Weight Loss Motivation Blog

Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss

When to begin?

Beginning your quest to lose those added baby pounds might have to be put on hold for a little while. The best time to start losing weight after the birth of your baby is two to three months later. This gives your body the time to heal, time for your menstrual cycles to be regular again and you can start getting back to normal.

Healthy Food Choices

Just like when you were pregnant, it’s still important to eat healthy for baby if your breastfeeding or not. Whether you are breast-feeding or not, you should eat the following foods to maintain health and support weight loss. Developing a healthy diet before leaping into exercise is key, taking it one step at a time and focusing on slow but steady weight loss.

• Energy increasing foods containing starch like bread, potatoes, rice or pasta.
• Eat lots of protein like lean meats, chicken, fish, beans, eggs and lentils.
• Leafy green vegetable and lots of fresh fruits.
• Calcium rich milk, yogurt and cheeses.
• Fiber is important and can be added in the form of corn, whole grain breads, beans, apples, pears, oats and figs.
• Every mom needs lots of fiber to reduce constipation usually and the foods above are well balanced, providing the basis of a good weight loss plan. Moms who choose to breastfeed should keep tabs on what’s eaten in any given day just in case your baby has any food allergens and avoid products with caffeine.

Exercise!
Some people find it hard to begin exercising and others easier, it’s important to start off easy. Even though you believe that your body may be healed, it may not be and starting off with vigorous exercise can be harmful. Some women do begin exercising with a couple of weeks after the baby’s birth and there’s nothing wrong with a little walking or some mild activities, if you feel like doing it. Gradually build up, increasing your exercise time and your exercise routine week by week. Once you slide into your new routine, you probably find that you not only feel better physically but mentally as well. That’s when you know you are on the right path.

Quoted from: Post Pregnancy Weight Loss: Eliminate Baby Fat

Exercise is not just for the purpose of weight loss. Exercise is more effective in maintaining weight loss when integrated as a part of lifestyle change. When exercise is a part of your life, it lessens depression, stress, anxiety, tension and anger, thus prevents overeating that is often caused by these disorders.

posted by Terry at Permanent Link