Giving birth to a child is one of the most wonderful moments in a woman's life. One look at the newborn and the mother knows that the pain and hardships of the pregnancy were not in vain. It also means that life must return to normal with new responsibilities of bringing up the child.
Soon after the child birth, the mother starts thinking about how to lose weight gained during pregnancy. Many young mothers resort to quick fix diets, diet pills or cardio programs to lose weight.
However the weight loss will be gradual. After all you didn't gain the weight in a day! So don't expect to lose the excess weight in few days.
Plus it is now a medically accepted fact that the body and metabolism of a woman who gives birth undergoes a number of changes that can sometimes make losing those extra pounds more difficult. And some mothers do not lose the last few pounds till the breastfeeding continues.
In order to lose weight after pregnancy both safely, and effectively, you should undertake a program of slow and steady dieting along with exercise that will produce long-term benefits.
You should concentrate on the health of your child and your own health and diet. After all now you have to think about how to regain your lost strength as well as provide good nutrition to your baby.
An ideal diet for a new mom would consist of:
* 2000 calories per day
* Small amount of fiber
* About 50 percent intake of Carbohydrates
* 30 percent intake of proteins
* 10 percent intake of fats
And you can start taking your favorite foods again that you may have stopped during pregnancy. But remember, do not indulge too much as you are looking to knock off the extra pounds gained during pregnancy. And before trying any quick fix diets or diet pills, make sure the diets and pills are absolutely safe because what you eat also becomes the food for the baby.
Combined with a healthy diet, exercise is one of the most effective methods for weight loss after pregnancy.No doubt you will be busy as a new mom, but exercise is still important especially at the early stage as it will help build up your stamina and return the muscle tone you lost during the pregnancy.
Exercise is also a good way to improve moods providing it is not overdone and will help to ensure you do not begin to see it as a chore. The idea is to reduce the overall body fat while improving muscle tone at the same time although this should be a gradual process.
It must be re-iterated that the loss should not be looked upon as something that must be done as quickly as possible as it should really come off about the same sort of pace it was put on.
With a good nutritional program and with moderate exercise, you can expect to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy within a reasonable time rame.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Loose tummy even after 22 mnths of normal delivery
By: nehamahajan | 24-01-2008
I am a 26 yr old woman, 5ft 5 inches and weigh 62.7 kgs. I had a normal vaginal delivery in the April of 2006. I exercise under the supervision of a a qualified physiotherapist to losse weight and tighten abdominal muscles after 6 weeks of delivery. Daily walks with the baby were also inclusive. The problem now is .. that I was not very regular with the regime after 4-6 mnths and my lower tummy has fallen loose and a tyre like area has emerged alomg the waist.. seems like an empty bag hanging down. I have started the exercise regime again for over 3 weeks now and am introducing many exercises including walks,yoga and a strict eye on the diet. Pls suggest me how can I loose weight faster and get back to my pre pregnancy weight of 55 kgs..( my weight was 73 kgs at the time of delivery).
Q&A Powered by:
More from Rayne Watson
Signs That Your Relationship is in Trouble
By: Rayne Watson | 09/06/2008 | Relationships
Most relationships start on a promising note but many among them hit a rough patch after a few months or a few years. Misunderstandings start creeping in and suddenly your relationship doesn't seem perfect anymore.
If situation continues for a few months and is not addressed, it may go out of...
How Do I Put Music On My Psp - A Definitive Guide!
By: Rayne Watson | 11/05/2008 | Art and Entertainment
So you finally got your new PSP ! I'm sure you are eager to explore it and play all your favorite games. But do you know you can do a lot more with your PSP? Apart from playing games, you can play music and movies, browse the internet and run...