Post pregnancy weight, also known as baby fat, is the extra weight a woman’s body accumulates during and after pregnancy. A lot of moms have trouble with this, and struggling to fit back into those jeans can be more mentally challenging than it really looks like. It’s so easy to compare ourselves with other moms and celebrity moms, but every mother’s body is different! Some barely put on weight during pregnancy, while for others it could be 30 pounds or more. Here are a few tips to lose post pregnancy weight and stay fit.
How To Lose Post Pregnancy Weight And Stay Fit
Losing baby fat is not the same as losing the usual body fat. There are certain things to be considered when thinking of how to shed baby fat, and working according to what your body requires is key. It would take you a few months of watching what you eat and exercising to put off post pregnancy weight if you started at a normal weight and gained 20-30 pounds after pregnancy. It would take up to a year or longer if you were initially overweight and gained more than 35 pounds to shed baby fat, which could stick with you for a long time if you don’t take it off.
1. Breastfeed Your Baby
Studies have shown that mothers who breastfed their babies have put off weight faster than some mothers who didn’t. Mind you, this hasn’t been clinically proven, but it’s definitely worth applying.
2. Exercise
Endeavour to make time to exercise, talk a walk, do some body stretching, cardio, workout, or whatever kind of exercise your body can take at each stage after the arrival of your baby.
3. Avoid Strict Dieting
As much as it might make sense to diet after your baby arrives, don’t do it! Putting your body through the mental stress of worrying about what to eat and how to avoid craving for your favourite meals will only make you add more weight. It is also unhealthy for your body, so don’t take the fast lane this time around!
4. Sleep Properly
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body suffers. It’s advisable to get a minimum of 6-8 hours sleep to prevent yourself from getting exhausted.
5. Drink Lot of Water
Drinking lots of water keeps you hydrated and filled up, that way you don’t eat as much as you would without enough water. It also speeds up your metabolism by assisting in flushing out toxins from your body.
6. Consume Less Calories and Carbohydrates
Eat foods richly packed with the nutrients needed by your body and less calories. Foods like fish, yogurt, milk, lean meat, and lots of proteins are great for your body.
7. Eat Healthy Snacks
Healthy snacking is very important because as a nursing mom you get hungry often, so it’s important that you have something to snack on at hand. Stocking your home with snacks like nuts, cut vegetables, fruits, and yogurts helps you stay healthy.
Being healthy will help your enjoy more time with your baby and will make you feel good about yourself. Remember most moms add more weight after childbirth and it is perfectly normal, so cut yourself some slack!
Great points made here, I do think that breast feeding helps. I had no trouble losing weight after each of mine was born. Now in old age it’s much more difficult to lose the extra pounds. I guess running around after 7 kids, keeping a garden going nicely etc. kept the pounds off.
Another point I’d like to make is not to go on a diet if you are breast feeding as this will also affect your milk supply.
These are great tips for a specific stage for mom, thanks for sharing!