Get In Shape Girl! Be-Fit Mom Review and Giveaway
November 24, 2008 by Caryn
*Update*
This giveaway is now closed Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Taryn.
Pregnancy is one of the most joyfully humbling experiences a woman can endure. Up until the eighth month I felt so beautiful, particularly considering the fact that I was on bedrest for 21 weeks. During my pregnancy I never worried too much about the weight I gained because I figured that getting it off would come in time. So when I tipped the scale at 37 pounds over my starting weight, I wasn’t overly concerned, particularly since my doctor didn’t even blink an eye. Once I had my son, I assumed that the combination of breastfeeding and time would erase the pregnancy weight I had gained. Seventeen months later and I still have a visible reminder of being pregnant. Now I knew my body would change with pregnancy…but I thought it would go back to something resembling my pre-pregnancy body. I’ve been trying to squeeze in a workout here and there but honestly, my time is very limited. The only effective, long-term solution to a consistent exercise program is something I can do at home.
Over the last month I’ve been trying out Helene Byrne’s Bounce Back Fast! Post Natal Core Conditioning DVD. Helene Byrne is a nationally recognized perinatal exercise specialist, fitness author, and certified personal trainer so I felt confident trying her exercises. The DVD features two progressive fitness band workouts suitable for all fitness levels. What’s really great about the program is that it can be started just days after giving birth (unlike most fitness programs). The first workout, Gentle First Moves features restorative exercises to speed recovery from labor and delivery. I like this workout because it isn’t strenuous and I imagine that I would have felt very comfortable starting this immediately after I received clearance from my physician (since I had a c-section). The program features stretching tight sore muscles, breathing, and abdominal contractions all while promoting proper positioning throughout. This workout will help you prepare for the second, entitled “Bounce Back Fast.” I have a separation in my abdominal muscle called Diastasis Recti and if I would have started these exercises initially, I would have been able to protect myself from further damage and begun the process of toning and flattening my stomach.
I found the second workout, Bounce Back Fast, to be both challenging and effective for me since my son is already seventeen months old. I have been inconsistently working out and cutting back on my calories but have basically been at the same weight for months. It seems like my body hit a plateau and I could not lose weight. I know this may not seem significant but I have lost 3 pounds since starting this program (normal weight loss is 1/2-1 pound per week). I’ve used this program to supplement my walking and have found the program targeting abdominal separation to be particularly helpful. Again, the focus of this workout is on strengthening your core and features exercises designed to target all four layers of your abdominal wall. This workout will help you flatten and tone your abdomen, realign and lengthen your spine, repair abdominal separation, restore pelvic floor muscles, and build upper body strength. The DVD features an alternative to the Bounce Back Fast program designed for women with abdominal separation, a self-test to determine if you have an abdominal separation, and a seven minute segment on pelvic floor reconditioning (something I fortunately do not need to worry about since I had a c-section).
The DVD retails for $21.95 and is available directly from the site. Complement this DVD workout with Helene’s book entitled “Exercise After Pregnancy: How to Look and Feel Your Best.” This comprehensive guide to reconditioning after pregnancy features a safe, easy to follow, effective three-step program to help you rebuild your postpartum body and prepare for the physical demands of motherhood.
Helene Byrne’s website is an incredibly useful resource for pregnant and postpartum women. On it you’ll find free information and advice on topics like exercising during pregnancy, pregnancy weight gain, and postpartum weight loss. I highly recommend visiting her site. You’ll be surprised at how much information you’ll find!
Win It! I have a copy of Bounce Back Fast! Post Natal Core Conditioning on DVD to give away courtesy of Helene Byrne. Head on over to the site and take a look around. Come back here and leave me a two-part comment indicating why you’re interested in the DVD and one article you found particularly interesting, insightful, or informative. Comments will close on December 8, 2008 at 10 pm PST. The winner will be chosen on December 9, 2008. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.
<a href=”http://rockinmama.net/”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-2120″ title=”button” src=”http://mamarocks.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/button.jpg?w=125&h=125&h=125″ alt=”button” width=”125″ height=”125″ /></a>
Classy Mommy is hosting a fab giveaway for a Nintendo Wii!
I have wanted one sooo bad so I’m shamelessly plugging myself. It’s a popularity contest so head on over and sign up! Then, if you genuinely like me…if you like coming to my blog…vote for me and I’ll give you yet another entry. Of course I have no way of knowing whether or not you did so I will take your word for it because I’m so cool that way! : ) Please don’t just vote for an extra entry! I’d rather you do it because you genuinely want to do so!
Profuse thanks to Helene Byrne and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.
Hey Rockin Mama!! My wife is pregnant and I was just looking for some fitness after pregnancy blogs to compliment my fitness blog. Nice site. I’ll make sure to visit again. I’m heavily into fitness, but you could never know everything.
Take Care,
Shawn
http://www.fitness102.com
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win this DVD because I have a lot of work to do on my mid-section. On her site, I found the article about Postpartum Weight Loss most interesting, particularly the formula for understanding caloric needs based on your goal weight.
Thanks again! Cee
Blogged about here:
http://loreley-lorelei.blogspot.com/
I also added the button, but it did not show up correctly on my site. I saved a pic of the button, then pasted the button link information below it. You can see it here at my blog.
http://loreley-lorelei.blogspot.com/
Postpartum Weight Loss because i need to lose weight
There are totally too many names on that wii giveaway. I can’t find you! Can you tell me where you are on the list, so I can vote for ya??
BTW, I might expect a vote from you for the Picture It contest!
Nevermind! Found you.
I don’t think it’ll let me vote more than once, though. 
glad to see others have it tough too…some look like super models or look like they have had it sucked when it goes so quick. I went to the postpartum weight loss after seeing someone else post- looks interesting mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom
this would be a good jumpstart
My best friend is having her baby next month! How perfect!
My daughter in law like to work out so I’d like to give this to her as a gift.
Also the site says this exercise helps healing from Labor & Deliver and I used to be a L & D nurse so I know how important that can be.
Voted for you
This would be perfect! I’m having my second child in January and I will need every help I can to get back in shape!
I’m following you on twitter, looks like I missed the Wii contest! Sorry
My email is – katy at passionspice dot com
Thanks!!
I loved the “fitting in fitness” article – and the special features on the dvd really sound great – like the pelvic floor stuff. Thank you so much for the chance!
Why am I interested you ask? Well I’m 5 months pregnant now and with the holidays I know I’m going to get HUGE!!! I will also be going on my honeymoon on the 8th so I know I will gain some weight there! I like doing work outs at home too!!
I loved their article on Flexibility Training during Pregnancy! I do yoga and I think it’s soo tru the more flexible your body is the easier labor will be!! Especially during pushing in a weird position!! Everyone should stretch!!
I REALLY need this. I have been looking for something like this for a long time! I have had 3 kids in 2 1/2 years and my body is shot:-/ I found this article Prenatal & Postpartum Fitness & Exercise very interesting, learned a lot of things I didn’t know!
I’m about to squeeze out baby #3 in a few days or weeks. I can’t wait to get my body back! Interesting article: http://www.befitmom.com/weight_loss.html
Nice to know it’s not entirely my fault I don’t bounce back very quickly.
I am VERY interested because I’m due to give birth to my first baby any day now! I’ve been getting very antsy, wanting to be able to move around more, but it’s hard…
I found many of their articles to be helpful, particularly ”
The Critical Importance of Pelvic Floor Exercises”- they always tell you to do your Kegels, and this explains why really well.
I would love to win this! My body has been through 2 pregnancies in 3 years–once with twins, and I’d love to get it back into shape. I’m still trying to lose the “baby weight’ from the last pregnancy too, so I thought the “Postpartum Weight Loss” article was helpful. Thanks!
I am interested in this DVD for a friend of mine who is due in Feb. She would really get some good use out of this. I found the “Postpartum Weight Loss” article to be particularly informative. Thanks!
i’m interested since i haven’t quite bounced back, even after 2 years! and i most enjoyed Physical Activity Precautions for Pregnant Women.
I had a baby two months ago and need a swift kick in the behind to get on this baby weight. I loved the article about fitting in fitness – I have three under three, and there never seems to be time!
I followed you on Twitter (lovingmyfellas). Thanks!
I’m interested in the DVD because I love the whole fitness band workout theme…they’re fun to do and so effective! At the site, I found the Heat Regulation and Exercise During Pregnancy article interesting.
The Benefits of Exercise article was really interesting. Reading the benefits of working out was so helpful! Especially how it can affect labor. I’m trying this the natural way to seeing “shorter” stages and enhanced pain tolerance made me VERY happy!
I’m doing this backwards, but the reason I want this video is because I want to get healthy and help keep my energy up after I give birth. Also getting my body back as quickly as I can (in a healthy way, of course!) will be helpful since I’m an actress and I need my body to look good for those bathing suit scenes!
I would love to win this DVD because I’m going to have some work to do after I have my baby. I was 120-5 before I got pregnant, and last time I was weighed I was 162.5. I’m not sue to have my kid until March 1st! Please count me in and thanks for the contest!
codisweepstakes at gmail dot com
I will truly NEED this! I am expecting twins and I haven’t been able to even engage my abs like I used to with this expanding belly of mine (which I love, for now). I was really fit and strong before pregnancy and I want to get back to that as soon as possible after delivery. Thank you for the chance!
Hi! I had my 3rd baby one year ago and I have abdominal diastisis and symphasis pubis strain. I found this dvd and I was so glad when I also found your review! I defintiely want to try this out.
Needless to say I found the review about abdominal separation very helpful! Thanks~!
I am a baby machine and that is why I want this. I just weaned one and I just also found out that I am expecting another. Also, my oldest daughter is trying to get back into shape after having my first granddaughter. As to a fact, I discovered that “Routinely exercising the external muscles while neglecting the deepest layer results in a functional imbalance within the abdominal wall.”
I’m interested in the DVD because it sounds very informative. One article I found particularly interesting was the one about about fitting in fitness.
I’ve been trying to email you back with my contact info but the email won’t go through. Please let me know what I can do and please don’t pick someone else!