4 Healthy Tips for Losing Your Baby Weight

Pregnancy causes a lot of weird changes, one of the most noticeable being weight gain. There are those few moms who can’t seem to put the weight on, but for most of us, pregnancy weight is a normal and healthy thing.

However, it’s also normal that many moms start planning for how to get rid of it once the baby arrives. After the baby is here, and the days begin to regain some meaning past eating and sleeping, then is the time to put your plans into action for some results.

Often, finding a starting point is the hardest. Here are 4 tips to work your way back to your pre-pregnancy shape, or maybe even better!

1. Get Up and Move

As a new mom, you’re probably too tired and overwhelmed even to remember the word exercise. This is perfect, as your body isn’t ready for some exercise action until about six weeks after the baby has arrived. It’s far too busy repairing and recuperating. This recovery time stretches longer if it was a complicated birth or a cesarean delivery.

An excellent place to start is just by moving. You don’t have to have any rhyme or reason to it. Even a 30-minute walk around the block will do wonders for you not only physically, but mentally. Both the fresh air and change of scenery can help you start returning to a routine.

Watch for overdoing it though, as this can cause bleeding and lengthen the repair time you’re undergoing. Go for a short walk or go up and down stairs until your six-week checkup, after which you should be able to take on a more routine exercise schedule, including upping your cardio.

Sometimes new moms underestimate the power of the walk but pushing that stroller or walking with your baby can burn a significant number of calories. You can burn up to 150 calories just by covering up to a couple of miles in a half hour.

2. Breastfeed

If you’re able to, not only is this an excellent bond with your baby but when you’re nursing, your body will require about 500 extra calories each day. That’s nearly the amount in an average meal!

The act of nursing itself burns between 600 and 800 calories each day, so even if you aren’t counting the calories, sitting comfortably and feeding your baby could help you lose the weight.

Keep in mind that once you stop nursing, your calorie needs will change drastically. This is an excellent place to start improving your diet and learning healthy habits to implement down the road.

3. Start Weight Lifting to Build Muscle and Increase Strength

Training with weights can go a long way in improving your metabolism speed. You don’t even have to leave home or invest in expensive workout equipment for this one. You can incorporate your baby into your routine by holding him when you do lunges, or lunge while you push the stroller.

If you aren’t comfortable with where to begin, you can hire a personal trainer who is certified in both prenatal and postnatal fitness to steer you in the right direction.

4. Watch Your Calorie and Fat Intake

It’s very easy to fall victim to mindless munching in your sleep deprived state. However, saying no to foods that aren’t very nutritionally dense such as chips or soda, and even to diets that eliminate all food groups, will go much further to sustain your health and help you lose the baby weight.

You should maintain a steady intake of nutrient-dense foods like lean proteins, fresh fruits, and vegetables, dairy products that are low fat and whole grains. Also, try to remember to eat smaller and more frequent meals. This will help prevent overeating and stabilize your blood sugar. It’s also far easier to say no to empty calorie snacks when you aren’t starving between meals.

Being a new mom is a wonderful adventure, but all of the changes it causes in both health and figure can be overwhelming. Finding your way back to a healthier you, whether that’s your pre-pregnancy body or even better, starts with a few changes each day.