Wednesday, May 28, 2008

5 Minutes - 5 Point Guide On Losing Weight After Pregnancy

Although, having a baby is a breathtaking journey for any woman, after continuing nine months of pregnancy’s varying symptoms, including enormous pregnancy weight gain, it’s natural that first thing that struck your mind is find means for losing weight after pregnancy as soon as possible. However, don’t be too impatient. Life after giving birth is full of new pleasant and unpleasant surprises, which can cut across your plans to lose weight.

Weight gain during pregnancy period is healthy and natural, but many women crave to return to their pre-pregnancy bodies. The average weight gain during pregnancy is between 25 to 35 pounds. During the birth, new moms shed about 12.5 to 14 pound, leaving 12 to 21 pounds of excess weight to be lost during the postpartum period. Just as it is best to put on weight slowly and steadily during your pregnancy, you need to be slow and steady in losing weight after pregnancy. Here are some weight loss tips for getting yourself back into shape:

  • Drink at least 10-12 glasses of water every day. Replace your high sugar, high calorie drinks like colas and juices, with lukewarm water, and a squeeze of lemon in it.
  • Say no to junk food and keep your healthy snacks, such as nuts, crackers, and fruits handy. Also, avoid readymade tinned foods.
  • An average weight woman requires approximately 2500 to 2800 kcal/day during lactation. The diet you take should be balanced, rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. You should take adequate amount of milk. Iron and calcium supplements maybe taken if required.
  • Breastfeeding helps in losing weight after pregnancy. Nursing babies uses about 1000 calories per day, so breastfeeding is one of the most efficient ways to make sure that the extra body fat and water added during pregnancy are transferred to your baby.
  • Exercise is one of the best resorts for weight loss after pregnancy. Exercise will help you lose those extra pounds put on during pregnancy, ease post-partum depression and unlike dieting, it won’t harm your baby, if you are nursing. It is important that you go slowly with your exercising schedule. Wait at least six weeks after your delivery. 10 minute exercises should be started with and then increased when feel more comfortable. Try to do only low-impact exercises like walking, swimming, or yoga. Come up with your individual exercise program – derive one you can stick to – and try to find a companion in your friend or a new mum like you. Stop immediately, if you are short of breath or feel dizzy.

    As somebody rightly stated “nine months on, nine months off” for losing weight after pregnancy. Do not be impatient to lose weight quickly, as you took nine months to gain that. Pregnancy and weight gain are like peas and carrots – they go hand in hand and it is healthy for you. Therefore, when trying to lose those pregnancy pounds, be sensible and do not entertain extremes: no junk food and no celebrity diets. Balanced diet full of nutrition, coupled with exercise is the safest and healthiest way to get back to your pre-pregnancy shape.

    To get in shapel losing weight after pregnancy becomes really important. By starting out on some physical activities like exercise, yoga, swimming etc, you can ensure weight loss after pregnancy. For more information on different types of exercise that can help you to shed those extra kilos, click on the pregnancy .
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