How To Lose The
Baby Weight - Without Starving Yourself
Are you currently pregnant and
discouraged about getting back into shape after having your
baby? Or maybe you're a new Mom who is exhausted and getting to
the gym is the last thing on your mind! Either way, I hope the
following tips help you lose that baby weight.
Are you currently pregnant and discouraged
about getting back into shape after having your baby? Or maybe
you're a new Mom who is exhausted and getting to the gym is the
last thing on your mind! Either way, I hope the following tips
help you lose that baby weight.
I don't have any fancy initials behind my name, I'm just a Mom
of 4 kids. I've been able to get into my favorite Gap jeans
fairly quickly after my babies, and I've observed that women
who do the same have a few things in common. Here are my tips
for losing the weight postpartum:
1) Don't use pregnancy as an excuse to binge. Pregnancy is the
time to get strict about nutrition. Eating junk food will
produce a small baby and a big Momma. Make your pregnancy a
time to turn over a new leaf if you are a junk food junkie.
You'll be developing habits that will serve you well as you
teach your children about nutrition.
At the same time, don't obsess about weight gain. I gained
between 35-50 pounds for each of my pregnancies, and still
didn't have trouble getting back into my old clothes within a
few months postpartum. Focus on good nutrition, stay as active
as you can, and you won't go wrong.
2) Breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding burns around 500-700
calories a day. Wow- that's not bad for sitting around relaxing
on the couch! Your body puts on 9 pounds during your pregnancy
specifically for the purpose of lactation. The extra weight is
laid down on your thighs to make sure you will have enough fat
to burn to make milk for baby. Call it "famine insurance" if
you will. If you don't breastfeed, guess what? That 9 pounds
stays.
Several studies show that nursing Moms return to their
prepregnancy weight more quickly. Nursing also helps your
uterus contract back to its prepregnancy size faster. Plus
you'll have a nicer decolletage to boot!
3) Talk a walk every day. Walking is probably the perfect
exercise for new Moms. It's not stressful on your joints (which
are still loosey-goosey from the pregnancy hormones for a while
after you give birth). It's free and doesn't require a
babysitter or any special equipment. It gets you out in the
sun, which helps regulates your sleep/wake cycle, causing you
and baby to sleep better at night and possibly helping prevent
postpartum depression. And you can do it with a friend. If
you're sleep deprived and can't bear the thoughts of exercise,
call up a buddy and make a date with her to walk several
mornings a week. Then you can treat yourselves to Starbucks and
gossip afterwards.
4) "Wear" your baby. In addition to the many other benefits,
using a baby sling or other soft cloth carrier and wearing your
baby will burn lots of calories during the day as you do your
household chores or care for other children. It also makes it
easier for you to be active. You'll be less tempted to sit
around. Throwing on a sling and sitting baby inside it is much
easier than lugging out and setting up a heavy stroller.
5) Curb those cravings. Postpartum Moms have cravings for
several reasons. One is because serotonin levels are dropping,
leading to cravings for sugar. Substitute snacking with
another, health producing activity, like getting together with
your buddy and going for a walk.
Another cause of cravings may be low blood sugar due to
inadequate nutrition (eating too infrequently or eating too
much refined sugar). Keep your blood sugar in control by eating
frequent small meals that are balanced in nutrients. Keep
snacks handy that you can grab quickly before you feed the
baby. You need fats, protein and complex carbohydrates. Things
like dried fruit and nuts, granola, full fat yogurt (buy the
plain kind and mix in all-fruit jelly. Most yogurt has way too
much sugar otherwise), kefir, vegetables sliced ahead of time
and served with dips, hummus, whole grain pita bread, fruit
smoothies, etc will keep your blood sugar constant and provide
good nutrition. And keep taking your prenatal multivitamin to
help prevent deficiencies that may cause cravings.
6) Avoid excessive caffeine. Drinking too much caffeine leads
to insulin surges which cause your blood sugar to drop. When
this happens most people head straight for the refined carbs to
quicky bring their blood sugar back up. That's no good.
7) Get enough rest. Easier said than done for a new Mom, to be
sure! But if at all possible, nap with your baby. When you are
terribly sleep deprived, you tend to gain weight. Consider
bringing baby to bed with you if you are nursing. You will
sleep better, baby will sleep better, and Daddy will sleep
better (making it more likely that he will take baby for a walk
and let you nap some afternoons!). Women all over the world
have been doing it for thousands of years. As long as you are
not morbidly obese, using sleeping pills or inebriated,
cosleeping is safe.
8) Focus on good nutrition. This is also a challenge for a new,
stressed out Mom. Check out books like "The One Armed Cook" for
ideas on how to prepare healthy meals with a baby in arms.
Visit a La Leche League meeting and ask other Moms how they
manage to eat well with kids in the kitchen. Some Moms who were
former junk food junkies have done well with the following
technique. Before feeding themselves a particular food, they
ask: "Would I feed this to my baby?" If the answer is no, they
don't eat it.
9) And lastly, give it time. Be realistic- don't expect
yourself to be back into your favorite jeans within a few weeks
of delivery. In the meantime, appreciate your new, womanly
curves (especially the cleavage that breastfeeding gives you!).
I noticed that my clothing style changes somewhat after I have
a baby. My normal tailored, classic look gives way to a soft,
feminine style that flatters my postpartum body more.
Rejoice in your body that can do such awesome things as give
birth and nourish a new life! Likely, your partner is much more
forgiving of your changing body than you are. Most of all,
enjoy your new baby!
* * *
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natural way? Come visit http://www.natural-moms.com for
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complement your natural mothering style.
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