When is it safe to start working out after giving birth?

I gave birth about two months ago. Everything from the pregnancy to the delivery went perfectly smoothly. I’ve always been active—hitting the gym and doing aerobics constantly—and even during my pregnancy, I made sure to stay moving with long daily walks.
I feel great overall, except for the fact that I'm carrying an extra 10 or 15 pounds, and yeah, it all went straight to my hips and glutes. 😠

I’m thinking about heading back to the gym instead of hitting an aerobics class. It just fits my schedule better since I can drop in whenever I want, whereas classes have fixed times. With a newborn in the mix, flexibility is everything, but I'm stuck wondering... am I actually cleared to go this hard yet?

Carol Palmer44 said:I’ve been a total fitness junkie forever—gym sessions, aerobics, all that good stuff. Even during my pregnancy, I made sure to stay super active and went for long walks every single day.
I feel pretty amazing, honestly, aside from being up about 10 or 12 pounds...
...but I guess the real question is, am I actually allowed to jump back in?

Huge congrats on the little one! Though, you didn't even tell us if it was a boy or a girl...😍 As for working out—go for it! You’ve got a trainer at the gym anyway, so just pick their brain and ask exactly what they recommend for where you're at right now.... And honestly, once the weather starts getting nice, you'll realize how much you need it. There's nothing like those early morning errands with the stroller, getting some fresh air, and then hitting up a cute little sidewalk cafe for a coffee while the baby naps... pure bliss...

Carol Palmer44 said:I gave birth about two months ago. Honestly, everything from the pregnancy through the delivery was just perfect. I’ve always been active—hitting the gym, doing aerobics—and even during my pregnancy, I made sure to stay moving with daily long walks.
I feel pretty great overall, though I am carrying an extra 10 or 15 pounds, which seems to have settled mostly in my hips and glutes. 😠

I’m thinking about heading back to the gym because weightlifting feels more my speed right now than aerobics. Plus, the gym lets me show up whenever I want, whereas aerobics classes are on such a strict schedule. With the baby, flexibility is key, so the gym is the better move... if I'm actually cleared to go...

It sounds like we're dealing with the exact same struggles...🙂 and the same stubborn extra weight. 😁
I’m also less than two months postpartum. Everything went smoothly, and I actually started working out again after just one month. My OB-GYN gave me the green light to go for it at my last checkup.
The trouble is, I can't get to the gym or a class because I don't have anyone to watch the little one...😢, and I used to be a regular there all the time. It was honestly the one thing I missed most during my pregnancy, and it's still what I miss most now.
For now, I'm just working out at home, trying to stay consistent...👍, using the elliptical and some light weights...

Once you've had that first postpartum checkup and everything looks good, you can pretty much ease back into things—though, of course, it’s different for everyone. Personally, I gave birth just three months ago and I've already been out dancing for two weeks! It feels absolutely wonderful!

Amy Long19 said:Congrats on the baby! Though you didn't mention if it was a boy or a girl...😍 You can definitely work out, though. Since you have a trainer at the gym, just ask them exactly what you should be doing. And once the weather turns nice, there's nothing better than those early morning runs with the stroller, getting some fresh air, and grabbing a latte on the patio of some fancy cafe. Pure bliss.

Thanks 😘
The little guy is 😍

These rainy days are driving me crazy. When it’s actually sunny, we’re out walking all morning and afternoon.

I was at the gym, but I totally blanked on asking if I could start working out yet 🙄...everything feels fine, so I guess I'm good to go. 😕

Melissa Peterson90, your husband or your mom can watch the baby for you, right? That's the whole reason I want to hit the gym—being able to head out whenever the baby's schedule allows. 🙂
Let me know how the weight loss goes. 🙂

Can I lose 5 lbs in 2 months? 😁

Carol Palmer44 said:Thanks 😘
The guy is 😍

Can I lose 5 kg in 2 months? 😁

😍 man,
You can totally drop 5 kg in 2 months without even trying a strict diet or hitting up a gym... honestly, just walking at a brisk pace—not running, mind you—for about an hour on an empty stomach is plenty (maybe start with 40 mins for the first few days) and you're golden... after that, just stick to some oatmeal with a bit of yogurt for breakfast, and during the day, eat whatever you want as long as you skip the cookies and sweets. Drink 2 liters of water and just watch... it’s a breeze... your husband will fall in love with you all over again, plus you already gave him a grandson... seriously, dude, you're living the dream!!! 👍 I mean, doing it on an empty stomach doesn't have to mean waking up at 5 AM... just head out once you've finished the first morning feeding (you know, the bottle or Enfamil routine), get the baby changed, and hit the road... if the little one won't let you go alone, just take them along—a quick 30-minute stroll in the stroller should do the trick... it's good for both of you. When I had my kids, I used to do it right in the house: jumping rope for 30 minutes, then working out... basically whenever they were napping since I didn't have anyone to watch them... and I just cut out all the junk food snacks... within a month, I was looking radiant... 🙂 ah, but that was ages ago... these days, it feels way harder...

Amy Long19 said:😍 guy
5 lbs can drop off in 2 months without kids or hitting the gym... Just walk briskly for an hour on an empty stomach (don't run) and you're set... maybe start with 40 mins for the first few days. Then just stick to oatmeal with some yogurt for breakfast, eat whatever else you want during the day minus the cookies and sweets, drink 2L of water and boom... it works. Your husband will fall for you all over again, plus you gave him a grandson... man, you're winning at life!!!👍 I mean, "empty stomach" doesn't have to mean 5 AM... just go once you finish the first morning feeding (bottle, diaper change, etc.) and get moving... if the little one won't let you, just take the stroller for a quick 30-minute loop... it's good for both of you. When I had my kids, I did this at home: jumped rope for 30 minutes, then worked out... basically whenever they slept since I had no childcare... and I cut out the junk food... Within a month, I was glowing...🙂 oh, but that was ages ago... it's harder now...

😍
This sounds so easy when you read it... hopefully it actually works (because my breakfast happens before I even wash my face or brush my teeth because I'm starving😁), and sweets and chips are my absolute weakness🙄

But fine, enough messing around. I'll try all of it, maybe even hit the gym.... lord help me🤣

I'll report back

😘

Carol Palmer44 said:Thanks, 😘
The guy is 😍

Honestly, these rainy days are driving me crazy. It used to be so easy to just head out for a long walk in the morning or afternoon when the weather actually cooperated

I was at the gym earlier, but I completely blanked on asking if I should start my actual workout routine yet 🙄...but everything seems fine, so I guess I can just go for it 😕

Melissa Peterson90, I assume your husband or your mom could watch the baby for you, right? That’s exactly why I’d prefer a gym membership—being able to drop in whenever the baby’s schedule allows 🙂
Keep me posted on how the weight loss is going 🙂

Is it possible to lose 11 pounds in two months? 😁

My husband is away on business in Europe until mid-June, so it’s just been the baby and me 😢...
My family is pretty private about their schedules; my mom doesn't get home from work until late, even though she's up by 5 AM, so I really don't have the heart to ask her to watch the little one until 9 or 10 at night when I know how exhausted she is 😉
I'm looking for some childcare, but nothing has panned out yet... it's amazing how much more critical you become once you're on your own
For now, it's just using the Orbitrek and trying to squeeze in walks once this stupid rain lets up

Melissa Peterson90 said:...
So far, just some orbital shots and walking around—assuming this stupid rain finally decides to quit it.

That Orbit Rekom plan looks solid... just make sure you’re doing it strictly on an empty stomach—you know, like, before that first cup of coffee or anything else—and then hit up a mandatory breakfast right after. For the rest of the day, stick to fruits, veggies, and white meat. Just stay far away from bread, pasta, rice, or potatoes... none of that stuff!
Nothing sweet in sight... seriously.

Hey there, mamas, I have a quick question for you all. I wasn't quite sure where to turn for advice, so I figured I’d just try my luck here. 🙂

So, my partner and I are planning to start trying for a baby, and we’re currently in that phase of making it happen. Just to give some context, I work as a fitness instructor doing core workouts—nothing crazy intense, but it is part of my routine. I was wondering if anyone knows how much exercise can actually affect things during those very early stages of pregnancy? Specifically, I mean that window of time from when conception happens right up until you actually find out you're pregnant. Should I stick to my usual routine for now, or would it be smarter to just stop altogether? To be clear, I’m not actually pregnant yet. 🤷

Look, you know I was planning on asking this exact same thing...

Robin Myers said:Oh, you have no idea, I was actually planning on asking this exact same thing myself...

😉
Now we just sit tight and hope someone actually gives us an answer! 🙂

Honestly, if I were you, I’d just call my OB-GYN and get a straight answer.
I mean, even my prenatal fitness guide suggests light core work during the first trimester, but still—if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't guess. I'd just ring the doctor and ask.😉

Elizabeth Howard45 said:😉
Now let's just cross our fingers for an answer! 🙂

For now, you should definitely keep up with your workouts while you wait for that whole pregnancy phase to kick in—it’ll help strengthen those abs and all the other muscles you're gonna need when it's go-time during delivery... So, once you actually get pregnant, you'll head straight to your OB-GYN to confirm everything, and based on those checkups, they'll let you know how things are looking. Like, whether everything is totally fine or if you need to take it easy. I don't say that to freak anyone out, honestly—it's more about staying proactive and keeping your body ready.
Basically, just keep moving for now, and once you're actually pregnant, you'll find out firsthand what your specific situation looks like... 👍

Melissa Peterson90 said:I'm dealing with the exact same thing...🙂 and I've got the same extra pounds hanging around 😁
I gave birth less than two months ago. Everything went smoothly and I actually started working out again after just a month, especially since my OB-GYN basically told me to just push through.
The problem is, I can't exactly hit the gym or go to an aerobics class because I don't have anyone to watch the baby😢, and I used to live at the gym before this... honestly, that was the only thing I missed during pregnancy and now postpartum
Right now I'm just training at home, staying consistent👍, using the elliptical, some light weights...

Hey, did you even ask him about crunches? Are we actually allowed to do those??

Carol Palmer44 said:Hey, did you actually ask her about doing ab workouts? Are we even allowed to talk about that??

I mean, technically, we can 😉

I kept working out for those first few weeks before I even realized I was pregnant. Honestly, I think it just varies from person to person... you’re probably better off just getting a straight answer from your OB-GYN instead of guessing