As you may already know, losing weight after pregnancy can sometimes be very challenging. With a new baby joining the family, change is inevitable, and life becomes more hectic. There is also a bit of recovery involved after your baby is born, irrespective of the type of delivery. So tips to help a new mom lose weight after pregnancy are definitely appreciated! Below we have put together a list of 10 healthy post-pregnancy weight loss methods that we think can make a difference. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
1. Drink Enough water
One of the cardinal rules of losing weight after pregnancy is to stay hydrated and drink enough H2O! Drinking water triggers a process called thermogenesis which kick-starts your metabolism, and you burn those calories in no time!
You can try this trick- drink about 2 glasses (8 ounces before meals) and watch those pounds fall away. Health professionals generally recommend drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. However, everyone has different water needs so let your body guide you.
2. Manage Your Stress
Stress and weight gain are linked. When you are stressed, your body releases cortisol. As your cortisol levels increase, your weight loss rate decreases. We know that having a newborn in the house can be very stressful but take time out for yourself and lean on your support system if you have one. Stress can also make you crave all the foods that can work against your weight loss program, i.e., sweets, fatty and salty foods.
3. Breastfeed your baby if you can
Breastfeeding, as you know, has health benefits for both mother and baby. Breastmilk is a superfood for babies with antibodies, sugars, fats, and proteins. Breastfeeding can help reset your metabolism after you give birth. It helps you burn calories, reducing fat deposits in the body.
4. Sleep
Okay, we know this one may feel impossible with a newborn. However, not getting enough rest may make it harder to shed pounds.
Getting enough rest may be challenging, especially in the first few months of your baby’s life. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and family so that you can grab some rest.
5. Exercise
As your body heals and gets more substantial, you can introduce walking. Then depending on your preference, you can go running or cycling. Interval and resistance training also helps to kick start the fat-burning process.
The good thing about exercise is that you can customize your workouts to do them at home. It may be hard to get away with a baby, although mom and baby exercise classes are available. There are fun workouts that you can access on apps on your phone.
6. Stay away from the refined carbs and added sugars
You are not doing yourself any favors by indulging in these high-calorie foods. If you are not sure what you should stay away from. You can start by avoiding cookies, pastries, sodas, cakes, and fruit juices with added sugar.
All you need to do is pay attention to your labels at the supermarket, and you should be able to avoid these weight loss saboteurs. Avoiding these foods will definitely help you lose weight after pregnancy.
7. Stay away from highly processed foods
Highly processed foods have very little nutritional value, are packed with unhealthy fats and calories, and can work against your post–pregnancy weight loss goals.
Foods to avoid are chips, prepackaged foods, chips, packaged baked goods, candy, processed cheeses, and ready-to-go meals.
8. Avoid Alcohol
If you are breastfeeding, you should already have this one covered. Alcohol, unfortunately, is packed full of useless calories. It also contributes to belly fat, which you are trying to lose!
While you are on your mission to lose weight after pregnancy, maybe try sparkling flavored water.
9. Eat healthily
We have talked about what to avoid, but your nutrition is just as important. When you want to lose weight after pregnancy, you need to:
- Add fiber to your diet (vegetables, fruit, and healthy grains)
- Add healthy proteins (lean meats, legumes, eggs, nuts and seeds, dairy, low mercury fish)
10. Keep your snacks healthy.
Since you have cut out the unhealthy snacks, there are tasty, healthy alternatives that you can keep handy. You can stock up on some yummy snacks: mixed nuts, air-popped popcorn, granola, and dried fruits.
Hopefully, these 10 ways to lose weight can make a difference in your post-pregnancy weight loss journey.