Losing Pregnancy Weight

Every new Mum has been there. You’ve just given birth, and while you’re ecstatic to have brought your new baby into the world, one thought will undoubtedly be on your mind. How can I lose the weight? Losing pregnancy weight is thought of as being notoriously difficult, but if you follow the best advice, it won’t be that hard.

While it’s often usual to put on at least 1 or 2 stone during pregnancy, many Mums will be surprised to realize that giving birth to your baby won’t actually take much of the weight off. And although celebrities are often back to their pre-baby weight in a matter of weeks, for regular Mums it can take a bit longer. Often, not having the time to exercise is a major hindrance to your success, and not being able to eat properly can mean you’re eating all the wrong things in an attempt to stave off hunger.

But, losing pregnancy weight doesn’t have to be that much of a challenge. It’s a case of incorporating a healthy routine into your day including a balanced diet, and there are even a few tricks of the trade to make sure that you can get your exercise in. Of course, a calorie deficit needs to be created, but do it in a more balanced and calculated way. You can start trying to lose the weight straight away, and as long as you do it properly, there’s no risk to you or the baby.

Click here to discover the secrets to losing pregnancy weight fast.

First up, losing pregnancy weight, just like losing any other form of weight requires a healthy eating regime. Cut out all the junk and pregnancy-craving foods, and bring in fresh fruit and vegetables instead. Don’t cut out any major food group, for example don’t cut out carbs as many traditional diets recommend. Eat plenty of protein and lean meats, and make sure you’re getting all the calcium and iron that you need.

You may find it difficult to find the time to eat properly after giving birth. Many women claim that this helps them in losing pregnancy weight, but it certainly isn’t recommended and will only prove to make you even more tired. Equally, don’t substitute a healthy meal for a ready meal. While it may save time, ready meals are filled with excess calories, salt and fat, which won’t help at all in your attempt to lose the baby weight.

An unlikely tip is breastfeeding. It uses up fat stores, and you can lose up to 500 calories a day. The longer you breastfeed, the longer you lose – great for you as well as the baby. But, breastfeeding is even more of a reason to make sure you’re getting all the food you need, as a newborn needs plenty of vitamins and minerals to grow.

Next up is exercise. Exercise can be easily incorporated into your routine if you know where to fit it in. While you’ll surely be running around a lot, this isn’t always enough in losing pregnancy weight. A great tip is to go for a walk. But not just any walk; make it brisk, and even stretch to a jog once you’ve recovered sufficiently. This can easily be done when you’re walking with the pram, and as you’re with your baby you won’t have to leave them, and neither will it feel like a chore.

There are also various new mother and baby exercise classes available, such as yoga or Pilates. Check out your local health centre, or ask around at mother and baby groups. Making it a social thing with other people can be a great motivator, and being able to bond with your baby whilst exercising is even better.

Always remember that losing pregnancy weight doesn’t have to mean severe calorie restriction. Don’t try to embark on an extreme diet regime, as this won’t be healthy for you or the baby, particularly if you’re breastfeeding. You need to be consuming enough calories to keep you going, especially as you’ll undoubtedly be running around all the time and will be getting less sleep than you’re used to. You need enough energy to function, and if you’re breastfeeding you need to make doubly sure that you’re getting enough nutrients. Extreme dieting simply won’t give you what you need as a new Mum.

So, losing pregnancy weight doesn’t have to be that much of a challenge after all. If you eat healthily and get in as much exercise as you can, within reason, there’s no reason why you can’t lose the baby weight quickly and easily. Although some thinking out there says that you should expect to take as long to take it off as you did to put it on (i.e. 9 months), this doesn’t have to be the case. As with any diet, 1-2 lbs of weight loss per week is easily achievable and if you manage to stick to it you’ll soon see success in losing pregnancy weight.