How To Lose The Pregnancy Weight
Written by Jana Angeles
Having a baby is an exciting period in a mother’s life. Although it can be a mentally and physically demanding job, it is incredibly rewarding to have a tiny human look up to you and share the values you’ve instilled upon them while they grow older.
You’ve gone through the hardest part, which is giving birth and you may have noticed you’ve packed on more kilos than anticipated. You feel guilty and a bit ashamed that it got to this point, so maybe eating that extra cheeseburger during the term of your pregnancy wasn’t such a good idea. Although you may feel this way, it’s never too late to start your weight loss journey, even if you’ve given birth in the last month or so. Here are some great tips to start losing the baby weight!
Find a workout buddy
There’s no ‘I’ in team, so it’s better to keep motivated when it comes to your weight loss goals by working out with a friend. If you’re working out by yourself, it can be tempting to postpone a workout session if you’re too busy cleaning the house or making dinner for the family.
At least when you schedule to meet up with your friend, you can workout together. It also makes it fun and less stressful figuring out what to do for exercise. It can be as simple as walking around the block or doing some weights at home or even doing some yoga to help relax!
Eat healthy snacks
Popcorn, chips, nuggets and other junk food can be rather tempting, especially when you’re driving around and stopping by at your local supermarket. Avoid eating foods that are high in fat and stick to snacking on some fruit and veggies. You can even turn them into a delicious juice and/or smoothie, which makes for a great post-workout snack.
If you have loved drinking fruit juices and soft drink, replace these with water and tea. Try keeping coffee to a minimum and if you do need your coffee fix, avoid adding sugar. You also have to be careful about buying snacks you think are good for you, such as muesli bars and yoghurt. Some of these food products have added sugar and other nasties. Check the label before purchasing.
Take naps
Although it seems like you don’t have time to unwind when you have a baby, schedule in some naps during the day. Not only will you feel refreshed, but it will help you avoid snacking on bad food and can actually assist you in losing some of the pregnancy weight.
It’s important to rest and since life can get busy, it always seems like we don’t have time for a lot of things. Try not to pressure yourself too much to finish errands and take a break for yourself by having a nap. It can do wonders for you!
Start off slow
Pre-pregnancy, you probably had a hardcore workout plan that you strictly followed, but now things are a little different since having a baby. You’re a little weaker and you don’t have much strength back, so even if you want to start on cardio straight away, it’s important to consider your physical health and what you’re capable of doing. It’s okay to start slow when it comes to working out, even if it means walking around a couple of blocks. You will eventually build more strength as soon as your body starts to heal post-birth.
Watch what you eat
It sucks counting calories but that’s the only way to keep track of how your health is progressing and if you’re getting the right nutrients as well. Although working out can contribute a lot to weight loss, eating healthy food is a start to make progress.
Purchase a meal planner and organise what meals you have during the week. This will help you stay motivated and not lose track of your eating. Watching what you eat doesn’t mean you have to cut eating out expenses either; be conscious of the food you eat when you’re out and choose healthy options. It is also okay to have a cheat meal once a week to keep your sanity for a bit!
As with all weight loss journeys, it takes a lot of time, hard work and commitment in reaching your weight goals. If you’ve only just had a baby, don’t worry about pressuring yourself to lose the baby weight straight away. Be realistic when it comes to setting goals and don’t underestimate what you’re capable of doing!