Expert Tips for Losing Weight After Baby
We've all seen the photos: beaming celebrity moms holding their adorable babies and sporting postpregnancy bodies that are fit for bikinis. It's frustrating to see gorgeous celebrity moms who seem to effortlessly bounce back to their pre-baby weight and tone. Well, we can't all be Cindy Crawford.
You can get healthy and fit after your baby is born. But any woman who has gained excess weight during pregnancy knows that simply wanting to get into shape won't be enough. You're going to have to work at it. Not any one weight-loss method works for all women, but there are sensible tips all new moms should follow. Here, professional dietitians and trainers give the skinny on what to do to lose those postpregnancy pounds:
- Nursing doesn't mean eating for two. If you're nursing, you need extra calories. But according to nutritionist Jo-Ann Heslin, RD, "That doesn't mean eating twice as much." According to Heslin, it's more like eating for one and a quarter. With your doctor's help, figure out what your calorie intake should be to maintain your optimal weight. Then add 500 calories per day to that while you're nursing. When you stop nursing, ask your doctor what your caloric intake should be to reach your weight-loss goal.
- Move, Mama, move. If you really want to look good and lose weight, you need to incorporate exercise into your life. "Cutting down on food without exercise will cause you to lose muscle mass; you need to combine diet with exercise for sustained weight loss," says Martha Walls, RD, senior nutritionist with Weight Watchers International. She also recommends walking as a great form ofpostpartum exercise because you can take your baby with you.
- Use the buddy system. New parenthood can be lonely -- and so is dieting. Make it easier by joining a group such as Weight Watchers or finding another new mom to walk with, share dieting triumphs and disasters with, or even swap babysitting with while you work out to a video.
- Be smart about snacks. Taking care of a baby is hard enough, but going around hungry will make matters worse. Just choose your snacks wisely. If cutting fresh fruit is too time-consuming, try prepackaged fruit cups. Other good snacks include pretzels, popcorn, yogurt, or preparation-free fruits and vegetables such as grapes, bananas, cherry tomatoes, and baby carrots. Dry cereal is a great snack because it satisfies your sweet tooth plus it's fortified with vitamins -- something nursing moms need.
- Patience, patience. You didn't put on those pounds overnight, and you're not going to lose them immediately. Nor should you. It's not good to lose weight too quickly because it can interfere with your milk production. While most sensible diet plans recommend losing only two pounds a week at most, nursing moms should beware of losing more than one pound a week. The payoff: What comes off stays off!
- Source : http://www.parents.com
Weight Loss After Pregnancy
Weight gain in pregnancy is healthy and natural, but many women crave to return to their pre-pregnancy bodies. But you need to exercise caution when losing your baby weight. Just as it's best to put on weight slowly and steadily during your pregnancy, you need to be slow and steady in losing weight after your pregnancy. Here are some tips for getting back into shape. To read more on weight loss, visit FemPlace.com.
Breastfeeding
One good way to lose some of your pregnancy weight is to breastfeed! Always pair breastfeeding with other forms of post partum weight loss. One of the reasons your body puts on weight during pregnancy is to help store the caloric energy it takes to breastfeed your baby-about 200 to 500 extra calories per day. Therefore take advantage of losing calories the way your body naturally intended-breastfeeding!
One good way to lose some of your pregnancy weight is to breastfeed! Always pair breastfeeding with other forms of post partum weight loss. One of the reasons your body puts on weight during pregnancy is to help store the caloric energy it takes to breastfeed your baby-about 200 to 500 extra calories per day. Therefore take advantage of losing calories the way your body naturally intended-breastfeeding!
Exercise
There are many benefits to exercising after your pregnancy. It will help you lose those extra pounds put on during pregnancy, alleviate post-partum depression and, unlike dieting, it won't interfere with your breastfeeding.
There are many benefits to exercising after your pregnancy. It will help you lose those extra pounds put on during pregnancy, alleviate post-partum depression and, unlike dieting, it won't interfere with your breastfeeding.
It's important that you ease your way into exercising again. Wait six weeks after a vaginal birth and eight weeks after a c-section to start exercising. It is recommended that you engage in low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming or yoga. Come up with a personal exercise program - something you can stick to -and enroll the company of a friend or new mother.
Start slow: 10-minute exercises should be tried first and then increased when you feel more confident. Keep a 30-minute limit on your exercise time and cease immediately if you start to feel dizzy or short of breath.
Work Out at Home
There are many exercise routines perfect for the post birth period that can be performed at home. Yoga exercises are perfect for in-home working out. If you took yoga classes before or during your pregnancy, put on some relaxing music and practice those exercises.
There are many exercise routines perfect for the post birth period that can be performed at home. Yoga exercises are perfect for in-home working out. If you took yoga classes before or during your pregnancy, put on some relaxing music and practice those exercises.
Pelvic Floor Strengtheners
Another important area to target is the vagina: it needs to tighten up after that baby has passed through. A good way to do this is with Kegel Crunches, as you can practise these virtually anywhere. Simply tighten the muscles of the vagina as if trying to interrupt the flow of pee and count to five. This will increase circulation to the pelvis while tightening the muscles.
Another important area to target is the vagina: it needs to tighten up after that baby has passed through. A good way to do this is with Kegel Crunches, as you can practise these virtually anywhere. Simply tighten the muscles of the vagina as if trying to interrupt the flow of pee and count to five. This will increase circulation to the pelvis while tightening the muscles.
Healthy Weight Loss Through Healthy Eating
Next to exercising, a healthy diet is the best way to lose your pregnancy pounds. Talk to your doctor about what foods are important for the continuing health of you and your baby. Focus on nutrition, not on weight-loss diets! If you're breastfeeding, your baby's nutritional needs outweigh your need for a slim body. For more information, readEating for Two.
Next to exercising, a healthy diet is the best way to lose your pregnancy pounds. Talk to your doctor about what foods are important for the continuing health of you and your baby. Focus on nutrition, not on weight-loss diets! If you're breastfeeding, your baby's nutritional needs outweigh your need for a slim body. For more information, readEating for Two.
Go For a Walk
Walking is one of the best exercises around - and it doesn't even require special equipment. All you need is a good pair of shoes, fine weather and your baby, of course! This very practical stroller workout has now been popularized onvideo. This workout is designed to start six to eight weeks after giving birth and is developed around your baby's needs for stimulation.
Walking is one of the best exercises around - and it doesn't even require special equipment. All you need is a good pair of shoes, fine weather and your baby, of course! This very practical stroller workout has now been popularized onvideo. This workout is designed to start six to eight weeks after giving birth and is developed around your baby's needs for stimulation.
Pregnancy and weight gain are like peas and carrots - they go together and it's healthy for you. Therefore, when trying to lose those pregnancy pounds, be sensible and don't entertain extremes: no junk food binges and no celebrity diets. Balanced nutrition coupled with exercise is the safest and healthiest way to get back your pre-pregnancy body.
Source : http://www.pregnancy-info.net/
