Baby Weight Be Gone:Five Exercises to Get Back in Shape While Holding Your Baby

Finding time to exercise after having a baby is a nearly impossible task. Thanks to frequent diaper changing, feeding, rocking and extreme sleep-deprivation, a new mom often finds herself frazzled and frustrated with her inability to conquer the left-over flab from her pregnancy. What if a new mom could have the best of both worlds--cuddling with a new baby while toning up?

By utilizing a type of exercise labeled "isometrics," one is able to hold, even breastfeed, her baby while working-out her problem areas. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines isometrics as "exercise or a system of exercises in which opposing muscles are so contracted that there is little shortening but a great increase in tone of muscle fibers involved." That means, jumping jacks and sit-ups aren't the only way to work those muscles. Contracting your muscles and holding them in this way provides quick results. Do these exercises for one day, and you will definitely feel it the next. Do this short routine everyday for two weeks, and you should see the results and possibly pull out those old jeans.

The following six exercises allow mom to tone-up while cradling a baby in her arms:

Abdominal

Sitting in a chair, preferably a straight-back, sturdy chair--but a rocking chair or glider will work as well--inhale deeply and slightly twist your upper body to one side while simultaneously tightening or sucking-in your abdominal muscles. Hold this twisted pose with muscles contracted for 25 seconds, rest, and then continue on the other side. Do this move twice on both sides for a total of 100 seconds.

Biceps/Shoulders

Sitting in a chair, raise one arm out to the side (while holding your baby with the other arm), shoulder level, elbows slightly bent, with hands in a fist, facing upward. Clinch your fist and tighten your arm as tightly as you can. You should feel the contraction all the way into your shoulder. Hold this contraction for 25 seconds, rest, raise arm up slightly higher than the last time and continue for a total of four times or 100 seconds, raising slightly higher each time. Switch the baby's position and continue with the other arm.

Triceps