A few days after the delivery, when the baby is all checked and set, the mother takes some time to look at herself and see the new changes that occurred in her body. Now that the baby is gone, most women expect the weight loss to be significant, but alas, it is usually not so. Some women lose a few pounds, but they almost never return to the weight before pregnancy. This can be very frustrating and even depressing, but there are ways to go back to normal and to be fit again.
Weight gain during pregnancy
Today it is a common knowledge that it is not only normal to gain weight in pregnancy, but it is actually necessary. Eating healthy and plenty means that the baby is getting all the important nutrients. Women who remain skinny in their pregnancy should worry of their baby is getting all the nutrition it needs. During pregnancy, the extra weight is distributed between the baby, the placenta, breast tissue, fat stores for delivery, and breastfeeding and uterus increase.
Pregnant women usually have more appetite and they experience cravings for particular foods. They are allowed, in fact encouraged to gain weight, but it does not mean they should gulp on greasy, sugary foods. Taking proper care of the unborn baby means eating healthy and having a well-balanced diet. The question is, when the baby is out, what to do with those extra pounds?
How to trim down weight after delivery?
The most important thing is not to panic. The pounds will melt away, but it might take some time. A woman’s body is still going through changes even after the delivery, and it is not safe to undergo plastic surgery or to take suspicious diet pills. Natural way is the best way, and it means having a reasonable diet and to exercise moderately.
During pregnancy, women are practically allowed to eat as much as they want. After the delivery, they will have to cut back on their food consumption and to choose foods that have a lower calorie count. This means more lean meat and fish, more fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and less deep-fried foods, sugary snacks, candy and sodas.
It helps to always check the food labels. Even products that state to be fat-free have hidden fats somewhere. The same goes for sugar. It is not rare for foods that are not sweet to contain a significant amount of sugar.
Fast food meals, TV dinners and packaged foods are to be avoided. Home cooked meals work much better, provide more nutrients and they can be as lean as you want them to be.
As for the exercise, at the beginning it should be moderate. In this period it helps to walk around with the baby in the park or down the street, to use the stairs instead of the elevator and maybe to do some light yoga. New mothers usually have so much work with their baby that they do not need special exercise.
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