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Marsha
Brascher, July 9, 2009
Congratulations on the new baby! How exciting
and tiring at the same time. When to start on
the exercise program is a tough
one.
When my third child was born, a friend
carelessly teased, ‘I thought you had
your baby?’ It hurts to think that you
still look 4 months pregnant, doesn’t it?
Here are some easy tips for you to lose
those last few stubborn pregnancy
pounds.
Breastfeeding
If you have chosen to breastfeed, this will
help lose pregnancy weight faster.
Breastfeeding activates the contraction of your
uterus and helps you to burn an extra 500 to
800 calories a day. The benefits of
breastfeeding are many to both you and your
baby.
What to Eat?
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Refrain
from processed sugars, especially chocolate
because of the caffeine, white flour products
(pasta, white bread, etc.) and sugary drinks.
Fix healthy snacks ahead of time. Nibble on the
fruits and vegetables between feeding and
burbing. That way, at least you don’t find an
empty chip bag at the end of the day and
realize that is all you have eaten!
Try to drink at least 10 glasses of water per
day, especially if breastfeeding, you will need
to keep your fluids up. The more fresh foods
you can eat, the more naturally you will lose
pregnancy weight.
Workouts
First, check with your doctor to make sure it’s
OK to start a workout program. Once you are
physically ready to exercise, set a goal for
your end weight. If you are breastfeeding, plan
to exercise right after you have feed your
baby. It will be
more comfortable for you and typically, your
baby is taking a nap!
Always stretch before starting out any exercise
program. Start your
exercises slowly to see what your limitations
are. Then as you work out, you can become more
aggressive. Find exercises that you can do
while your baby is nearby. The activity
will keep your baby alert and the older your
baby is, the more smiles you will
get!
Follow an exercise program, at least 3 days a
week, geared specifically for new
mothers. Incorporate
walking as a daily habit. Taking the baby in a
stroller and walking helps to lose pregnancy
weight slowly. This is a healthy way to lose
those last few pounds. If you have older
children, walk them to school and back or take
short trips to the park.
Support
Make sure to have those people around you
support you while you get back in shape. Gently
remind them that you are working hard to get
back into shape when they bring you those
sugary sweets. When people offer you sugary
sweets, don’t be shy about asking for help with
a load of laundry or emptying out the
dishwasher, while you go for a quick walk
around the block or ten minutes of yoga,
etc.
Find other new mothers to take walks, jog, or
bicycle with. Challenge your husband to lose
weight with you and join in on your
walks.
Don’t get discouraged, it took you months to
put on that extra weight, it will take you
awhile for you to lose pregnancy
weight. Keep that
svelte figure in mind to motivate you to keep
at it!
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