The Top 6 Ways of Losing Weight After Pregnancy

Trying to lose weight quickly after having your baby can be a major concern. This is because your body took nine months to put the required extra weight on, so losing weight quickly after delivery is not as easy as it seems.

It also depends on your body type to a large extent as many mothers find that if their weight was normal and healthy before child delivery, then it may only take a couple of months to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight following delivery.

In order to ensure losing weight after pregnancy is effective, it is crucial to follow a proper diet and carry out regular exercises during pregnancy. However, if you are already over- weight before pregnancy, then it will take much longer for your body to adjust to diet and workouts.  Weight loss after pregnancy should always follow a healthy regime and for this there are a few factors that are worth considering.

Losing weight after pregnancy

The process of losing weight should ideally be started after your baby turns 6 months old to give your body a chance to heal and recuperate.  Here are the top 6 ways of losing weight after pregnancy.

• Avoid fad diets and switch to a healthy food lifestyle

The latest celebrity fad diet is not a solution to losing weight after pregnancy. As a replacement to the dreaded fad diet, following a well-balanced lifestyle regime with proper nutrition, minerals and vitamins, particularly iron, will help you in ensuring you reach your weight loss goal.  Look for simple, home-style recipes that can be made quickly and easily – allowing you more time with bub.  If you are breastfeeding, then you should not dip below 1,800 calories. Other than this, make sure to eat smaller portions but more regularly to kick start that metabolism.  Avoid junk food and drink plenty of fluids.

• Breastfeed

Believe it or not! Breastfeeding can also help in losing weight after pregnancy. It is not only good for baby as it boosts baby’s immunity, and it also offers many health benefits to you as well, least of which is reducing excess weight.  Surprisingly, by breastfeeding your baby you can allow about 300 extra calories per day to your diet. Even so, by regularly breastfeeding your baby, you are burning 600-800 calories a day – even if you are just sitting and feeding your baby.  So mums, this is a great way to bond with your baby and enjoy great weight loss after pregnancy.

• Drink water

Drinking water can also help with weight loss after pregnancy, as it prevents you from getting dehydrated and gives you a feeling of being full for longer.  When drinking lots of water, check to see if your urine is becoming clear as this will give you an indication of how well hydrated you are or if you need to increase your intake of fluids.  When you are doing exercise, drink plenty of water during and after each workout to help you recover faster. But remember, if you are experiencing extreme shortness of breath, dizziness, or pain then stop doing the workout as soon as possible.

• Increase physical activity

According to ACOG experts, routine walking is one of the best initial exercises you can begin to help you with losing weight after pregnancy. You can also try the popular walking stroller exercise with your baby or as part of a mother’s group.  It helps you to burn fat in a fun way and you can enjoy time with your newly born while exercising at the same time.  It is possible to carry out some light exercises within days of delivery, but ensure you discuss this with your doctor particularly if you’ve had a c-section delivery.  Always talk with your doctor if you are unsure or experiencing pain when exercising as they will  be monitoring your progress and physical health.

• Take naps

According to medical expert Sheah Rarback M.S R.D. Director of Nutrition at the Mailman Center for Child Development, University Of Miami School Of Medicine, “Getting a sound and good amount of sleep can help in losing weight as you are not forced to turn to high-sugar, high calorie foods to keep your energy levels up.”  Lack of sleep is one of the predominant factors of not losing weight.  So to accomplish the best weight loss after pregnancy – make sure you are getting a proper night’s sleep.

• Take guidance from the professionals – you don’t have to do it on your own

For best results in losing weight after pregnancy, you can certainly utilize the knowledge and assistance of a professional such as your doctor or a dietician. Doctors can precisely guide you in the best techniques to lose weight in an effective manner.  A dietician can design a proper diet plan and keep you on track, helping you in your program of weight loss after pregnancy.  There are many resources available to professionals that you may not be aware of – so ask them questions.  You may be surprised at some of the newer techniques that are being discovered all the time.

So, weight loss after pregnancy depends on many factors

It is vital to take care of your health completely and follow a strict diet beneficial for both mother and her baby. Moreover you can also join special fitness classes designed especially for new mothers. Certainly, getting back to a perfect body shape is a dream of many new moms after safely delivering a child.  Follow these 6 tips and don’t give up – a new you is just around the corner.