It's not always easy to convince your partner to help you when it comes to establishing an exercise program. Even though men want their wives to be happy and healthy and are often eager for her to return to her prebaby shape and energy — not to mention sex drive — men don't always see the link between those things and exercise. Talk to your partner about your needs, and ask him to help make it possible for you to get the exercise that will make both your lives better.

How Your Partner Can Help

Your partner may want to help but may be unsure of how to do it, so give him ideas. Figure out specific ways he can help you make exercise a part of your life. This could include him getting up a little earlier in the morning, taking over for you so that you can squeeze in a workout before he goes to work, making sure not to schedule any activities during your evening workout time, or even brainstorming ways to soothe a high-needs baby so that you feel comfortable stealing away for a workout.

If You Don't Have Support

Single mothers or those with partners who work long hours, who travel, or who are otherwise not available may have a harder time getting the exercise they want or need. For some moms, the answer may be as simple as accepting that, right now, caring for your baby trumps an organized exercise program. Those moms could try working in as much physical activity as possible: walking to the store instead of driving may not look like a workout, but it's still calorie-burning, body-strengthening exercise. Don't compare yourself to other moms and what they may seem to be accomplishing — their situation may be very different from yours. Try reaching out to other moms in the same boat; you can help one another and feel better about not having a partner's support. You might even be able to trade child care for each other's workout time.

Some moms who don't have a partner's support in exercise endeavors may feel a greater need for exercise, not just as an extra but as a necessary part of their everyday wellness. If you're one of these moms, you will probably have to work a little harder to incorporate exercise into your everyday life, but you'll be more motivated to do so, too.

Using Child Care

If your local health club or YMCA offers babysitting services, this can be a convenient way to get in a workout without worrying about having child care lined up. But the quality of these centers varies widely. Make sure yours is staffed by experienced child-care providers, has a low child-care provider ratio, and doesn't accept sick children. Also, you may feel more comfortable if your gym has some kind of notification system so that they can call you if your baby is hungry or inconsolable.