Losing weight after pregnancy is easier said than done. And while the weight seems to melt of celebrities, real moms face a daily battle with finding the time to exercise and eat healthy, while still taking care of a brand new baby. To lose the weight, create a comprehensive plan that allows you to lose the weight realistically, by incorporating your physical exercise and healthy eating into your schedule painlessly, without crash diets or hours at the gym. It took nine months to put on the baby weight, so be patient with yourself as you begin to lose it.
Step 1
Wait to get the okay from your doctor at your six-week checkup. Although you may be anxious to get your pre-baby body back, your body still needs at least six weeks to recuperate from the pregnancy and delivery before you hid the treadmill. Exercising before getting the okay can result in the passing of blood clots, strained muscles and excess post partum bleeding.
Step 2
Choose a weight loss goal each month and write it down. Don't be unrealistic about your weight loss goals; it will only discourage you if they aren't met. The Mayo Clinic recommends that a goal of one to two pounds per week is a realistic, attainable and healthy goal for post-pregnancy weight loss, and gives you a tangible goal to work with. Most women lose about half of their baby weight in the six weeks following delivery, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, so wait until those six weeks are up to decide on a healthy weight goal; you may not need to lose as much weight as you think.
Step 3
Write a weekly meal plan that you can shop with once a week. This will cut down on trips to the grocery store with a new baby, and give you the benefit of always having the healthy food you need in the house. An easy way to stop snacking on sugary, processed foods is to simply not buy them. Keep foods that you can snack on with one hand in your fridge, like baby carrots, apple slices and fruit cups, as you'll likely be holding a baby while eating. The La Leche League recommends that a nursing mother should consume 1500 to 1800 calories per day to support their nursing baby and themselves, so choose to make those calories healthy ones, by eating foods that are high in nutrients but low calorie throughout the day.
Step 4
Incorporate your baby as a part of your daily physical activity. New moms will tell you that they don't have much time to go to the gym anymore, and sometimes use that as an excuse to not exercise. Shoot for 30 minutes of activity per day. You can take your baby for a brisk walk in a stroller, pick up a baby and mom Pilates DVD from the library, or put him in a sling and take him for a walk through the mall.
Step 5
Breastfeed. Because of the calories that simply breastfeeding burns, many new mothers find that it is an easy way to lose weight after being pregnant. Breastfeeding also helps your body to contract the muscles that were separated during pregnancy, helping your body to get back to it's old shape over time.
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