The Little Pages March/April 2016 | Page 32

At the Movies For more info view Caileigh’s ad on page 7 or contact her on: 082 643 6742 Family movies releasing soon at Ster-Kinekor Baywest GETTING FIT after pregnancy The first few months of your new baby’s life can be the most challenging, yet incredible time for a mother. With new responsibilities and more to schedule into a 24 hour window (especially if your baby is not your first and you have a toddler or two to make things interesting!), fitness and nutrition is not always a top priority. However, maintaining a level of fitness can be beneficial to you and your whole family in the long run. When considering your postpregnancy fitness plan, keep the following in mind: REST… your body has just been through a phenomenal, yet taxing process, make sure you chat to your doctor about when it’s safe to get back into exercising. PREPARATION… Try to prepare and freeze healthy meals before you give birth for those rough days when takeaways seem to be the answer. Your body needs healthy and nutritious foods, especially if you are breastfeeding. And most importantly KINDNESS. Be kind to yourself and to your body. Give yourself time to adjust and accept the changes your body is going through. Set realistic goals and be patient, but persistent in achieving them. We spoke to fitness expert and personal trainer, Caileigh Stap, to gain some insight and tips on getting fit post-pregnancy. 30 Do you often encounter women who want to get fit shortly after having a baby? A large number of my clients start 6-8 weeks after having a baby. In my opinion, the sooner you start the better. In your experience, what are the biggest challenges for moms of young children when it comes to training and how do they work around these challenges? Finding a time slot that suits their (and their kids’) schedule, however I have the perfect options to suit everyone’s schedules. The most common time slot for my moms group is around 9am once the little ones carers have arrived or school has started. What are the benefits of working on your physical fitness soon after pregnancy? You drop that ‘baby’ weight quicker, the sooner you start. And you still have an element of life focused on making YOU feel and look fabulous, when everything else in your life revolves around your new born. Any tips for new moms when it comes to health and fitness post-pregnancy? The most