Pregnancy changes your body in many ways. You may notice that you still look pregnant even after you give birth. Once you’re back home, you may want to regain your pre-pregnancy body and lose muffin top, but you may be frustrated with yourself for not being able to lose the weight sooner, and worried if you even can. If you’re going through the post-pregnancy blues and feel unhappy with your new body, don’t fret. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to looking like your old self again.
Losing the pregnancy weight is not something that will happen overnight. In fact, in some cases it can take up to a year to get your body back to normal, so don’t get upset with yourself if you can’t fit back into your clothes months after giving birth. Pregnancy wreaks havoc with our bodies and our hormones, and it takes a while for our bodies to adjust to not being pregnant.
If you’re eager to start a new diet and exercise regime, it’s important to not overtax yourself in the first few months following pregnancy. You will need to allow your body to recover from having a baby, to avoid any injury or any complications. This is especially true if you had a c-section, since this is a major surgery, the recovery times for that are longer than for natural births. Once your doctor gives you the OK for exercise, there are many great workouts you can do to lose that baby weight.
Working the Abs to Lose Muffin Top
The belly is where most women want to shed pounds after pregnancy, since its part of the body where the extra weight really shows. Some great ab exercises you should try are: ball crunches, back extensions, and core strength exercises. It’s best to start out slowly and then increasing the intensity over time. Once again, make sure your doctor clears your to do these exercises before you start, to avoid any injuries to your body.
Cardio
Cardio is essential for losing weight. The best thing about cardio is that you can do it in your home and incorporate it into your everyday routines. For example you can take your baby out for a walk in their stroller, or walk with your baby around the house. The important thing is to get your heart working and it’s best to try to do this exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
Breastfeeding
Along with exercise, you may be thinking about cutting calories from your diet. If you are breastfeeding your baby, that may not be such a great idea. Your body needs the extra calories and nutrients when you breastfeed. In fact, breastfeeding has even been shown to help you shed the pounds since the body needs an extra 500 calories a day. If you start to cut calories from your diet, your body may lessen milk production. The best thing you can do is to start eating healthier and cut out the fatty and sweet foods in your diet. You can start eating more vegetables and fruits.
Sleep
Getting enough sleep is not only essential for good overall health, but can help you lose weight as well. New moms who get 7 hours of sleep a night find it easier to shed the post pregnancy pounds. Also, sleep deprived moms feel lethargic and find less energy to exercise and eat healthy, so remember to sleep! It’s easier said than done, I know, but not impossible. Some great tips to try are to sleep when your baby sleeps, and to nap as during the day. Also, let your husband take care of some of the overnight feedings (if you’re not breastfeeding).
