While losing weight is never easy, getting rid of the “baby fat” from a pregnancy has a lot of study on it. It takes a bit of time, a change in diet, and sufficient motivation. It will take effort, but it’s easily worth the effort. You’ll feel better, and you’ll be happier for it.
Gaining weight is part and parcel with pregnancy. You’re carrying a whole new baby inside of you, and in addition to that, you’re gaining weight for all the support mechanisms that baby needs as well. And it’s more than fat ” there’s nearly a pound and a half from the placenta, three pounds of retained fluid to feed the placenta and to cushion your system from the baby’s demands, your uterus thickens with all the additional blood vessels needed to feed the placenta, and your boobs got bigger, to the tune of about two pounds for most women. On top of that, your body may store as much as seven or eight pounds of fat to support breastfeeding. Most mothers pick up 25 pound or more over the course of the entire pregnancy.
That weight gain is one of the disincentives for getting pregnant. Lots of women have friends who had a baby and then never quite got back to their pre-pregnancy figures. However, getting rid of that weight is doable, if you do the right things and have the right attitude.
You’ll find it easier to cut calories by upping your vegetables and fruits as part of your diet. In general, avoid processed foods ” if it’s white bread, white pasta, or refined sugar, stay clear of it. Focus on eating more greens (leafy vegetables) and more browns (whole grain pasta and bread, brown rice, oatmeal). Don’t completely eliminate your fat intake; you’ll need some treats to keep happy. But be careful with them. Set your goal weights and watch what you eat.
It’s not just the number of calories, but also what you eat that matters. Avoid processed sugars and processed flour products; if it’s sweet, or has a mild flavor, it’s probably empty calories. Your body is still chasing down the hormonal surges from pregnancy, and as a result, will try to store all the carbs it can get as fat. Focus on eating whole grains and whole vegetables. Eat more fruit for snacks, rather than a Danish. Set your goal weight, look at your calories, make a meal plan and stick to it. (And yes, this means not depriving yourself.)
Now, before doing any kind of exercise, make sure you’re up to it ” talk to your doctor, and check your own health indicators. Do you get short of breath or dizzy, suddenly? Do you still have post-pregnancy anaemia? While none of these will keep you from exercising, they’re all indicators to take it slowly at first. Build up to your exercise levels and watch the pounds come off and your energy levels increase.
No matter how busy you are, make time to exercise. Although some moms feel guilt in working out and being away from their baby, achieving physical fitness is not all about losing pregnancy fat. It is also helpful in giving you enough energy to take care of your baby, do you chores, attend to the needs of your husband and practically take care of your growing family.
The key to losing pregnancy fat is by boosting metabolism, doing some shaping and toning moves and sticking to a nutrition plan. With exercise and healthy diet, you can do just that. Breastfeeding presents an easy way of losing pregnancy weight. As you may know, breastfeeding can hasten your bodys recovery to its pre-pregnancy weight. Not only does it consume much of your pregnancy fat, it also gives your baby the best form of nourishment you can give.