Losing weight after pregnancy is something you will have to do if they want to get your pre pregnancy body back!
Although for the first few weeks this is probably the last thing on your mind as you will be busy getting into the the routine of making bottles, changing nappies and basically doing everything else that motherhood involves.
But when you do feel your ready to put the time into getting your body back to normal, you will need to know the best ways to go about doing it.
The average weight put on during pregnancy is 25-35lb, with a quarter of this being due to the weight of your baby, amniotic fluid and placenta. Therefore when your baby is born you will naturally lose some of this gained weight. But its the rest of the weight that you will have to work off yourself!
First thing you need is patients. Remember it took 9 months to build the fat up, so its going to time to get it off. Don’t feel pressurized by your favourite celebrities losing all he baby weight in a very short space of time, after all they have the personal trainers, the dieticians and the nanny’s to help them put the work in in order to lose their post pregnancy weight loss, unlike the rest of us.
So here are some of the tips you should follow for to help you lose the weight safely!
1- Say No To Dieting
You may be thinking this is a weird one, but is it? When you go on a diet you are saying to yourself that you are not allowed any fattening foods or any of the foods you really love such as cheese. This will make you feel deprived and of course it will make you want to eat these foods more.
If however you simply forget the word diet and aim to eat healthier food, use healthier cooking methods and reduce and not completely eliminate the amount of bad foods you eat when losing weight after pregnancy, you will find you have more control and motivation and also feel less deprived.
Keeping our calories at a consistent 1,800 everyday as well as increasing your activity levels, will be enough to help you lose at least 2lbs a week, which is ideal for long term weight loss.
2- Snack Wisely
If you feel peckish between meals, you should choose to snack on low calorie foods such as carrot slices, fruits such as apples and grapes.
Doing this will really help prevent you from piling on unnecessary calories and they are pack with vitamins, essential for new mothers, especially for those of you who are breast feeding.
3- Choose to Breastfeed
Although a lot of women will be uncomfortable with the thought of breastfeeding their newborn, it is the best option for your baby. Not only is it good for baby but it is brilliant for you.
Breastfeeding will help you get your pre pregnancy body back faster than if you bottle feed. The reason for this is because breast feeding will burn an extra 500 calories off your body each day.
4- Drink Plenty of Water
I’m sure this is one you’ve heard before, but it is definitely one of the most important tips when it come to losing weight after pregnancy!
The reason for this is because keeping yourself hydrated you wont mistake thirst for hunger, it will also help keep your bowels working properly helping you prevent bloating. Some researcher even believe it speeds up your metabolism.
5- Get More Exercise
This might not be the easiest one for you to do considering you now have a little baby to look after. At the beginning you will be tired and probably not feel like doing much exercise but it is an essential part of losing weight after pregnancy.
Take your baby out in the new pram, or simply do 30 minutes on your exercise bike at home when you baby is sleeping. There are ways around everything, so don’t use your baby as an excuse not to put time into yourself and your exercise.
Not only will exercise help you slim down but it is also great for stress and will help you prevent you suffering from post natal depression.
6- The Final Tip Would Be to Get Enough Sleep
Ok so you have a new baby, this usually means your not really going to be able to get the amount of sleep your use to. However getting an adequate amount of sleep is very important.
Research has shown that new mothers who got less than 5 hours sleep a night when compared to those who where getting 6-7 hours sleep a night, where more likely to hold onto there baby weight for longer.
When you are tired your body releases a hormone called cortisol which results in you actually gaining weight.
As well as that, when your tired you wont feel like exercising much or putting the time in to make the foods you should be eating. Your best bet to losing weight after pregnancy is to sleep when your baby sleep. If your not getting enough sleep at night, sleep during the day when your baby does.
Also don’t be afraid to ask for help if your feeling stress and remember your baby isn’t always going to wake you up during the night. He or she will eventually start sleeping during the night, the sleepless nights wont last forever!
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