Giving birth to your baby is undoubtedly one of the most exciting experience you can go through, an overcoming joy able to make you forget all the discomfort and pain felt during pregnancy and delivery.
Unfortunately, one of the possible consequences of this extraordinary event is the overall weight increase that all new mothers would love to immediately get rid of even if it is considered to be a normal and necessary physiological effect especially during breastfeeding.
But don’t be too impatient. You will regain your pre-pregnancy shape very soon.
Few tips to get your figure back after childbirth
Those mothers that lose weight immediately after birth or during breastfeeding are only a small minority: the most efficient way to regain pre-pregnancy shape is moving your body, follow a well-balanced diet as well as a few simple advices:
- Do not diet during breastfeeding: indeed, your baby will need lots of specific nourishing like calcium, iron and proteins; moreover during breastfeeding you will waste more calories compared to those necessary to your body and you will produce hormones that help losing weight by reducing uterus volume. Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories per day so the longer you breastfeed, the more calories you burn.
- Diet is important, but it’s only one part of your post-pregnancy weight loss plan. You also need to incorporate aerobic and strength training exercises after pregnancy to burn calories and keep your muscles and bones strong. Or you can simply go out with your baby in the pushchair: taking at least a 10 minute walk will help you to burn calories.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day so to prevent you from getting dehydrated. Replace your high sugar beverages such as sodas and juices with some water and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
- Eat and cook healthy: avoid too much salt in your diet as it causes water retention and avoid sweets, fried food, fizzy drinks and alcoholics; eat vegetables every day and make some snacks during the day to help you be less hungry.
- Get some rest: it is important to sleep at least 8 hours a night as during sleep the body produces leptin a protein hormone that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, helping increase the feeling of satiety.
- Share your object: the complicity of your husband, your friends or your parents’ support will encourage and help you succeed in the difficult moments and discouragement.
Listen to your body
Remember always that your body has changed for giving birth to your baby so it is not necessary being stringy to like yourself and the people around you in spite of what our society lead you to believe.
Indeed, if regaining pre-pregnancy shape can make you feeling better, remember that the weight loss has to be gradual. So don’t rush, it took 9 months to gain the weight; give yourself at least that long to take it off. Listen to your body, try to find a few moments to dedicate to yourself and have some rest between baby meals and nappies: you will face more positively the challenges of life!
I had no real goals going into the race except to finish…….but as I got going, I felt great. And I thought that maybe I could possible beat my personal best in a 5k. My first 2k felt good. I passed a few of my fellow walkers, as the runner were also making their way back around to finish their own races. I saw some familiar faces on my way back, which felt great.
