How many of you jumped on the scales during your pregnancy and watched the pounds start to add up?
Now how many of you stepped on the scales after baby was born? How many were pleased with what you saw?
Unaccustomed to seeing our body balloon like it does in pregnancy, weight loss after pregnancy is one of the biggest concerns of many new mothers.
Having a baby is one of the biggest moments in our lives. Not only do we have to deal with a new baby turning our lives upside down, but we also have to deal with the physical changes that have been the result of carrying this precious cargo for nine months.
The good news is that if you were healthy and fit before your pregnancy and stayed that way throughout it, you are more likely to return to your pre-pregnancy state more easily and more quickly than those who were not. However, if that does not sound like you then don’t worry. Weight loss after pregnancy is possible. In some cases, it can be the catalyst for a completely new you!
While the average weight gain during pregnancy is around 29 pounds there are some mothers who put on far more than that, this is despite their best efforts. Between sleepless nights, colicky babies and dirty nappies, losing that extra weight and being able to fit back into your pre-pregnancy clothes can feel like a massively overwhelming mission.
I know that you really do have other things on your mind right now, and time is probably very fleeting. The last thing that you need to hear is a lecture on what foods to eat and how much exercise you should do, but the reality is that by even taking 10 minutes out of your schedule to go for a walk you will achieve many things.
You will get the blood circulating throughout your body.
This is important for the distribution of essential nutrients throughout the body. These essential nutrients are very important for healing, particularly if you have had a difficult birth or a cesarean section.
You will help with the removal of toxins and excess fluid.
When looking at weight loss after pregnancy it pays to remember that, so much of post partum weight is just the left over fluid. Therefore, by exercising you will help remove a lot of the fluid that has built up. Toxins are also always present, but there is a good chance that you have had to have medication, anesthetic or painkillers. These all leave a certain amount of toxic residue that will eventually be absorbed through your system and expelled. By exercising regularly, you can speed up the process.
You will help yourself to heal, strengthen and tone.
By doing gentle exercise early on you will speed up your recovery time, increase your metabolism, strengthen muscles that were damaged during the pregnancy and birth, while toning existing muscles.
You will sleep better.
By getting your circulation going, you will also distribute hormones and your body will begin to reset its hormone levels to pre-pregnancy levels far faster. This will allow you to sleep better which encourages your metabolism to speed up. By speeding up your metabolism, your body makes use of the foods that you eat more efficiently.
One of the most confusing things about weight loss after pregnancy plans is how much of a role food and diet play. While some plans say to eat what you like, others put restrictions on what you can eat. The best advice is to make sure that you are eating healthily. This should include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and protein. Sometimes during a pregnancy, we can have cravings that stay with us even after baby is born. In many cases, these cravings have become habits, so you might need to look at specific items that you eat on a regular basis.
The key ingredient to any weight loss after pregnancy plan is to increase the amount of water that you drink. This will help to remove excess fluid, flush out toxins and dampen down the hunger between meals.
Remember that weight loss after pregnancy takes time. It has taken nine months for the weight to go on and any healthy weight loss plan should only see you losing 1-2 pounds a week. So be patient and diligent and you will soon be back in those pre-pregnancy clothes!