From Baby to Bikini: Keep Your Midsection Toned Safely During Pregnancy and Flatten Your Abdominals Fast After You Have Your Baby

Foreword

There is nothing quite like motherhood and a new baby. Those first few days are filled with such delight, and the early weeks are so sleepless, that you barely notice what has become of your figure. Then one day you step out from the shower (the first free moment you have had in weeks), and you accidentally glance into the mirror. That maternal glow dims as you realize that those pounds you packed on so easily while "eating for two" are no longer bringing joy and smiles into your life. The task of regaining a fit and well-toned body seems impossible, overwhelming. You don't have the time, work looms, the baby is crying, and you desperately need a nap.

Actually, what you need is this book.

This book is special because it brings the knowledge and skill of a personal trainer to your side. Greg Waggoner has enjoyed years of experience and success as a personal trainer for pregnant women and new mothers. His knowledge and common sense make this book a delight to read. It is reassuring to know that the exercises you will be doing have been used by an experienced trainer to help other women remain fit during and after pregnancy. The photographs and easy-to-follow exercise instructions help the reader to embark on a program that encourages a fit pregnancy and an easy recovery.

Greg then turns to the postpartum period. He offers lifestyle advice along with a detailed exercise program. The program is carefully paced, beginning with a routine that, while not overtaxing, is challenging enough to produce the desired results. Seeing early results is encouraging, and over the next weeks of the program the pace increases. Soon the results become more noticeable to you and to those around you.

Because Greg realizes that each woman may be at a different level of conditioning (both during and after pregnancy), he offers suggestions on how to modify each exercise routine for your individual needs. This is one of the key reasons that the program is so successful and why it is so much like having your own trainer. Besides exercises and stretching, the book also provides dietary tips, including some delicious and healthy recipes, that are helpful as you increase your activities or return to work.

As a physician and mother I have read and tried all types of quick fixes and fad exercise programs. Most of them either don't work or are too boring or impossible to incorporate into an already busy life. I wish that From Baby to Bikini had been around a few years ago when I gave birth to my children. However, even women who had their babies a few years ago can benefit from this book! The program is easy to follow, fun to do, and, along with great results, will help you develop lifelong fitness and health.

—Renee Garrick, M.D.

© 1999 by Greg Waggoner

Many thanks to Time Warner Bookmark (Little, Brown & Company, Warner Books, A Time Warner Company) at: www.twbookmark.com. We appreciate their cooperation with OfSpirit.com to share this chapter of their book with our visitors for education, entertainment and empowerment.