two of the cutest little girls—a 2-year-old and 6-month old, to whom Luke and Wes are betrothed ;) Yes, she only had a baby a few months ago and she has a rock solid tummy. I think we all need her advice. I already did these exercises this morning and I could feel everything squeezing and tightening already. I will stop talking now and get on to her exercises!
Take it away, Becca!
The number one complaint about body image for women? The tummy. Especially post-baby... Am I right? So what can we do to tone those muscles back up after being stretched to infinity and beyond? Do CORE exercises... Notice I did not say "ab" exercises. This is because when you work one muscle, you must also work its opposite. So when working chest, you want to work back. When working biceps you want to work triceps as well, and when working the abdominal muscles, you want to also work your lower back. I have put together 6 simple exercises for toning your post-baby belly that shouldn't take too long to squeeze into your busy schedule, and it will help all you new moms, old moms, and just women in general!
Exercise 1: 10 Burpies
Start in a standing position, then squat down and place your hands on the floor.
Jump back into a pushup position like so. Make sure to keep you back as straight as you can and keep that booty down. Then jump back and return to the squat position in the first image.
Lastly, jump up! Try to make this as fluid as possible, almost like one continuous motion. You will hate these, I promise you, but you will thank me (and yourself) later for doing them.Exercise 2: 20 Double Crunches
Lie flat on your back with your knees up and bent, hands behind your head.
Next, Lift your butt up and pull your knees in and head/shoulders off the ground and meet in the center. Then return back to the first position. Again, make this as fluid and continual as possible and do not pull on your neck.
Exercise 3: 30 Mountain Climbers
In a push up position, bring one leg into your chest.
Then, put that foot back down and switch legs. Keep this motion going, almost like you are running on the floor with the weight on your hands. Do these as fast as possible while keeping your head looking straight, back as flat as you can and booty down.Exercise 4: Side Plank with a Leg Lift (15 on each side)
Start in a normal side plank, but put all the weight on your outer leg, tucking the bottom foot behind.
Now, lift your bottom leg up and squeeze it in and up towards the ceiling. Then place it back down and behind your stabilizing leg. When you've completed the 15 reps, then switch sides. This is hands down one of my favorite exercises. You work your obliques, inner thighs, booty and even get a little arm exercise there. Success! Exercise 5: 20 Butt lifts with Leg Extension
Start by laying flat on your back with feet flat on the floor, knees bent and arms down by your sides. \
Now, lift your bottom leg up and squeeze it in and up towards the ceiling. Then place it back down and behind your stabilizing leg. When you've completed the 15 reps, then switch sides. This is hands down one of my favorite exercises. You work your obliques, inner thighs, booty and even get a little arm exercise in there. Success!
Exercise 5: 20 Butt Lifts with Leg Extension
Start by laying flat on your back with feet flat on the floor, knees bent and arms down by your sides.
While lifting your booty and back off the floor extend one leg up towards the ceiling. Then lower the leg and return to your starting position. Repeat by alternating legs. This exercise works your lower back, abs and booty.
Exercise 6: 30-60 Second Plank
Place your forearms, hands and elbows flat on the ground and push up onto your toes. Keep your back flat and your booty down (notice how much I say that, it's important). Hold this position with no movement. Repeat these exercises 2-3 times through for a complete core workout and shoot for doing this 2-3 times per week.(And remember to never start an exercise regimen before your doctor clear you.) Keep at it, along with a healthy diet and some cardio in there, and you will see results.
Be patient with yourself and remember these things do take time!
-Becca
