I couldn’t have been more excited to have had the opportunity to review the Baby Strong Workout, brainchild of personal trainer and mama Jennifer Johnson, through my partnership with Fit Approach. Ninety percent of my strength training these days is at home and given that Baby T is currently going through a super-clingy stage, a workout that incorporates him is ideal. I’m actually writing this review one-handed, with a sleeping Baby T on my lap. That right there should give you an idea of the level of attachment parenting going on in my life.
Disclosure: As a Fit Approach ambassador, I was able to try the Baby Strong Workout for free. Additionally, this review is a sponsored opportunity. As always, all opinions are my own.
The Baby Strong Workout is printed on a deck of laminated cards, ring-bound with a couple of those plastic loops that babies love to chew on. Not only can your little one not destroy your workout cards, he or she can also play with them while you’re doing the heavy lifting (literally). I even linked on one of Tanner’s toys so he could shake it about and make excited noises at it while we did each workout.
Every single exercise in the Baby Strong Workout deck incorporates your baby, either as your weight, or simply held in your arms. Even the stretches have baby involved! Not only can you pick and choose your own workout using the single exercise cards, you can also follow one of the pre-made workouts included in the cards. Additionally, each card is color-coded so you can quickly see which ones are for lower, upper, core, or total body. The cards unclip from the enclosed plastic rings, so you can create your own workout and just have those cards on hand – this makes it so simple to work out without flipping through the stack, or losing your place.
THE CHALLENGE:
Work out for five days straight doing only the Baby Strong Workout.
THE RESULT:
I cheated a little, since I’ve begun marathon training, so I needed to get some running workouts done during my challenge week. When I had a running workout planned, I made sure I did one of the less challenging workouts that day (read: NOT lower body!).
I was surprised at how effective the workout is. Many of the exercises were definitely challenging for me. Jenn is a personal trainer with many years of experience, which is obvious when you see the creative and effective exercises she’s chosen for each of the workouts in the Baby Strong deck. For most of the week I also found myself doing that thing where you either grimace or actually cry out in pain as you get up from a seated position.
Since Tanner is weighing in at nearly 28 pounds now (he is NOT messing around with his weight gain goals), I took the advice seriously to modify when necessary. In fact, there were some exercises I needed to regress a couple of steps, since a heavy, wiggly, squirmy weight made them next to impossible. A wall sit is hard. A wall sit with a heavy 10 month old, who will randomly squirm and try to lunge at something just out of his reach while your quads are burning? Hard doesn’t even begin to cover it.
After (and in fact, during) my week of the Baby Strong Challenge, my butt and abs in particular were constantly sore. It was clear that the workout was challenging my muscles in a different way than they were used to. I know by maintaining these workouts, which are only going to increase in difficulty as my little man grows, I am going to see amazing results.
I was so impressed with the Baby Strong Workout that I reached out to Jenn to ask her some questions about how Baby Strong began:
What benefits does Baby Strong provide for mamas which they maybe wouldn’t get from working out in the gym, or solo?
Baby Strong allows mom to have bonding time with baby while she’s working out, and bonding time is SO important. Moms also feel a lot of guilt around many things and Baby Strong helps to get rid of some of that. Moms, of course, shouldn’t feel guilty for taking care of themselves, but mom guilt is something that we all feel and it can be so strong as to make us stop taking care of ourselves. Baby Strong also helps mom build functional strength. Lifting, carrying, holding, twisting, pushing, pulling – doing these moves with baby as your weight helps to prepare your body for things you actually do in your life. It makes it easier for you to do those things. Baby Strong is also great for baby too. Not only does baby get to spend quality time with mom, but she is also working on her own physical development and starts to see exercise as a fun, healthy thing that is a regular part of life.
I know that not every mom has a high needs baby like I did or that every mom wants to workout with her baby every single time she works out, and that’s totally fine. Baby Strong can be a great component to mom’s exercise program. If mom is able to and enjoys going for solo runs, for example, or taking yoga classes, then she can definitely do those things and also do Baby Strong.
What’s the best feedback you’ve had from people trying the Baby Strong Workout? Have any dads tried the workout, that you know of?
I’ve received overwhelming positive feedback. I love that it’s a sneaky challenging workout that people tend to underestimate and think it won’t be that challenging but then when they try it they are pleasantly surprised at how great of a workout they got. I also LOVE that every mom and dad tells me how much their baby enjoyed the workout. Yes I have had dads try the workout. I’ve done a few classes for dads that went so well! They came in thinking it would be a piece of cake and it was hilarious watching them sweat through the exercises. They had great senses of humor and loved getting to spend time with their babies.
Mamas, did you ever try any baby-holding workouts when your kids were little ones?
Ok that looks more challenging than any regular work outs i ve seen in a long time!! But baby T looks like he is really having fun!! Also the baby-proof cards are an awesome idea! I would definitely try it if I was a mama! Working out AND spending time with your little one! Sharing it for all my mama friends!
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Thanks Ellen! And yes, Baby T is no joke when it comes to lifting. He’s definitely been giving me a workout!
This looks like a really fun way to get moms moving! I see a lot of new babies in the office, and the moms all tell me they don’t have time to workout…I beg to differ (inside where they can’t see it) but this might be just the thing for me to suggest! Thanks for sharing.
It’s so much fun! I used to walk and run with my first son and I’d do hip hinges and things like that with him, but this workout is on a whole other level – it’s so comprehensive! This is going to be my baby shower gift for mamas-to-be from now on – you should definitely suggest it to your co-workers.
This is genius! I am going to share your review with all of my mom friends/family. The fact that Tanner can PLAY with the cards is so cool. I don’t have any kids but I think that when I eventually do I’ll be checking out these workouts! Thanks for the honest review, Carly! <3
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Yes, I loved that part – I mean, any baby is going to shove whatever is close to them in their mouth immediately, so the fact that it was basically a toy as well is genius. Down to the plastic baby rings to link them up!! So smart. 🙂
This is such a great idea! I love that the cards tell you what, when and how because as a mom with a baby, you don’t want to make working out anymore complicated than it should be!
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Right?? I mean, I’m a personal trainer and I remember when I was first out and about with Roman when he was a baby and I’d walk with him and do a couple of easy exercises with him as weight when I thought of it, but you’re so all over the place and kind of brain-dead and overwhelmed – having it all set out for you is KEY. This is such a clever idea and the workout is clearly devised by someone with a lot of experience and knowledge. I was super impressed.
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