A woman’s body goes through a lot of changes during and after pregnancy. One of the most obvious changes is weight gain. For some women, it can be hard figuring out how to lose weight after having a baby. However, it is possible for a woman to return to a healthy weight following any pregnancy.
Many women do not realize that breastfeeding can help them lose weight. Breastfeeding exclusively, with no bottle feedings, can burn up to 600 calories a day. This calorie burning helps women lose weight within the first month after giving birth. Breastfeeding also helps to shrink a woman’s uterus back to pre-pregnancy size more quickly than it would shrink otherwise, which leads to a smaller abdominal area.
Taking walks with the baby is another way to lose weight. Fifteen minutes of pushing a stroller can burn anywhere from 69 to 90 calories. For women who enjoy jogging, there are jogging strollers that are designed to allow them to do so with their infants. In addition to being great for weight loss, this exercise is actually great for elevating the mood and improving your overall health.
There are other light aerobic exercises that can help to burn calories and quickly get a woman’s body back to its original size. Swimming and stationary cycling are great exercises for getting the heart pumping. It is important for a woman to choose exercises that she will enjoy doing so that she is more likely to continue to exercise and reach her weight loss goals.
While exercise is a major part of any weight loss plan, any woman who wants to lose weight after having a baby needs to pay attention to her diet. This does not mean that new moms need to adopt a calorie restricted diet, but that they need to take care to eat the right kinds of foods and amounts of foods to help themselves lose weight. While a breastfeeding mom needs to consume more calories than a mom who is not breastfeeding, she needs to make sure that the calories she consumes are not empty calories. Maintaining a diet that is balanced means eating enough carbohydrates and protein to keep up energy stores needed for day to day activities. It also means getting enough of other nutrients for optimal health.
Often, women who want to lose weight find it easier to do so with the support of others in the same situation. You and other moms in the neighborhood can get together and take daily walks. You can also join formal postpartum exercise classes at the local recreation center or in the hospital. You and the other women should be sure to measure progress and help each other stay motivated.
Learning how to lose weight after having a baby helps moms look better, and helps to keep her body more healthy in general than if she allowed herself to stay the size that she was when she was pregnant. Losing weight can improve a woman’s mood and overall sense of well being. There is no reason most moms cannot lose the weight that they gained during pregnancy once the baby has been born.
By: Richard Barron
