Advice On Losing Weight After Having A Baby

by Traci

posted on 07/07/2009

Losing weight after having a baby can be very challenging. Not only are your hands full, but hormones are going crazy and sleep is scarce. As difficult as it may be, losing baby weight, or any extra weight for that matter, will help you to feel better. There are a few things that you can do to help yourself lose weight.

Don't Snack
This is one of the biggest contributors of not being able to shed the pounds. We don't really realize how many extra calories we consume when we snack. Have three meals. That's it. Don't make your meals tiny salads. Have good meals, but limit your eating to meal time. It helps to not even buy the snacks at the store! It's easier to have will power at the grocery store than when it is staring at you from the cupboard!

Walk
Whether it's outside or on a treadmill, get yourself walking. Put the baby in a stroller or strap them in a chest carrier! Walk at a brisk pace for at least a half hour, 6 times a week. It's best to walk before a meal so that you are a little hungry. It's better to burn off stored fat than recently consumed calories.

Work Large Muscles
If you exercise the large body muscles, you will start to burn more calories. Beginning with your quads is the best start. Do Squats or knee lifts (the kind like you are bouncing a soccer ball on your knee) while you brush your teeth in the morning and at night. Make this a habit and you'll start to notice a difference. Try to fit in weight resistance training for 15 minutes a day. Use 5lb weights or exercise bands during commercials on T.V. Slide them back under the couch when you are done. Many women shy away from lifting weights, doing squats, or heel raises because they don't want to "build bulk". Ladies, building bulk is extremely hard to do…..ask any professional weight lifter. You will not build bulk. What you will do, is increase your muscles thereby increasing the amount of calories you burn. The end result will be weight loss and a more toned look.

Drink Water
Okay, you've heard this one before, but it's very important. It helps to flush the toxins out of your body. It's also very important if you're breastfeeding.

Be Patient with Yourself
Weight gain doesn't happen over night and neither does weight loss. Stress is very counter-productive to weight loss. Stress makes our bodies hold onto weight. Be calm and trust that the healthy habits you start will pay off.

If You Need a Sugar or Fat Fix
We're human and it's nice to have a treat once in awhile! Make this promise: If you are going to eat something sugary or fattening, then make it from scratch! No cheating. No store bought goodies. Make your own cookies---not from a roll, from scratch. Make your own cake, from scratch. Make your own potato chips, from scratch---research how to do it on the internet! By doing this you are not denying yourself all the time, but it will help you to not eat goodies so frequently.

These are a few ways to help your self shed those extra pounds and not go crazy doing it. Make sure you talk with your doctor as to when you can start exercising after having a baby. Start as soon as you get the okay and do a little at a time. Good luck!

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