How Shanola Hampton Bounced Back After Baby - Without a Personal Trainer

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Shanola Hampton sure knows how to multitask in new motherhood!

The Shameless star, 39, spoke with PEOPLE about her self-motivated plan to get herself back into shape after giving birth to Daren “Doc” O.C., now 3 months old.

“I hit the gym as soon as I could after giving birth,” says the actress, who has been married to husband Daren Dukes since 2000.

“Most importantly, I worked out until the day I gave birth,” she adds. “Staying in shape throughout the pregnancy made it easier to get back in shape.”

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“I started slow with just 30 minutes of cardio on the treadmill, along with taking a body works plus abs workout class once a week,” says Hampton, who is also mom to 2½-year-old daughter Cai MyAnna.

“Then I did planks and really worked out my abs,” she continues. “Three hundred crunches five days a week.”

Hampton didn’t work with a personal trainer, but she did meet for a single session with trainer Torri Shack, who showed her ways to incorporate little Doc into her workouts — a genius idea for any busy mom.

MOVE 1: Push-Up to Plank Hold

This move “targets the shoulders, arms, core and key muscle stabilizers,” according to Shack.

“The key is to keep the head, neck and spine in a neutral position, abs engaged, and lower body muscles (hips, glutes, etc.) activated throughout the movement,” she tells PEOPLE.

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MOVE 2: Mom and Baby Chest Press

This move can be performed while you’re lying on a bench or the floor, and targets the pectoralis major, triceps and anterior deltoids.

“Many women are inherently weak in the upper body,” Shack says. ” This exercise is a great way to help develop upper-body strength while having fun with your baby.”

— Jen Juneau with reporting by Sarah Michaud