After professional figure skating coach Sarah DeSemple delivered her first child, she wanted to get into shape and onto the ice – fast. She had students waiting for her and personal skating goals to obtain. She felt she didn't have time to waste.

"Getting back in shape was important to me because I have goals that I want to reach and I couldn't work toward them if I didn't drop the baby weight," says DeSemple, a mother of two from Milwaukie, Ore. "I began skating, pushing my endurance on the ice and I also really watched my relationship with food."

DeSemple had a difficult first labor and couldn't begin working out until 12 weeks postpartum. After her second child, however, she was quickly back on the ice. Because of her love for skating, pushing herself wasn't difficult. As a perfectionist, she had to learn to be easier on herself.

"If you are a perfectionist like me and always question whether you are working hard enough, you need to keep in mind that sometimes just working your body out is a 'victory,'" says DeSemple. "Having a baby is no small thing, and having unrealistic expectations of yourself is mentally defeating and harmful to your heart."

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