As a new mother, taking time to develop a workout routine might seem impossible. But building up an exercise regimen before and after baby will get you looking like your pre-pregnancy self and help you feel like the person you were before swollen ankles and lower back pain took over.

Always check with your doctor before working out, but most say it is safe to continue working out while you’re pregnant if it’s already part of your routine and to get back into a workout routine at least six weeks post-partum. Here are some tips to help you get started.

During Pregnancy
If you’re fighting the first trimester’s extreme symptoms of nausea, vomiting or fatigue, you might want to postpone working out until those symptoms subside.
In order for moms (or anyone for that matter) to be successful at their exercise plan they have to commit. The key is to stick with working out and find activities you enjoy. Here are some ways to get in those 30 minutes of exercise during pregnancy: walking, swimming, spinning, jogging, Pilates, yoga, etc.
Working out during pregnancy will help you feel stronger and more energized throughout those nine, energy-zapping months. Working out during pregnancy also will help you sustain that forward momentum once the baby is born.

After Baby

Workout while entertaining your baby with these tips.

Most doctors and personal trainers suggest starting with 15 minutes of continuous exercise three times a week, gradually increasing to 30-minute cardio sessions four days a week. Try to fit in some strength training and stretching exercises as well.
Jennifer Wolfe, a personal trainer and owner of Wolfe Fitness in Bluffton, said moms have to decide if they are "worthy" of looking and feeling better and if their health is important. Once they do that, they can commit to making the time to exercise.
Make your goals real by keeping them realistic. Write your goals down and post them on the refrigerator as a constant reminder.
Wolfe said she reminds new mothers of the benefits of exercise, but also that it’s not about them any more. Developing a workout routine will help them do more with and for their children.
Laura Morgan, owner of L.O.C.O. Lowcountry Bootcamp in Bluffton, suggested to start off with a 30-day commitment.
“Your metabolism by week two will be through the roof,” she said, adding, “The more you work out, the more energy you will have.”
Morgan and Wolfe said the best way to burn fat is a combination of cardiovascular exercise and weight/resistance training.
Cardio can include whatever gets your body moving: walking, running, dancing, jumping jacks, kickboxing, etc. Even if you begin your workout routine by taking junior for a walk in the stroller, the point is you’re moving. According to the Office of the Surgeon General, pushing a stroller 1.5 miles in 30 minutes burns 150 calories, so does walking up and down stairs for 15 minutes.
Moms don’t have to use all of their alone time breaking a sweat. Incorporate your baby in your workout routine by using your cute little one as a reward with kisses for each move or using baby as extra weight while squatting or doing crunches. Keep your baby interested by talking and singing to them while you exercise, Wolfe said.
Morgan said it’s important to work out with other people — especially other moms — even if it’s meeting for a walk a few times a week. Group exercise will keep you motivated, hold you accountable and allow you to stay connected with the outside world — which will do your body, baby and soul a lot of good.

Laura Jacobi is a Bluffton mother to 21-month-old Cole. To contact her, e-mail laura@lowcountrychild.com