During pregnancy, additional weight is actually important. It provides nourishment to your developing baby and is also stored for breastfeeding your baby after delivery. The only problem is, it can also cause self consciousness once the baby has been delivered. The easiest way to lose this weight is by making slow and gradual changes to your diet and becoming more active.
Step 1
Walk around the block pushing your baby in his stroller. This will occupy your son and cause you to burn calories and tone up your legs. The stroller will act as good added resistance as well. To lose weight, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends 60 to 90 minutes of cardio, five days a week. Go for several walks during the day if you cannot fit this into one long session. Walk at a pace that elevates your heart rate and causes you to sweat.
Step 2
Lift your baby to do weight-training exercises. Any time you add muscle to your body, you increase your resting metabolism and burn more calories while at rest. Lie on your back and lift your daughter to do chest presses, hold her in your arms from a standing position to do squats, lower and lift her to do biceps curls and raise her above your head to do shoulder presses.
Step 3
Replace the high calorie foods in your diet. Choose low-fat yogurt in place of ice cream, eat fruit in place of candy, choose lean turkey and chicken breasts over deep-fried chicken, and eat popcorn or soy crisps instead of chips.
Step 4
Eat more frequently throughout the day. This will keep your metabolism lifted and your appetite under control. Have a balanced meal every two to three hours. A balanced meal has a portion of protein and complex carbs. Low-fat cheese sticks with a handful of raw vegetables and an apple is a balanced meal example.
Step 5
Choose water as your main source of liquid. Calories are still calories, even in the form of beverages. Wean off of the soda, sweetened teas, milk shakes, slushies, processed juices and dessert coffees. Stick with water, as it has no calories and it also helps flush toxins from the system. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women get approximately 2.7 liters of water a day. This comes out to about 12 cups.
Step 6
Prepare a meal first thing in the morning. Eating breakfast gets you on track to make healthy choices all day. Spend five minutes whipping up a healthy meal like a bowl of oatmeal with soy milk and berries or yogurt with granola and fruit mixed in.
Step 7
Perform abdominal exercises to tone your tummy. Do easy exercises like leg raises, planks, side bends, side crunches and conventional crunches. Work out while you watch TV in the evening or while your baby is taking a nap.
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