Adapting to motherhood is not easy. The new stroller, if or when to use a pacifier, how to manage sleep…the list is never-ending! But can you physically get back to your pre-pregnancy body and health?
Use these tips as your guide:
• Give Yourself Time
It took time to put it on and it will take time to take it off. Experts say 6-12 months. That means women should aim to return to their pre-pregnancy weight around the time your newborn is beginning to crawl.
• Diet and Physical Activity
With the exception of breastfeeding, losing the baby weight is really no different from losing weight at any other point in life. Making small changes can be helpful for losing pregnancy pounds.
Start by walking around the neighborhood. Then up your game by joining a new mom workout group. Make sure to consider your diet too. Now that you are not “eating for 2,” concentrate on eating nutrient-dense foods and skip empty calories.
• Breastfeeding
Women who exclusively breastfeed burn about 500 extra calories a day, compared with women who are not breastfeeding. But generally, breastfeeding women are instructed to increase their caloric intake by only about 330 calories daily. The resulting deficit contributes to weight loss.
Get back to your pre-pregnancy weight by working to get back to your pre-pregnancy routines. Build them up slowly and you’ll be a fit mom in no time!