| Having a baby is a beautiful and exciting thing. What | | | | the last one, but involves quicker steps and more |
| is less beautiful and exciting, however, is the extra | | | | repetitions. Begin by sitting in the same position as in |
| weight that hangs around the midsection after the | | | | the progressive crunchless crunch, and taking the |
| baby has been born. The best way to go about | | | | same deep breath. This time, instead of bringing your |
| shedding this baby belly is proper diet and an exercise | | | | belly all the way back, exhale and bring it just about |
| routine, which may not always be easy to do for a | | | | halfway. Then pull your belly button back toward |
| new stay-at-home mom still reeling from a pregnancy. | | | | your spine. Contract and hold for a count of one. |
| The good news is that working out and eliminating | | | | Repeat from the half-exhalation point. Do the whole |
| the extra belly fat will give you more energy, so you | | | | thing one hundred times. |
| can spend more quality time playing with and caring | | | | Crunchless Crunch |
| for your new rugrat. Here are a few simple exercises | | | | As you can tell from the name, this stomach |
| to set your on your way toward baby belly freedom. | | | | exercise is very similar to the first. Instead of making |
| As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a | | | | a few stops as you exhale a deep breath, however, |
| professional before beginning and always warm up | | | | this exercise consists of just one move. To start, |
| properly to avoid injury. | | | | either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might |
| Progressive Crunchless Crunch | | | | want to try both ways and see which helps you feel |
| This stomach exercise works your abdominals as well | | | | the exercise better. Relax your body as much as |
| as a crunch does, but without the strain to your | | | | possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals |
| neck and back. Begin by sitting in a chair, placing one | | | | to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold |
| hand above and below your belly button in order to | | | | for ten seconds. If holding for ten seconds feels |
| feel the contraction of your abdominals. Take one big | | | | easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the |
| deep breath, so your midsection expands completely. | | | | contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel |
| Then let the breath out as you pull your belly in, | | | | other muscles working harder than the transverse |
| imagining your belly button being pulled inward toward | | | | abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction |
| your spine. Finally, briefly contract your abs five times. | | | | out. |
| Do a full set of repetitions of all three parts. You can | | | | If you start doing these stomach exercises at home |
| also try this exercise lying on your back. Try both to | | | | in your spare few (very few) minutes, you can lose |
| see which one helps you feel the contractions of | | | | your baby belly and be fit and trim and just a few |
| your abdominal muscles better. | | | | months-- just in time to start chasing after Junior |
| Contractions | | | | once he learns to crawl! |
| This exercise starts off very much the same way as | | | | |