How to Lose a Baby Belly

My butt looks exactly* like this now. (*Disclaimer: My butt does not look exactly like this now.) Photo c/o Local Barre. 

Photo c/o Local Barre

Let's just get this out of the way right from the start: I am not one of those people who likes to work out. I don't get a "high" from running. I hate sweating. I despise being out of breath. And I just looove sitting on the couch and watching TV. Me and the gym, we are not friends. And yet, I've somehow managed to get through life doing barely anything remotely cardiovascular.

And then I had a second kid.

Let's just say I was unprepared for le extra stomach that le second bebe leaves behind. Sure, there was a little lingering belly after the first, but nothing that kept me out of a bathing suit or a pair of skinny jeans. Honestly, after the first babe, it was like the weight was there one day and gone the next. I felt lucky, and even a bit smug--like all of those celebrities who go from maternity muu muu to magazine cover in a matter of weeks. "Oh the baby weight?" they always say. "I swear I haven't been doing anything. Just carrying my baby around and breastfeeding. It's amazing--the pounds just fell off!"

This time around, I gained the exact same amount of weight during my pregnancy and expected a similar miracle. But after having the baby, the extra pounds were all, "Ehh. It's been a long nine months and it's super cozy right here around here your stomach. Mind if we just chill here for a while?"

Well, yes, I do in fact mind. Which is why I've had to finally get off my butt and do something about it. For the past few weeks, I've been taking classes at Local Barre in Hoboken, NJ, (my new city!) and I dare say, I actually kinda like it. Core classes are hard for sure, but your heart doesn't feel like it's going to beat out of your chest, and there are stretching "breaks" sprinkled throughout, so you don't feel like you're going to die. And I like the idea of getting long, lean, ballerina-body muscles. (Or at least some semblance of them!) 

I've been going three or four times a week for the past month, and it's kind of become my one thing that I do for myself (and by myself ) that day--no kids in tow. Now I just need to get some cute new workout clothes, since let's face it, that's pretty much the only fun part about exercise. 

So tell me: Are you a fan of barre/core classes? If so, where do you take them? Do you have the abs to show for it? And am I ever going to keep up with all of these high relevés? Talk to me, people.