Getting pregnant means welcoming a new bundle of joy very soon. Then, like a twin, this welcoming comes with an add-on: the inevitable baby weight. For some women, this may not be much. For others, however, baby weight can really settle in.
Whether you’re still pregnant and keen on losing the baby weight after, or you’ve long been in your postpartum stage and desperate to lose weight, this article is here to help you out. Here, you’ll come across some of the easiest but also most effective ways for you to finally get rid of that pregnancy weight.
Chapter Overview
1. Breastfeed Your Baby
This first tip is one that countless new moms swear by. If you have a stable milk supply and you’re able to breastfeed your baby, go ahead and do so. You aren’t just making the best choice for your baby’s nutrition, but you’re also giving yourself a lot of benefits to enjoy. One of these, and perhaps the best of it all, is weight loss.
On average, breastfeeding a baby every day may help a new mom lose around 500 calories. But, it’s equally vital for you to be getting enough calories, too, to keep breastfeeding. This means ensuring you have that perfect balance with eating well and healthy to produce enough milk for your baby.
2. Start With Simple And Easy Exercises
Exercising will help you lose weight. But you have to take it easy with your chosen exercises. Remember your body is still in the process of healing. Especially if you’ve had a c-section, you may need to start with light exercises first.
This doesn’t mean spending hours in the gym. Of course, no new mom has any time for that. Instead, even half an hour of walking around the block with your baby is sufficient enough for those first few months. You can get more information in this article to get an idea of which postpartum exercises you can do.
3. Don’t Crash Diet
Crash dieting may seem very tempting when you’re looking at yourself in the mirror, wanting to bid those extra pounds a final goodbye. But, doing so isn’t exactly the best route to take as a new mom. You need food to fuel those long nights of caring for a newborn. If you don’t eat well, you may only feel even more stressed and sluggish.
Rather than crash dieting, it’s better to consult your nutritionist about trying out a low-calorie diet. With this, you aren’t depriving yourself because it’s simply eating healthy and letting go of the bad stuff. If you’re breastfeeding your baby, this is also important since you’ll be able to feed your baby with all the nutrients they need.
Good eating habits include:
- Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains;
- Controlling your portion sizes;
- Tracking your calories;
- Limiting sweets, junk, and salty food; and
- Choosing superfoods or those rich in fiber.
4. Drink Up
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is another must-do for new moms. First, you need to stay hydrated if you’re feeding a newborn. Then, even if you don’t breastfeed, all the work and chores you have to do in the day when taking care of your baby entails you to be fully hydrated.
As if those reasons aren’t enough, regularly drinking water is another very effective way to achieve your goal of losing weight. This is because water keeps you from feeling full. So, you aren’t as tempted to reach out for snacks as frequently as you may think you need them.
A good trick to apply is this: every time you feel tempted to reach for snacks, grab a glass of water instead. Perhaps you’re not really hungry, just thirsty. In addition, remember that the trick here is to drink water. Never substitute plain water for sugary beverages since those will only make you gain even more weight.
Final Thoughts
So, you see? It’s not impossible at all to lose weight after pregnancy. It may take some time and extra effort, but it’s not something you can’t do. Just take it easy, and don’t be too hard on yourself. It took you nine months to gain those extra pounds, so you can’t expect to lose it overnight with no effort from your end.
Most importantly, whatever diet and exercises changes you do, always check with your doctor if there’s anything you’re unsure about. Then, when it gets hard, remember that losing weight is more than just about looking good. It’s also about being healthy, not just for yourself but also for your newborn who’s counting on you.