Your body goes through a lot of changes in preparation for carrying a baby as well as during a pregnancy. As your belly grows, so do other parts of your body to accommodate that growth. In fact, towards the end of your third trimester, you’ll have put on a lot more weight than just the weight of your actual baby. This is your guide on how to lose your baby weight while staying fit and healthy.
Because we know postpartum is hard enough, what with all the baby blues, , we’ve compiled our top tips to stay healthy and lose that stubborn baby weight! While it can be difficult to stay healthy while adjusting to life with a newborn, there are many ways you can lose your baby weight.
What is Pregnancy weight from?
First of all, let’s break down what baby weight really means. The weight gained during pregnancy consists of:
– The baby
– Placenta
– Amniotic fluid
– Breast tissue
– Blood
– Uterus enlargement
– Extra fat stores
How do I lose the baby weight?
1| Be realistic
The first thing you need to remember is never to stress yourself about the weight. As long as you’re being mindful and healthy, you’ll get there eventually.. Don’t put too much pressure and don’t be impatient. You can’t expect to lose the weight overnight. It’ll take some time for your body to shed those kilograms, and even then, for most women, it will never go back to the way it was. Often, having a baby has a way of changing your body shape.
2| Try to Breastfeed
Breastfeeding helps your body burn calories. Isn’t that amazing? Experts say your body can burn between 600-800 calories a day when you’re breastfeeding. If your baby is having trouble latching on, you can still express your milk with a Medela breast pump.
3| Monitor your eating habits
During postpartum, it can be really difficult to watch what we eat. Many people find great comfort in food, and after 9 months of pregnancy and healthy eating, it might feel good to indulge a little. And while that’s okay, it’s important to eat intuitively. Give your body all the nutrition and nourishment it needs in every meal.
4| Keep your fridge stocked
Because you’ll be busy mothering a new born baby, you might not have the time, or even be in the mental frame to cook your own healthy meals. Take-out and delivery becomes such an easy option when you’re hungry. So it’s important that you’re either meal prepped and always have extras in the fridge ready to heat and eat! You can also find super easy, and nutritious recipes that you can whip up in no time. Try to set time aside to cook the meal you’ll enjoy. Eating right will help you feel better, mentally and physically.
5| Snack Healthy
The foods you have lying around are a huge factor in determining your healthy eating habits. If you walk into your pantry, hungry, and see Cheetos Flaming Hot and Reese’s, are you going to be able to say no that? The answer is probably no.
Stocking your house with healthy alternatives that are also delicious is the way to go. Don’t choose bland snacks that you hate just because they’re healthy because chances are you won’t reach for them. Our top favorites include these sweet Energy Balls, or savory delicious chips like these!
6| Avoid Refined Sugars
This may seem like a no-brainer, but as a new mum, sleep-deprivation is going to be a very big part of your life. Having no energy due to a lack of proper sleep will mean you’ll be likely to reach for sugar packed foods to give you a little boost.
7| Don’t SKIP A MEAL
Skipping a meal, in an attempt at weight loss, is one of the worst things you can do and is actually counterintuitive. You’ll end up starving yourself, and overeating at your next meal or worse, making poor eating decisions. Also, skipping meals can slow your metabolism down as your body burns less in anticipation of less food.
The more you eat, the more you burn. If you find that you have no time for breakfast in the morning, try prepping the night before. Overnight oats are easy to make in advance, and is a great way to start your day. You could also easily whip up a super nutritious smoothie using a Nutribullet.
8| Stay Active
Another important factor in your metabolic rate, staying active. This will not only improve your metabolism, and help you burn more calories, but it will also improve your overall mood and mental health. This is definitely important during your postpartum phase, to fight off those baby blues! There are also countless ways to workout at home, or with your baby!
Remember that this is just a guideline, Weight loss takes time and patience. Most importantly, the focus should be on your overall health and wellbeing. So don’t fixate on just the weight. As long as you feel good then it doesn’t matter what the number on the scale is!
