Now that five weeks have passed since giving birth, I’ve started to crave a daily workout. While I am still sticking with my plan of waiting six weeks before working out, that doesn’t mean that I can’t start doing some research in advance. While my daily walks with Katie have provided me with fresh air and endorphins, I’d like to focus on regaining strength over the next few months.

One of the things you will not see on this blog is a body after baby series where I detail my weight and measurements. I’ve thought a lot about how I want to share my journey with you all and one of the most important things is that I’m a healthy role model. It takes nine months to gain the weight and therefore I fully expect and recognize that it will take at least that long to lose the weight. Moreover, I am not focused on the number on a scale. Instead, I want to focus on building strength and, eventually, my running speed and endurance. Workouts will be different this time around as I no longer have the luxury to workout as often as I’d like, nor as long as I’d like. Yesterday, while pushing our daughters in their strollers, my friend Elizabeth and I discussed workouts after baby. Since she is a month ahead of me, she has already started working out again and shared her perspective during our walk. Throughout life, our priorities change. Right now, my priority is to spend as much time with Bo and Katie as possible. His work schedule means that the precious early morning, evening and weekend hours are the only time we have as a family of three. The last thing I want to do at this point is head out of the house for a workout.

Therefore, I am currently researching two types of post-baby workout options to enjoy during the 13 weeks remaining in my maternity leave.

• • Workouts that I can do at home while Katie is napping.
  • Workouts in our neighborhood that I can do during the day with Katie.

Yesterday I asked for advice on Instastories and after receiving so many replies as well as requests to share the information with you all, I wanted to make the same request in today’s post while also sharing the feedback I’ve received thus far. Please keep in mind that these are reader recommendations. I have not tried any of these workouts yet and therefore can’t vouch for them. In addition, if you are pregnant or postpartum, please remember to check with your OB-GYN before beginning any workouts.  The below are listed in no particular order and any comments or details provided are the ones that people left when they responded to my request for postpartum workout suggestions.

• • PBFingers At Home Dumbbell Workout – Featured above
  • Spotebi website – Free workouts with timers, exercise demos, etc.
  • Sarahfit.com – Has lots of great information about the transition back to working out after having a baby as well as postnatal workouts.
  • Barre3 Online – Inexpensive subscription and you can easily select the workout length, which areas to target, and use filters to request post-natal or pre-natal specific workouts.  There is currently a free 15-day trial available on their site.
  • Mamalates Online Workouts
  • Fitnessista’s Post Baby Body Plan
  • Sugary Six Pack Bikini Guide – All at-home workouts with minimal equipment and can easily skip the ab section or modify.
  • Body Fit by Amy – She is free on YouTube and has lots of great workouts including kettle bell workouts that you can do at home.
  • Momma Strong Workouts – It helped one person who commented recover after baby even with her diastasis recti. The workout plan is only $2 per month and includes lots of safe exercises and plans.
  • Pop Sugar Fitness Videos – They are all 30 minutes and are great total body workouts that only require a set of hand weights and they are challenging!
  • Fitnessblender Workout Videos– You can search for specific workout types and avoid HIIT, abs, jumping when you start
  • Aaptiv – This has been a great way for multiple moms to get back in shape and many people said that they love the variety which includes indoor and outdoor running workouts, walking workouts, yoga, meditation and stroller workouts!
  • Fit Women’s Weekly – 10 minute fast, at home workouts that are efficient and effective.
  • Jessie Mundell’s Online Training – Super solid and starts slow which is helpful for post-baby workouts.
  • Daily Burn’s Beautiful Belly Workout
  • Birth Fit Post Natal Programming
  • Nike Training Club Workouts
  • Juliabfit
  • Tribalancegirl on Instagram

Your turn – What are your favorite post-baby workouts?