How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy

How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy

For many first time moms, it comes as a shock that you leave the hospital wearing maternity clothes. Even childbirth veterans can be shocked and appalled at their new physiques and many new mothers surf the internet in the wee hours of the morning while feeding their newborns for ways to lose weight after pregnancy. If this sounds like you, read on for some helpful tips.

Give Yourself a Break
Being a new mom is stressful and worrying about your weight on top of the demands that come with a baby can only add to the burden. Stress triggers cortisol production which actually tells your body to store fat in the abdominal region. That’s right – stressing over your weight loss can actually make you gain weight in a region that already has plenty of it.

9 Months
As the old saying goes, it took 9 months to gain the weight so you need to give yourself at least 9 months to get it off. Don’t compare yourself to the latest celebrity to give birth – those women have nannies, private trainers and a slew of cosmetic surgeons at their disposal. That’s not realistic and neither are their 3 week slim-downs.

Breastfeed
Breastfeeding burns several hundred calories per day. If you’re looking for a way that you can shed weight without having to get off the couch or give up time with your baby, breastfeeding may be the answer. Make sure you drink plenty of liquids while breastfeeding and enjoy the benefits that come with it. Even if you decide to pump, you still get the additional calorie burning benefits.

Use a Compression Band
As soon as the doctor gives you the all-clear, strap on a compression band. Not only will this help get your abdominal muscles back in place, it will also give you much needed support in a delicate region. Moms that use compression bands are more active and experience less discomfort after pregnancy.

Variety of Bands
There are a variety of compression bands on the market, but you should look for one that adjusts in size and can be worn under clothing. The band should be snug, but not painful.

Remember That You’re Eating For One
Once the baby is born, you have to stop eating for two. Many new moms continue in their pre-baby diets with portion sizes that are much larger than necessary. Cut back on the portions and you’ll eliminate a significant number of calories from your diet. There are several tricks you can use to reduce portion size, such as eating off a divided plate or using a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Pick something easy and thoughtless so you don’t go through the meal thinking about how you’re eating less than normal.

Conclusion
These simple tips can help you lose the pregnancy weight with little effort. The key to a successful post-pregnancy diet is choosing weight loss techniques that aren’t time consuming and won’t interfere with your duties as a new mom. Give your body time to heal and don’t push yourself to lose the weight overnight. With time you’ll soon be back down to your pre-pregnancy weight.