With so much on their plates (no pun intended) moms are especially challenged when it comes to maintaining physical fitness and a healthy weight.  The challenges of managing a family, a career, hobbies and personal life make it difficult to keep regular workouts or even eat properly.  But a woman’s long-term health and happiness is directly linked to how she takes care of her body in all stages of life.  Your whole body can become strained and depleted during pregnancy, which makes it so much more important to resume a fitness routine after becoming a mom.

If you’re like many of us who struggle to stay fit and healthy among a multitude of pressures and responsibilities, you can no doubt use a little encouragement and inspiration.  While there are thousands of fitness blogs out there in cyberspace, we have a few very special blogs that speak directly to the fitness challenges (and rewards) that moms experience.

Here are our Top Ten Favorite Fitness Blogs For Moms:

MizFit
Her tag line says, “…because fitness isn’t about fitting in”   and her motto is “unapologetically myself.”  She is an award-winning author, body-building and fitness competitor, journalist and an Austin local.  You an follower her on Twitter @MizFitOnline.

Workout Mommy
She is a certified personal trainer who had kids and suddenly realized that moms face unique fitness challenges that are worth blogging about.  Her site is a combination of inspiration and practical ideas for keeping up a healthy, busy lifestyle.  Follow her on Twitter @workoutmommy

Go Workout Mom
This formal naval officer and mom of two created her blog to inspire others to pursue physical fitness and establish an online community to allow women to support one another in their healthy lifestyle.  She’s also one of the few bloggers I’ve ever seen with a mission statement:  “To help moms enjoy a more active lifestyle, so they may live a higher quality of life through proper training and motivation.”  With posts dating back to 2007 and tons of aadditional links and information, Go Workout Mom is a valuable resource as well as an entertaining read.

Lisa Johnson Fitness
Lisa owns three Boston pilates studios, blogs for AOL, has a valuable blog of her own, and a MOM TV show called Lisa Johnson FIT.  She’s been working with pre-natal Pilates clients since 1999 and is the only Pilates instructor accepted as an educational affiliate for the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.  Follow her on Twitter @LisaJohnson.

Fitarella
During her youth she suffered from an eating disorder, and along the path to healing she found herself becoming educated on nutrition and fitness.  She is now a Board Certified Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor and a Certified Personal Trainer & Fitness Instructor.  She blogs with a passion for living a healthy, fit, fun, and full life with balance and self-respect.  Follower her on Twitter @Fitarella.

Fit Mom’s Blog
This mother of two is a P.E. teacher and a fitness fanatic.  On her blog she shares stories of her sporting events, recipes for healthy meals, product reviews and educational articles.  Her passions (aside from her family) include yoga, trail running, cycling, cooking and reading.  Follow her on Twitter @FitMom.

Melting Mama
This blogger and her husband both underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2004 and her blog chronicles their successes, struggles and daily path of maintaining their health and fitness.  She even has her own radio podcast.  Follow her on Twitter @meltingmama.

Mom On The Run
She started blogging when she was pregnant with her first baby and training for a half marathon.  (Yes, at the same time).  Her blog has morphed into a lifestyle blog with heavy health and fitness emphasis.  She even shares her daily menu and training calendar.  Talk about motivating!  Follow her on Twitter @momontherun.

MCM Mama
This mom of two started running as a natural way to combat her postpartum depression and completed the Marine Corps Marathon in 2008.  She has set a goal of running a race in each of the 50 states, and chronicles her adventures on this blog.  She also writes about beer.  What a woman!

The Great Fitness Experiment
This hilarious mom brings you reviews and honest opinions of weight loss tools, diets and books.  Her blog covers a little bit of everything having to do with health, fitness, nutrition and parenting in a zany and entertaining way.  Follow her on Twitter @CharlotteGFE

One of the rites of passage for all new mothers is witnessing the way their bodies are put to to the test during pregnancy. They are pushed and pulled, stretched and strained in ways that we never knew were possible. A few lucky moms are able to bounce right back into their pre-pregnancy shape after giving birth. Age, genetics, and a variety of circumstances contribute to how quickly a woman can recover postpartum. But regardless of whether all the conditions are right for you to regain your shape or you have challenges, there are a few things that can help you along.

Obviously the easiest thing you can do to regain your pre-pregnancy shape is to maintain a level of fitness throughout your pregnancy.There are restrictions, of course; and your doctor will be able to work with you on a fitness program that will keep you looking and feeling your best before and after you give birth. There are lots of gentle but effective exercise classes geared specifically to pregnany women including yoga, pilates, and water aerobics.

Another important factor is diet. Pregnant moms need to eat and drink more water than usual to keep up with their developing babies’ needs. But you can eat more and still make it healthy. Postpartum the same rule applies. If you’re breastfeeding your body needs the extra calories and hydration; but nutritionally there’s a big difference between 500 calories worth of fresh fruits and 500 calories worth of donuts!

After you have your baby, your OB/GYN will advise you to hold off resuming your pre-pregnancy workout routine for a few weeks. But you can use products like UpSpring Baby’s Shrinkx Hips–a belt that takes advantage of the hormone Relaxin which stays in your body up to eight weeks after you deliver a baby. The muscles and ligaments can be re-shaped back to their original measurements by wearing the belt each day under your clothing. Doctors, nurses, and a panel of moms agree that it works. In fact, check out the feedback from satisfied moms on Babies R’Us:

“With my first two babies, I wore a belt around my hips to get them to shrink back after delivery. But, it was so uncomfortable and bulky. Shrinkx is perfect. It is easy to hide and very comfortable. And, my hips are as small if not smaller than they were before I even had kids. I love this product and will tell all my friends about it. You MUST HAVE this. It is the only solution to getting slim hips again.”

“I have been wearing the Shrinkxs for three weeks. I am already able to fit in my old jeans. Highly recommend it!”

“After having multiple c-section, I needed something to hold my stomach in and help me get back to my pre-pregnancy body. The belt did both! I was able to fit into my jeans 3 months after having a baby. Now 6 months later I am still amazed at how my pants feel less tight around my waist. The belt has helped me look great again after 4 kids. Thanks.”

Do you have a story about how Shrinkx Hips has helped you regain your shape after giving birth? Leave us a comment and tell us about it!