Posts Tagged “Nine Months”

Sarah is a pregnant mother of three who continues to breast-feed her 18-month-old. After each of her pregnancies, she has had difficulty losing weight. With all of her responsibilities, weight loss isn’t a priority. Still, she wishes that, once this pregnancy is over, she will be able to return to her pre-marriage weight.

The average woman gains more than 25 pounds during her pregnancy. The procedure of childbirth may result in a weight loss of up to 14 pounds, which means that new moms still have considerable weight to lose once they leave the hospital.

However, some women simply assume that this baby fat will never go away. Yet, it is entirely possible to lose weight during the post-partum period.

A number of medical experts recommend easing into a weight loss program after the birth of your baby. This means that you will not start dieting until about three months following birth. You should combine a low-fat diet with moderate exercise in order to achieve weight loss.

Don’t expect instant results. It will take you a good nine months to get back to your weight prior to pregnancy. A go-slow approach is best because you need to give your body time to recover after childbirth.

Certainly, you might be able to lose weight faster, but you might be sacrificing valuable nutrients as a result.

Interestingly enough, breastfeeding actually enhances weight loss. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has found that breastfeeding leads to the release of hormones which enable your uterus to return to its normal size.

However, breastfeeding alone won’t bring down your weight. You need to combine it with a sensible diet and a moderate exercise program.

Keep in mind that you need to have at least 1800 calories a day while breastfeeding in order to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

Still, stay clear of junk food during this period. You should rely on food with high nutritional value to maintain the proper level of calories each day.

There are many good reasons to exercise during the post-partum period. In addition to helping to accelerate weight reduction, exercise can help alleviate post-partum depression, improve your mood, and boost your confidence.

Exercise can also clear your head so that you’re better able to meet the demands of motherhood. You might consider joining a Mommy and Me exercise class so that your baby can exercise right along with you.

Another helpful hint is to enlist the help of a friend or relative to act as your exercise buddy so that you’ll have some emotional support while exercising. An added bonus of exercise is that it should boost your energy level, which is quite important when battling the fatigue which comes from caring for a newborn.

Your diet should generally be low-fat but not fat-free; vitamin rich; and high-fiber. Under no circumstances should you go on a fad diet. Such a diet could be quite harmful to your health and could actually slow your recovery from childbirth.

It’s a good idea to set weight-loss goals, but don’t go overboard. Recognize that theres a limit to the amount of weight you can lose during a given period of time.

You may see a number of actress-moms gracing the covers of magazines shortly after the birth of their children. They appear svelte and elegant, totally devoid of baby fat. In the accompanying article, they may even talk about exercising right after childbirth.

Such articles send new mothers a dangerous message: that you must do all you can to become thin as quickly as possible after your baby is born. Such a philosophy is not only ridiculous, it’s also unhealthy.

As a result, you’ll need to tune out such messages from the media and stay the course with your own gradual weight loss plan.

The time right after the birth of a child can be quite challenging, taxing both your physical and emotional strength. While it is certainly a good idea to eat healthy, you’ll need to pace yourself as far as weight loss is concerned.

Over time, you should be able to lose the weight you gained during your pregnancy. In fact, you might find that you’re actually healthier after your baby is born.

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Article Source: The Secrets To Weight Loss After Pregnancy

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Pregnancy comparison. 26 weeks and 40 weeks.
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Being pregnant and seeing your body grow and expand to sizes and shapes you never thought possible, you may wonder if your body will ever be the same again. While pregnant your body is considered beautiful, purposeful, and miraculous. Many of us however, give birth, and then cringe each time we pass a mirror. Luckily we have our little ones to look at instead. And of course that bundle of joy is worth every newly put on pound, but how can you get back to your old body? Here are five effective ways that worked for me and countless other new moms wanting to re claim their pre-prego bod.

1. Only gain the recommended 25-35 lbs. If you are underweight to begin with you may need to gain a little more, you can talk to your doctor about what the exact appropriate weight gain should be for you. Keeping active and eating healthy are essential to not gaining more weight than is actually needed. You should never “diet” while pregnant, just be cautious of extra calories. Just because you are pregnant does not mean it is a free for all. Your baby needs healthy calories, and it is better for you to stay active. Remember for every extra 6 lbs you gain over this amount- you can add one month to reach your previous weight and shape.

2. Breastfeeding. Breast milk is the best start for your baby anyways, and aside from all the benefits it offers your baby, it helps you to burn between 350-500 calories a day. That is the equivalent of an extremely strenuous workout, and all you had to do was sit on the couch and bond with your child. You will find that breastfeeding not only helps you loose the weight, but also helps you regain your shape.

3. Eat Healthy. You spent the last nine months making sure you were sending your baby only healthy and nutritious things. Why stop now? Hopefully by now you have a habit of eating what is good for you. Don’t waste calories on unhealthy treats and fast food. If you are breastfeeding you need to watch what you are eating anyways. Keep healthy snacks around like cut up veggies and fruit and remember that drinks have calories too. Be aware of how many calories are in your coffee or juice. Try to drink 10-12 glasses of water a day. You need water for your body to help flush out the fat and toxins of extra weight, plus it will help you feel less hungry.

4. Play with your baby. Find ways to be with your baby that can burn a few calories. Get a pack and walk around the neighborhood with him. These extra 10-15lbs you are carrying around will make your walk more effective. There are tons of exercises you can also do while pushing a stroller. Get a group of mommies and go together for support. Your baby might also enjoy watching you dance around the room, lay on your back and “super baby” him with your legs, lay him on the floor and do push ups up and down where he can see your face moving up and down.

5. When you feel ready, and after your body has had the chance to recover physically from the birth get out and exercise. Have your spouse, a friend or relative take the baby for just 30 minutes a few times a week so you can. It will be good for you to have a little break and just focus on yourself. Consider joining a gym, health club, or community center where aerobics, yoga, or water aerobics are taught. Walking and light running are also ideal. You will also want to include toning exercises into your routine, you do want to regain your shape and not just your weight. Various kinds of sit-ups and crunches are important, as well as lunges, push ups, and leg lifts.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see results right away. Remember your body has gone through a lot and you have a precious little baby as the result. Your body is amazing. It may take some time and effort but you will look and feel like your old self again. Take it slow and always consult your doctor about what will work and is best for you specifically to loose the post pregnancy weight.

Janelle Anderson is an expert in diet and healthy weight loss. For a healthy weight loss program that produces results, visit http://weight-loss-tips-for-free.com and download a free ebook full of weight loss tips.

Article Source: ArticleSpan

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