Kayla Itsines is a self-made entrepreneur who built her empire from the ground up. Her journey began with a simple idea: to create a workout program that was both effective and accessible to everyone. She started by offering her program online, and it quickly gained popularity. This success led her to expand her business, creating a fitness app, Sweat, and a range of other products and services.
“But now I’s just not as flexible anymore.
When it comes to working out as a mom, Itsines notes that strength training in particular is “so beneficial,” pointing out that it builds core strength while improving posture and the ability to “lift and move in a way that you couldn’t do before,” not to mention helping you feel empowered as a mother (and a person). “It feels good to feel fit and strong when you’re with your kids,” Itsines says, “whether you’re playing at home, running around together outside or need to carry them because they just don’t want to walk.” When it comes to the best kinds of strength exercises for moms, Itsines notes that it really depends where you’re at in your journey. For new moms, it’s important to listen to your doctor’s exercise recommendations as your body postpartum. And even after you have the green light to work out, finding the time and energy for it isn’t easy, and stressing out about it will just make you feel worse. Give yourself grace, because being a mom is a 24/7 job that doesn’t always allow for gym time. Related story I Dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden Stays Fit at 93 Thanks to This Cheap Workout Tool
When you do get the chance to work out, you want it to be as efficient and effective as possible, which is why Itsines recommends focusing on your deep core muscles when you’re just getting back into exercise. “I’m talking about movements that are really slow and controlled or strength holds,” she explains. FYI, your deep core is made up of the muscles that stabilize your trunk and core (and by extension, the rest of your body), including your diaphragm, pelvic floor, and transverse abdominis. Keeping these muscles strong can help you avoid back pain and improve your overall function and movement, and they’re especially important for postpartum moms, whose abdominal muscles have just been stretched and weakened by pregnancy. Exercises like diaphragmatic breathing and bird dog are a great way to begin to strengthen your deep core after pregnancy, experts told SheKnows previously, and can also help to avoid conditions like diastasis recti.
It’s important to note that the results you see from your workouts will be influenced by a variety of factors, including your genetics, your diet, and your sleep. These factors can all play a role in how quickly you see results. For example, if you have a genetic predisposition to muscle growth, you may see results faster than someone who doesn’t.
Before you go, shop these essentials for your home gym:
