Winning At Post-partum Weight Loss: Six Simple Strategies For New Moms ? Part 1
|
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now that baby's here, you're probably wishing those extra pounds would hurry up and disappear! While it won't happen overnight, these six simple tips can help you lose that extra weight in a healthy way. (If you're looking for parts 2 and 3 of this article, you can find them both at http://www.mambomoms.com/articles.html)
1) Try to relax and don't be in too much of a hurry to lose your extra pregnancy weight. Remember, it took 9 months for you to put it on, and you should give yourself at least half that amount of time to take it back off. In fact, eight to 12 months is not an unreasonable amount of time to give yourself. And even if it does take a year to get back to your pre-pregnancy size and shape, those pounds are all the more likely to stay off because you've lost them gradually.
You definitely should not be thinking about weight loss at all in the early post-partum weeks. Your body needs this time to recover from giving birth, readjust to its pre-pregnancy state, and establish a milk supply for your baby. Besides, most new moms find that a fair amount of weight tends to melt off all by itself in these first few weeks as excess fluids retained in late pregnancy are gradually shed.
Remember that gradual weight loss based on sensible nutrition and enjoyable physical activity is the best path to permanent weight loss. This applies whether or not weight gain is due to pregnancy, but when you are dealing with all the changes and adjustments that come with having a new baby, it's all the more important to take a slow and steady approach so you don't add to your stress level.
And speaking of stress, recent research shows that when you're stressed, your body releases hormones that can contribute to weight gain. So try not to add to your stress level at this time by putting unreasonable pressure on yourself to lose that extra weight too fast. Instead, take a long term approach and be sure to incorporate some kind of relaxation into your day, whether it's having a nap, a warm bath, or receiving a relaxing back massage.
2) Eat well and nourish yourself with healthy foods so you'll have the energy you need to care for yourself and your baby. If you restrict your calories you'll probably get tired, cranky, and lose energy, making you less apt to exercise and less able to take good care of your baby.
Cutting back too much on your caloric intake can also sabotage your weight loss efforts by forcing your body into "starvation mode." When your body isn't getting enough fuel, it becomes much more efficient at using what you do give it, so that over time you will actually gain weight rather than lose it. You are much better off to eat well and get regular, moderate exercise to help shed those extra pounds.
Remember though, that there is a big difference between eating and eating well! If you eat nourishing foods you will probably feel full sooner and you will likely need fewer calories than if you eat "empty calorie" foods like white bread and french fries. Eat a variety of healthy foods, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and make sure you are getting a proper balance of the major nutrients (protein, carbohydrate and healthy fats). You may want to talk to your doctor or midwife about continuing to take your pre-natal multivitamin, or other supplements, at least during the immediate post-partum period.
Snacking is something you'll probably want to do a lot of, either because you may not always have time to prepare a meal, or because the demands of caring for a new baby mean you get hungry more often.
Here are a few ideas for good, nutrient-dense choices for snack foods:
? apple slices spread with low fat cream cheese and sprinkled with crushed walnuts
? yogurt with chopped fresh fruit and nuts
? whole grain toast with nut butter
? cheese with whole grain crackers or rice cakes
? tomato or mixed vegetable juice with a hard boiled egg
On the other hand, try not to overdo it. Being pregnant or nursing a baby is not a license to indulge in a non-stop buffet of foods, even if they are nutritious! Eat when you are hungry, make healthy food choices most of the time, and remember that your baby is counting on you to choose wisely if you're breastfeeding, so make those calories count nutrient-wise.
In part two of this article, you'll learn why drinking plenty of pure water is important to weight loss in general, and to post-partum weight loss in particular. You'll also find out how many calories a day you'll use by breastfeeding your baby. Part three will teach you how you can burn extra calories easily and enjoyably without huffing and puffing at the gym. You'll also learn the secret that savvy new moms use to effortlessly burn up to an extra 200 calories a day -that's 2 pounds a month with no extra effort!
Susan Peach is a retired La Leche League Leader, a dance and fitness instructor, and mother to two teenage boys. She is also the creator of Mambo Moms, a fun and gentle Latin dance based fitness program that helps new moms get back in shape while spending quality play time with their babies. Find out more at http://www.mambomoms.com
|
|
|
5 Easy Weight Loss Tips You Can Use Right Now
Sometimes, just the thought of starting on a diet and fitness regimencan be so overwhelming, we stop before we even give it a shot. Let'snot be overwhelmed then, OK? Instead, let's look at 5 easy ways youc...(related: Weight Loss)
Winter Weight Loss Magic
If winter hibernation tends to pack on the pounds, take heart. There are some simple steps you can take this winter to prevent yourself from gaining weight. Even though it's a "natural" process to put on weight during the winter, it's not all that pleasant. So check out these simple steps to winter weight loss magic:>>>> WEAR RED: The color red is pure fire energy and it will literally melt fat. Add red to your wardrobe. For great weight loss while you sleep, wear red bicycle pants to bed (if you have weight around your belly and butt) or red pajamas. If you start to get too hot or a racing pulse, just wear red during the day.>>>> DOWSE: You c...(related: Weight Loss)
Zone Diet Weight Loss Program
The Zone Diet as a weight loss program has been discussed in detail by Dr. Barry Sears in his book The Zone: Revolutionary Life Plan to Put Your Body in Total Balance for Permanent Weight Loss.What does 'Being in the Zone' involve and more importantly, is it a healthy weight loss regime? Barry Sears, as creator of The Zone Diet was of the opinion that if a person eats carbohydrate, protein and fat in the right ratio of 40:30:30 then he or she will improve his or her health, weight, and performance, because certain hormones will be balanced and therefore be in the preferred "zone."The hormones focused here are insulin (necessary for glucose to enter our cells) and eicosanoids (hormone-like sub...(related: Weight Loss)
Successful Wls Patients Make Right Their Nutritional Wellness
It seems there are two schools of behavior patients follow after gastric bypass surgery:The first are the patients who realize WLS is a second chance to make right their nutritional wellness and they exchange the eating habits and poor food choices that made them obese for a smarter way of eating. These patients become champions of healthy ingredients and wholesome eating making conscious choices for how they fuel their bodies. They are non-stop learners in constant quest for information to aid in their health and wellness. They are actively engaged in their own nutrition to improve their health and make strong their bodies against disease. These patients have tremendous success in long-term weight maintenan...(related: Weight Loss)
Diet Soda: New Study Shows Relationship Between Diet Soda And Weight Gain
A very interesting story was reported recently by WebMD.com. A report was made at the annual scientific session of the American Diabetic Association (www.diabetic.org) by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, of the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine in San Antonio, Texas.Fowler collected data on over 1,500 people aged 25 to 64 over nearly an eight-year period. At the beginning of the study, 622 people were of normal weight. Over the course of the study, roughly one-third of them became overweight or obese. A correlation was found between increas...(related: Weight Loss)
Facts You Need To Know About A Low Carb Diet
What is low carb?We've all heard about the Atkins diet either good or bad, low carb eating is a weight loss program popularized by diet plans like Atkins, The Zone and South Beach Diet to name a few.They all have the same basic premise, lower carbs eating will result in weight loss and help to make you healthier. Some studies have even found that eating from low carbohydrate menus may actually help to raise your good cholesterol.If you decide that a lower carb way of life is for you, you are allowed to eat:· High fat Steak but not the Baked Potato· Hamburger but not the Bun· Hot Dog but not the FriesFind the right low carb diet that suits youWhich is best for you? As we alread...(related: Weight Loss)
Trying To Lose Weight? Heres A Low Carb Tip If Its White, Dont Eat It.
Dr. Hagglund's Healthy Eating Tips(All wheat products, bananas*, breads, rice, sugar, and potatoes.)Research has shown that these foods almost triple your blood sugar rise in proportion to how many calories they carry... nobody knows why for sure but it's clear that foods high in carbohydrates cause your pancreas to increase your insulin production.The reason we "pack fat" is insulin. Insulin is commonly thought of as "what's missing" from a person with diabetes. But it's more than that. Besides controlling the level of blood sugar in your body, it causes you to be hungry!It sends you searching throu...(related: Weight Loss)
How To Get Over A Weight Loss Plateau
Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight has hit a plateau at some point. A plateau is that point at which no matter what you do, you cannot seem to lose any more....(related: Weight Loss)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster - shukra1111 [AT] yahoo.com | All Rights Reserved | Weight Loss