Back to Flat – Blast Your Post-Baby Fat!

 

Finding time to exercise with a small baby is challenging, and requires support, planning and commitment. The results however are well worth the commitment so, next time dad/friend/grandparent takes baby out for an hour have a go at our postnatal workout and get those abs back into shape !

Having a baby stretches the muscles of your tummy (up to 60cm)  to their limit, so in order to get your shape back you need to draw back these muscles using specially targeted exercises. First work on toning your deepest abdominal muscles, the transverse abdominis. Then slowly build and strengthen the obliques. Finish by shortening and toning the top layer of abdominal muscles known as the rectus abdominis.

The following exercises should only be done once you have had your 6 week check up and the doctor has given you the go ahead to start exercising again. Warm up then perform the exercises for one minute each.

1) Tummy Toner

Lie on an exercise mat facing up, with your knees bent. Draw your belly button in to your spine and hold for a second. Relax and repeat.

2) Pelvic Toner

Lie on an exercise mat facing up, with your knees bent. Squeeze your pelvic floor muscles for ten-second bursts. Relax and repeat.

3) The Squeeze

Lie on an exercise mat facing up, knees bent with a cushion in between your knees. Squeeze the cushion in between your knees as hard as you can for ten seconds, relax and repeat.

4) Super Woman

Kneel on all fours, simultaneously lift and straighten left arm and right leg holding a super Woman pose for 5 seconds, relax and repeat with other arm and leg.

5) Ballet Move

Stand straight with your feet shoulder width apart, hands on hips. Lower slowly into a wide squat position. Keep heals on floor and hold for a couple of seconds before repeating.

6) Hand press

From a standing position arms out in front of you chest height, elbows out, push palm of hands together for 5 seconds relax and repeat.

Good Luck Mums!

 

 

Stay Motivated

One of the best ways to stay motivated is to see for yourself the changes that your fitness programme is achieving -when you can see that you have less body fat, your limbs feel stronger and firmer and that you have more energy it makes you want to continue with your programme and push yourself even harder…..

Strip Fat in 4 Weeks – Top Tips

Pick 4 weeks where you have a ‘gap’ in your diary of social events to ensure you do not get tempted!  

Drink

No Alcohol, at all!

Drink 2 litres of water per day – No fizzy drinks!

In addition, drink at least 2 cups of green tea per day.

Food

No carbs after 6pm (unless you can fit this around your training program) – so carb up during lunch if you need to.

Always eat Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Stick to the recommended daily calorie allowance (2500cal men, 2000 cal women).

Snack Healthy – No chocolates/sweets/potato chips – Snack healthy with fruit & nuts.

Workout

Do at least 3 hours of pure cardio workout per week in addition to your weights workout (aim to burn 500 calories during a workout).

Try to work as many muscle groups as possible in your exercise routine not just the Abs.

Beautiful Beach Body – Week 5

The LAST in our 5 week guide for a beautiful beach body focus is on the CHEST! So, here it is….

Top 5 tips for a firmer chest.

Working your chest will make the whole area feel much firmer, your shoulders and triceps will also get a workout when you work your chest, allowing you to burn even more calories.

What you will need

Dumbells

Body Ball

Fitness Mat

How many

Start off with 2 sets of 10 to 15 reps using a light weight, once you are able to do this comfortably move to 2 to 3 sets of 20 reps.

Exercise 1 (Works –Stomach, chest, back and arms)

Lie with your back on the Body Ball and your knees at right angles, holding a weight in each hand, extend your arms up to the ceiling with your palms facing away from you. This is your start position. Lower your arms above your head while keeping them straight. Return to the start position and repeat.

Exercise 2 (Works – Chest and Armpits)

Lie on a body ball with your head and shoulders supported and your knees at right angles. Holding a weight in each hand, extend your arms up to the ceiling with your palms facing each other (This is the start position). Keep a slight bend in your elbows, open your arms until the weights are in line with your shoulders. Return to your start position and repeat (It is important to keep your tummy and bottom tight and to keep a straight back throughout)

Exercise 3 (Works – Chest, arms and core stability)

Lie with your chest on a body ball, place your hands next to your chest on the ball, keeping your fingers spread open.  Straighten your arms and lift your body off the ball, lower with control.

Exercise 4 (Works – Chest and arms)

Lie on your back with your knees bent, holding a weight in each hand. Bring the weights up to shoulder height, with your palms facing away from you. Extend your arms up to the ceiling, lower the weights until your elbows touch the floor. Extend your arms back up to the start position and repeat.

Exercise 5 (Works –Chest and Arms)

Place a body ball firmly against a wall and lean back against it, hold a weight in each hand with your palms facing inwards. Extend your arms up until the weights meet in the middle, but don’t lock your elbows. This is the start position. Open your arms sideways ubntil the weights are level with your shoulders. Return to the start position

Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding Fitness Regime

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/life/women/health-and-fitness/2011/04/18/kate-middleton-s-fitness-regime-revealed-ahead-of-royal-wedding-86908-23069927/

Beautiful Beach Body – Week 4

Abs –The miracle tummy toner

Say good bye to your muffin top and make 2011 the summer for your washboard stomach. Follow our fab Ab workout below for four weeks, eat sensibly then enjoy your newly-cinched waist in time for summer.

What You Will Need

Body Ball

Fitness Mat

Medicine Ball

How Many

Ensure you carry out the exercises in order as they are below. Repeat three times, resting for 30 seconds in between each circuit.

Exercise 1 (This will help elongate your torso and flatten your tummy) –  Reps 12

Lie on your back on the floor with your arms and legs stretched out so your body’s in a line. In one movement, lift your torso and legs up as if you were trying to reach your toes, Keep your legs straight throughout. Hold and then lower your body back slowly to the starting position. When carrying out the exercise keep your head in line with your body in order to protect your neck and keep your legs as straight as possible.

Exercise 2 (This move will tighten up the full length of your core, while targeting the muscles at the sides of your torso)  – Reps 15

Lie on your floor with your arms bent and fingers touching the sides of your head. Lift your shoulders using your abdominal muscles and twist your body so your left elbow meets your right knee. Switch sides, bringing your right elbow towards your left knee.

Exercise 3 (This move helps stabilise your spine while working your entire core) –  Reps 20 (10 each side)

Start in a press up position, forming a straight line from shoulders to ankles. Bring your right knee towards your right elbow, pause and then straighten the right knee so you’re back in the start position. Repeat and bring your right knee to your left arm and continue alternating.

Exercise 4 (This exercise targets your upper abdominals and oblique’s) – Reps 15               

Sit on a body ball and hold a medicine ball straight above your head with both hands. Walk your feet out and roll the ball beneath you until your torso is supported on the ball as a slight incline keeping your arms by your ears , contract your abdominals and curl your head, neck and shoulders blades, pause and then slowly lower to the starting position.

Exercise 5 (This stretch will relax your sciatic nerves and release tension in your back and abdominals)

Get down on the floor on your hands and knees, push your back up towards the ceiling and continue arching until you feel a gentle stretch in your back and hold for 15 seconds, then slowly lower your tummy towards the floor, raising your gaze as far as it will go.

Hold this stretch for 15 seconds and repeat three times.

Sunday Workout Motivational Video

If your having trouble getting motivated today watch this video &  turn it up LOUD…

Beautiful Beach Body – Week 3

Arms

Are you fed up of sporting bingo wings and feel uncomfortable with your arms on display? Then make this summer different and wear vest tops and sleeveless tops with confidence with our workout guide below on how to achieve the perfect slim and sculpted arms.

It is a myth that you need to use heavy weights in order to make your arms toned and beautiful. Muscles work in pairs -when one muscle contracts, the opposite muscle relaxes, so it is important to work opposite muscle groups in equal balance. This means when you work your biceps you need to ensure you work your triceps too.

 What you will need

Dumbbell

Body Ball

How Many?

If you are a beginner you should aim for 2 sets of 10 to 15 reps. once you are able to carry this out comfortably then increase this to 3 sets of 15 reps.

The Bingo Wing Fighter

This exercise will target the wobbly bit on the underside of your upper arm.

Stand with feet hip width apart, holding your dumbbell in each hand by your sides and squat so that your dumbbell is just in front of your feet. Return to standing position quickly pulling your dumbbells up so that they finish either side of your chin. Your elbows should be high and out to the sides, ensuring your back is kept straight throughout the exercise.

Triceps Extension

This exercise will work your triceps.

Kneel on the floor with your back straight. Hold your dumbbell in your right hand and extend it up to the ceiling. Lower the dumbbell to your shoulder blade. Extend your arm to the ceiling but be careful not to lock your elbow. Repeat exercise with your left arm.

Front Raises

This exercise will work your shoulders.

Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand with the palm of your hand facing down. Keep your arms in front of your thighs with a slight bend in your elbows. Lift your right arm by rotating out 90 degrees (up to your shoulder height) and then lower it again with control, repeat with your left arm ensuring that your don’t swing your body to lift either of the dumbbells up. 

The Upper Arm Toner

This exercise works your triceps, biceps and also your shoulders.

Sit upright on a bodyball, with your legs slightly apart for balance. Hold your dumbbell in your right hand above your head and with your left hand on your hip. Bend your elbow and lower your dumbbell behind you, until it touches your shoulder blade. Lift back up to your starting position, repeat this for the duration of your sets of reps and then repeat with your other arm.

 

Double Punch

This exercise is great for working biceps, triceps, shoulders and also your forearms.

Sit upright on a bodyball holding a dumbbell in each hand at chin height, your arms should be bent in tight to your body. Press both dumbbells out in front of you and  repeat again. Lift both dumbbells up above your head until your arms are completely straight, palms inwards. Lower then repeat this again, This four move sequence equals one rep.

For best results

Carry out the exercises slowly; speeding up will cause you to use speed rather than your strength.

Ideal Post-Workout Food

Lamb is a excellent source of protein and iron, which is easily absorbed by your body -this is perfect for a post-workout meal. Lamb also contains 45 percent of your recommended daily allowance of zinc, which is essential for growth, and warding off conditions like anaemia. Lamb is bursting with immune-boosting B vitamins, however it can be fatty so make sure you trim the fat of a lamb steak before grilling.

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