http://www.flickr.com/photos/djrome/ / CC BY 2.0
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 …

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
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 …