Being a mother is the best thing in the world. When the midwife puts your baby into your arms, there is no better feeling. And then, when they grow up, you can sit at home playing board games and bonding as a family. Ask any mom, and they would categorically say that the benefits outweigh the negatives.
The one thing that most moms don’t like, however, is the weight gain. After you give birth, you are not in the best physical shape. That is understandable because you have been eating for two for the past nine months. But, now that the baby is here, you want to shed the weight and get back to your usual size. And, it is a realistic goal if you put in the effort. It is by no means easy, plus it’s worth pointing out that you might prefer to concentrate on other things. But, if you’re ready to try, here are a few tips that can make all the difference.
Get Started While You Are Pregnant
Because you’re a pregnant woman, there are some things that you can’t do because of your condition. In fact, there are so things that you shouldn’t do outright. But, that doesn’t mean that you have to be a couch potato. Yes, it is uncomfortable. However, if you let yourself sit in front of the TV all day, you are going to pile on the pounds. Remember that the more you put on while you are pregnant, the more you have to lose afterward. Stick to walking and gentle forms of exercise that keep the blood pumping, but that don’t put too much strain on your body. Also, don’t eat whatever you want because you are ‘eating for two’. Of course you should indulge, but you shouldn’t do it all of the time.
Natural Weight Loss
As soon as you give birth, you lose around 11-14lbs. In total, that is up to a stone in weight that you will lose automatically. Plus, there are other natural weight losses that you can count on to help you shed the load. Breastfeeding, for example, burns up to 800 calories a day. If you are a mom that wants to breastfeed, you will see the benefits on the scales. Not to mention that studies show breastfeeding is good for the baby. Don’t forget that holding the baby is like a form of weight training. As you can see, there is no need to rush back to the gym – motherhood does it for you!
Eat Healthily
After giving in to your cravings for the past nine months, you will be in an eating routine. That is to say, you will carry on eating like you did while you were with child. For obvious reasons, that isn’t the best course of action if you are trying to lose weight. Instead, you need to eat a healthy, balanced diet now that you have given birth. Try and get out of the routine of eating junk and passing it off as okay because of your pregnancy. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself, but keep them to a minimum for the best results.
But Don’t Diet
Your body isn’t ready for any big changes because it has just gone through the biggest change that any women can experience. A diet is only going to make you feel worse and affect your health. The trick is to eat healthily without going on a diet. That means you should cut out anything because you might need them to recuperate. However, you should try and cut down where possible. After all, overindulging isn’t good for anyone. Also, keep the exercise to a minimum for now. In the future, you will be able to exercise until your heart's content. But for now, it isn’t a good idea.
Try Organic Methods
Organic weight loss remedies are also a good option because they aren’t hazardous to your health. As a rule, anything that comes straight from the ground is good for your body. Plus, you don’t have to stop eating for these natural remedies to work. All you have to do is add them to your diet and watch them work their magic. One great remedy is to drink green tea. Green tea is full of antioxidants that help burn fat when you consume it in your diet. For more information on organic weight loss remedies, take a look at http://www.top10homeremedies.com.
Get Plenty Of Rest
Talking of organic weight loss methods, the best is sleep. Sleep is when your body gets time to recuperate after a long hard day. In your case, it’s the time it gets to recuperate after a long couple of months. The strain of pregnancy is huge, which is why you need to get your rest. Only when you get a prolonged period of sleep can you start to tackle your weight loss issue. Plus, sleep makes you more energetic and boosts your mindset. Moms that are driven to succeed will succeed. One basic step you can take is to change your mattress. Your mattress might be preventing you from getting to sleep because it might not provide the right level of comfort. If you need inspiration, http://www.boydwaterbeds.com/King-Size-Waterbeds.php is a great place to start. Alternatively, you could go to bed earlier and make sure you get your eight hours every night.
Start Exercising
After four to six weeks, your body should be ready to get back into the swing of normal life. You should start off small and work your way back to the level that you were at before you got pregnant. Although you might be ready to work out, you are susceptible to doing too much too soon. Plus, you will be out of shape thanks to the nine months off with hardly any exercise. Walking is a great option because it isn’t too demanding, plus it burns off fat. Lots of workout regimes don’t burn off fat – they burn off carbohydrate. Walking burns fat because it uses oxygen instead of carbs.
Have Sex
Another great option is to jump into the sack! On average, having sex burns a couple of hundred of calories each time, which is a lot of calories. The biggest benefit, though, has to be that you enjoy having sex. The worst thing about exercise is that it is boring and not pleasurable. Sex, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. As long as you are ready, it is a good option to get the blood pumping and hit your target weight.
Make Friends
Losing weight is always easier if you aren’t doing it alone. When you do it alone, you don’t have the same sense of responsibility. Most people are not bothered about letting themselves down because they don’t think it’s a big deal. Letting someone else do, however, is a big deal. They are relying on you to help them through the process, so you need to stand up and be counted. All you need to do is find a group of people that are in your situation such as new mothers. A group of mothers might also have a wealth of wisdom that they can share with you to help you get back to full fitness. Moms on their second child will know more than you because they have been through the experience.
Take It Slow
The most important thing to remember is that it’s not going to happen overnight. In fact, losing weight after pregnancy will take more time than if you hadn’t been pregnant in the first place. The reason is that you need to take it slow because of the trauma your body has experienced. Trauma might seem like a strong word, but it is a traumatic experience for your body. Think of your goals as long-term targets that you will achieve over a longer period. Forget about getting back into shape within a few weeks and concentrate on months instead. Some moms even take up to a year to hit their target. Don’t let the process get you down because it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Ask For Help
There is nothing wrong with asking for help. From time to time, everyone needs the help or advice of someone else. And, it is more reason to ask for a consultation if that person is a specialist. Your first port of call is the doctors. You will probably see the doctor on regular occasions, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions while you have their attention. If they can’t help you, they might refer you to a specialist such as a dietician. A dietician will walk you through everything you need to consume to start losing weight. Also, a personal trainer is a good idea because they can focus your regime to your needs.
Putting on a few pounds is all part of giving birth. Don’t worry –with these tips, that baby weight won’t be around for much longer.
