The Benefits of Walking for Pregnant and New Moms

Get Ready, Get Set, Walk!

• Do a five-minute warm-up by marching in place.
• Strength-train every other day.
• Aim to walk 30 to 45 minutes a day.
• New moms: Vary your workout for the best results. Try interval training by speeding up your pace for two minutes, then walking at a more moderate one for the next two, continuing the pattern throughout your walk.
• Moms-to-be: Use a heart rate monitor to make sure you're not overdoing it, and judge how you feel on a 1- to-10 scale, 10 being the best. If you're not feeling great, slow down.
• At the end of your walk, cool down at a slower pace for five minutes.
• Stretch thoroughly.