The kilos that one puts on during pregnancy can be extremely stubborn to get rid of. Women often struggle with accumulation of fat around the waist, hips and upper arms, and engorgement of breasts, followed by sagging. Women often come seeking help to lose weight after pregnancy. Here are a few tips to tackle this issue.
1. Don’t Crash diet
While one might feel an urgency to drop the baby weight and get back to pre-pregnancy shape, dieting is not always the best idea especially immediately after childbirth. One needs to ensure that the body has the required nutrition to maintain itself, especially while still breastfeeding. Focus on getting a balanced diet and instead of cutting out snacking altogether, stock up on healthy snacks such as apples and wheat crackers instead. Eat when hungry and give the body time for the natural process of weight loss after pregnancy.
2. Breastfeed
It is widely accepted that breastfeeding helps with post natal weight loss. Try and stick exclusively to breastfeeding for as long as possible. Besides being good for the mother, it also helps in the baby’s mental and physical development.
3. Stay hydrated
Getting enough of water is more important now than ever to keep the mother healthy and body to run smoothly. It can also help one stay full and thereby helping cut down on unhealthy cravings.
4. Get active
Slowly incorporate exercise into the daily routing. At first, aim for 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Keep the exercises non-strenuous. Even a brisk walk with the baby is enough to get the blood pumping and keep the muscles and bones strong. Not to mention, this makes for great bonding time with the baby and can also help with depression, stress and sleep issues.
5. Rest
Getting a good night’s sleep might seem impossible right now with one’s baby waking up at odd hours. However, one needs to be well-rested to care properly for the baby. Being permanently exhausted will lead to stress, which will in turn lead to weight gain. It also means that one will tend to neglect its own needs. Take as many naps during the day as possible and try and get to bed early to stay healthy, happy, and on toes.
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