For a lot of new mums once they have settled into a routine and are coping well with their baby then their attention is turned to regaining their pre-baby figure and losing their pregnancy weight. It seems that women are pressured into quickly returning into their original figures both by themselves and by the media.
Seeing magazines full of pictures of celebrity mothers shrinking back to size within weeks from child birth does little to help. Many women who see these pictures get the wrong ideas on how quickly they should lose their pregnancy weight, some even grow into a state of despair when this doesn’t happen and start fearing that they will never lose the weight. Lets just state right now that losing weight after pregnancy is achievable for all women and you can get back to the figure you had before and better if your prepared to stay committed and give yourself a realistic timeframe to get yourself back in shape.
Post-pregnancy loss of weight is in reality no different from the process of general weight loss and can be achieved by following these 3 guidelines
Follow a Diet That is Healthy and Balanced
Forget any fad diets or fat burning supplements, as a new mum (especially those that are breastfeeding) you need all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that a varied balanced diet provides. Try to combine vegetables, fruits, wholegrain cereals, fish, meats and healthy fats to create healthy meal plans to lose weight in your regular diet. What women after pregnancy must be careful of is too limit the portion sizes of their meals as they can easily continue to eat “for two” at mealtimes. In order to keep the metabolism up and energy levels high, I would recommend 5-6 small meals a day. Also the tasty treats and naughty foods that were indulged in during pregnancy must be limited or stopped until the target weight has been reached.
Do Exercises Regularly
For a lot of mums the thought of trying to fit in exercise when your new baby consumes your life, you don’t have a minute to spare and are living on a few hours a sleep every night is a bit too much. However, there are some activities like cycling, walking or swimming that can be accommodated into the day fairly easily. Also if you don’t fancy going to the local gym there are lots of effective weight and resistance workouts you can do at home with no or little equipment that can help you burn fat and tone up your muscles with less than a few hours commitment every week. Your training program should consist of resistance and cardiovascular exercises because it is important to build muscle as well when losing weight after pregnancy. Just remember to listen to your body and start at a pace that you feel comfortable with building the intensity slowly as you regain fitness and confidence.
Breastfeed if Possible
Every day,a mother who is breastfeeding produces an average 850ml of milk. This requires the burning of nearly 500 extra calories everyday. As long as you’re eating the right foods, these calories lost can soon burn through all that unwanted pregnancy fat.
A combination of a proper diet and regular exercise still remains the best way for everybody to lose unwanted fat
However, many other factors must also be considered when it comes to new mums who want to shed their extra kilos. Remember that every person is different and that the weight loss may take only a few weeks for some mums but years for some others. Allow time for yourself, remain dedicated to your exercise and diet routines and you will be sure to lose the extra weight.
