Coleen Garcia On How She Got Back Her Pre-Baby Body: Working Out While Amari Is Napping

Nearly two years after giving birth to her first child, Coleen Garcia has regained much of her pre-pregnancy figure and remains committed to her fitness goals.

"I work out because I love to work out," she tells Smart Parenting during the exclusive shoot with her, her husband Billy Crawford, and their son Amari.

The actress, who headlines the psychoological thriller Kaluskos, an entry to the 2022 Cinemalaya film festival, goes on explaining why she loves working out: "It de-stresses me, it really releases a lot of tension."

Read also: Coleen Garcia Is Determined To Take The Road Less Traveled In Parenting 

However, Coleen loves Amari more than anything else, so working out takes a backseat when her active toddler needs her. Ergo, "I try to do it while he’s napping." That's her cue to do her crunches, lifts, and, if time allows it, the whole routine. 

The working mom adds, "So when there are days when I’m not doing anything while he’s napping, I’m working out. I would say it would probably be easier if you have a fixed schedule, but with Amari he’s so unpredictable because some days he wants to go out, some days he’s okay spending time with Lola.

"Then suddenly I have free time, so that’s when I decide should I work out? Should I clean the house? What should I do with my free time? Most of the time I’m sure I’ll have the time is when he naps."

Read also: Coleen Garcia On Postpartum Anxiety, Healing From Home Birth

Postpartum exercises

If you're a new mom and you don't know how to start to exercise after giving birth, here are tips from yoga teacher and mom of two Johnna Villaviray:

House chores and daily activities

Doing house chores and  going about your daily activities are good ways to burn calories. The list is seemingly endless: Sweep and mop the floor. Scrub the walls. Go out in the garden. Go out to the garden and take care of the plants.

Opt to walk around the house to get what you need instead of asking someone to get it for you. Moving around throughout the day is even better than a burst of activity and then being sedentary the rest of the day.

Walking

If you have nowhere to walk, you can check out videos you can follow online for walking and running in place.

Yoga

Yoga poses or asanas have modifications for every body type. But postpartum, maybe you can consider adding non-asana yoga practices to your practice like more breathing or pranayama exercises or meditation or mindfulness practices.

Yoga Nidra is highly recommended as a good yoga practice for recovering from giving birth.

Skipping rope

Skipping rope is definitely more difficult than walking or running. It gets your heartrate up faster but it is also more demanding on the joints. Just take extra precautions and start slow (read here).

Zumba or dancing

If  Zumba or dancing  is a regular activity before the baby, consider dialing it down a notch until your body gets used to the movements and the demands on the body. Don’t rush in trying to return to your level too fast. The goal is for you to regularly exercise after giving birth.

Read also: Coleen Garcia Shares Photos Of Her Stretch Marks

Smart Parenting Photo Shoot

Produced by Aussy Perfecto and Ronna Capili Bonifacio
Assisted by Angela Baylon
Photographed by Paolo Crodua
Art Direction by Stephanie Ocampo
Makeup by Pong Niu
Hairstyling by Renz Pangilinan
Styling by Debra Bernales
Video Producer: Dani Llagas