How To Lose Pregnancy Weight

Fit Pregnant MummyIf you’ve ever wondered how to lose pregnancy weight, then stop and read here. Weight gain during pregnancy is something that women wrestle with. How much weight should I gain? Am I eating for 2? How many additional calories do I need? The questions go on and on.

If you are looking for some guidance on how to lose pregnancy weight, then you should check out: Fit Yummy Mummy.

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Gaining weight during pregnancy becomes everyone’s business. You’ll get advice from your friends, magazines, relatives and anyone else who feels you may be too big OR too skinny during one of the most exciting times of your life.

Most people take the recommendations your doctors suggest, meaning that an average weight person should gain between 20-35 pounds during the course of her pregnancy. Please remember that weight gain does not equal ‘fat gain’.  The weight gained consists of the amniotic fluid, placenta, the baby herself and fat gain for preparation of breastfeeding.

After the actual birth of the baby, all women will lose some of their weight, as baby is now healthy, vibrant, and no longer a part of your anatomy. However, most women will still have the need to shed some additional pounds. Taking charge and getting your body back can be accomplished by a few simple steps:

Step 1:
Consider breastfeeding as the primary sources of nutrients for your baby (if you can). Breastfeeding assist both mom and babes in a number of beneficial ways. Uterus contractions thereby flattening your baby tummy, creating a close bond with babes,  lowering the costs of formula, convenience, and best of all – it’s a MAJOR calorie burner. Women tend to burn an additional 500 calories per day breastfeeding. How to lose pregnancy weight you ask? Breastfeed!

Step 2:
Set a SMART goal around weight loss. SMART is an acronym for specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and timely.  The best strategies on how to lose pregnancy weight is by slowly targeting 1-2 lbs per week. New moms don’t want to push these limits as you could compromise the quality of your breast milk. With rapid weight loss, a lot of toxins are shed and transferred to baby via the breast milk.

Also, you don’t want to exhaust yourself as with the birthing process you’ve shed an enormous amount of blood and body fluids, and you don’t want to compound that by severe dieting, low calorie intake, and exhaustion from those nightly waking.

Step 3:
If you enjoyed ‘luxury’ eating while pregnancy (I know I enjoyed Dairy Queen during my pregnancies), start looking at cutting those comfort foods out. Looking at how to lose pregnancy weight may be more of a challenge, as you may have a little more cushioning than you anticipated.

I know I enjoyed a lot of Dairy Queen during my pregnancies, and had to work extra hard at taking it off. Take an honest inventory by noting your eating habits in a journal. Review the journal at the end of the week and decide what indulgences you are willing to cut out to reap the rewards of weight loss.

Step 4:
Wait until your 6 week follow up appointment with your doctor before doing any exercise. Ask your doctor for their advice on how to lose pregnancy weight. Most times doctors have nice and easy handouts of exercises you can get started on after your 6 week checkup. If you experience a cesarean birth, make sure you have a green light to exercise so as not to tear stitching internally (usually recommended 8 weeks before exercising).

Step 5:
GET MOVING! One of the best strategies how to lose pregnancy weight is to get moving. Stroller walking, taking baby salsa classes, going to a gym with childcare available, etc. The main point about getting moving is to find something to engage in that involves your little ones, and create an environment of healthy exercise for them right from the start.

If you just don’t have classes available in your community – enroll family members or your partner to watch the baby so mom can get some exercise in. In my case, my husband purchased me personal training sessions which provide me with ‘me’ time, sweat time, and bonding time for him with babes.

Step 6:
Have a support system. You will find that your struggle on how to lose pregnancy weight will be shared by others. For example, get a workout buddy, call a friend, create a team of supports via your doctor, nutritionist, workout coach, etc. This way people will encourage you in achieving your goals. I think the most important tips to keep in mind, is that the weight took 9 months to go on, so expect the same amount of time to take it off.

Also when looking at how to lose pregnancy weight be sure not to beat yourself up for slips ups, learning curves, and set-backs. Your life with a child is now more complicated, busy and exhausting, so be sure to show the same amount of patience with yourself as you do with your new little one. Enjoy the journey!

Fit MummyAre you looking for some guidance and a system that works?

If your answer is YES then I highly encourage you to check out Fit Yummy Mummy. You will be glad that you did. The support system is just amazing!


Click Here To Visit Fit Yummy Mummy

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