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Getting your shape back takes time -- relax!
We all know at least one Cindy Crawford-type: a new mother who was able to slip into her skin-tight workout leotard within days of giving birth. What we sometimes forget, however, is that the Cindy Crawfords of the world are the exception rather than the rule: it takes most of us a lot longer than a couple of days to get back in shape after giving birth!

Still, there are plenty of compelling reasons for resuming physical activity sooner rather than later. According to the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, a postnatal fitness program can help to relieve stress and muscle tension, tone muscles that were stretched during pregnancy and delivery, help your body to recover from pregnancy and delivery and give you the stamina, endurance and energy needed to cope with the challenges of motherhood.

Getting started
Assuming you had an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, you can start exercising again within a day or two of the delivery. If, however, you had a cesarean birth or experienced complications during pregnancy or delivery, you'll want to consult with your doctor or midwife before you embark on a postnatal fitness program.

Of course, you shouldn't plan to go totally crazy with your workouts during the early weeks of motherhood, even if you do get the thumbs up from your healthcare provider. According to Caroline C. Creager, author of Bounce Back Into Shape After Baby, you shouldn't expect to be able to return to your pre-pregnancy workout intensity overnight: "Many of the physiological changes of pregnancy persist for four to six weeks after the baby is delivered. The heart beats faster, the joints are more lax, the body fatigues faster and hormone levels are normalizing."

Finding the activity that's right for you
Finding time to exercise can be a challenge for any new mom, which is why it makes sense to look for fitness activities that you can enjoy with your baby in tow. Walking is a natural, of course: you simply pop your baby into her stroller or into the Snugli and then hit the pavement. But so are such activities as dancing (with or without a baby in your arms), jogging (provided you purchase a decent-quality jogging stroller) and weight-lifting. Believe it or not, there are some postnatal fitness workout tapes that show you how to use your baby as a free weight! It's important to choose a fitness activity that you genuinely enjoy. It's hard enough to convince yourself to spend what little free time you have working out. Don't make it harder on yourself by committing to an activity that reminds you of the things you hated most about your grade six phys ed class!

Finally, you should plan to stick with your workout program over the long-term. Fitness should remain a priority for you long after those extra pregnancy pounds are gone. Not only will it help to ensure that your body is in the best possible physical condition, it will also help you to combat some of the day-to-day stresses that seem to go along with the whole motherhood turf! And that alone is reason enough to pop your baby in the stroller and hit the pavement running.