For some, getting your 6 pack back (or maybe nice abs for the first time ever) after pregnancy may seem like an impossible task. But it can be done! Hopefully you maintained a healthy lifestyle throughout pregnancy and didn’t “eat for two” or gain 50 extra pounds of fat. If you did gain a lot of extra weight, your job of looking good after pregnancy will be much harder, but again, it can be done!
So, what does it take? Five thousand crunches? A crash diet? No! Here are eight simple core exercises to help you get nice abs after pregnancy! Do these exercise in combination with cardio and other strength training moves. This is a mini clip from my (very) rough draft exercise DVD (so don’t pay attention to the poor film quality and mess ups 🙂 Also, my abs aren’t perfect yet, but I’m getting close, and my daughter is only 4 months old 🙂
If your want your pre-pregnancy abs (or body) back, you must commit to consistent daily exercise – period. There is no easy, “8 minutes per day and get a perfect body” fix! Stay motivated, dig deep, find a time everyday when you can get your workout in. For me, my personal workout happens in the morning when it is still dark out. I can get my exercise in before my 4 month old even wakes up. That might be what it takes for you as well. Make it happen!
Fit Pregnancy and Parenting 
I just came across your blog and absolutely love it. I have a question and wasn’t sure where to direct it. You mentionned getting a workout in every day. I always heard not to work the same muscle groups day after day but to have 24 hrs to recoop. The exercise DVD I am currently doing (I am almost in my 3rd trimester) incorporates strength training into a circuit so I get my cardio and strength in that way. It is full body. Would it be bad to do this workout every day? Currently I do it 3 – 4 times a week. I was thinking about adding in some cardio on my “off” days but I’m not sure about what kind. Any advice is appreciated! Thanx 🙂
Hey girl, thanks for checking out my blog, and CONGRATS on being in your third trimester!!!
Great question about working out every day. If you are doing strength training, it is good to give your muscles 24 to 48 hours of rest between workouts. And treat your abs like any other muscle group. Your muscles tear, recover, and strengthen to develop lean muscle. However, in your off days, do a good amount of cardio to burn calories.
I hope your workouts are still going well in your third trimester! I was able to run up until the day I delivered, and staying in shape made all the difference for delivery! I popped Emma out in 10 minutes!
Best of luck, let me know if you have any more questions!
Oh, and in regard to what kind of cardio – walking, running, stairs, elliptical….really anything that helps you get your HR up and burn calories is great! It’s best not to increase your intensity more than what you were doing pre-pregnancy. And be aware of your HR. I typically kept mine at 65 % of my target (220-age x .65). Your doctor will certainly have an opinion on this too, so it’s important to check with him/her.
What do you do for women who have diastasis after pregnancy? Regular crunches usually make it worse. Do you have good exercises you recommend for transverse abdominal muscles that work to help close the diastasis?
Hi Lindsay! Great question! I demonstrate some moves in one of my ab videos that is primarily standing abdominal exercises. One of the most important things when recovering from diastasis recti is to focus on proper form. Suck your belly button in toward your spine at all times. You can stand in place and do a twist down bringing your arms toward your opposite knee (lifting the knee) and work the transverse obliques. Some ladies have diastasis recti so severe that it requires physical therapy before they can recover fully. Best wishes!
Try some of these great exercises out when you are bored or you are watching TV.
My favorite articles are about abs exercises (exercitii pentru abdomen).
Keeping your feet off the bed, twist from side to side,
bending to touch your clasp hands to the bed on your left side, then your right side.