If you expected to return to your pre-pregnancy weight immediately after giving birth, you might be disappointed to discover that some of the weight you gained during pregnancy is still around weeks after coming home from the hospital. This is because only some of your weight gain was because of the weight of the baby, amniotic fluid and placenta. Depending on how much you gained during your pregnancy, you may need to lose another 5, 10, or 20 pounds after giving birth. Fortunately, there are several ways to speed up the weight loss process and lose weight after pregnancy fast.
Step 1
Eat a healthy, balanced diet. While it may seem easier to snack on junk food or reach for a prepackaged or microwave dinner while your baby sleeps, you will have more energy and will lose weight more quickly if you stick to a healthy diet.
Step 2
Drink at least 64 oz. of water every day. Choose water instead of sugary drinks, such as tea or soda, to help you lose weight. Drinking a glass of water before meals will also help you resist the impulse to overeat.
Step 3
Breastfeed to burn more calories. Breastfeeding is not only better for you baby, but it also will help you burn stored fat left over from your pregnancy.
Step 4
Look for easy ways to increase your activity level. Park at the far end of the parking lot when shopping, carry the baby's car seat around with you, take the stairs instead of the elevator and spend a few minutes in the morning doing simple stretches. All of these will help you burn calories and lose weight.
Step 5
Take your new baby for a stroller walk. Walking will not only help you lose weight more quickly, but it also will increase your energy level, get you out of the house and allow you to spend some peaceful time with your infant.
Step 6
Begin an aerobic exercise routine, with your doctor's permission. Engaging in just 15 minutes of aerobic exercise every day will help you shed pregnancy pounds, improve your sleep, and help ease stress and anxiety. Do not begin any exercise routine until after your postpartum check up.
Tips and Warnings
- According to the American Pregnancy Association, breastfeeding moms require about 500 extra calories per day.
- Avoid fad diets or severely restricting your caloric intake, especially if you are breastfeeding. While you might be tempted to stop eating completely in order to lose weight as quickly as possible, fad diets cannot provide your body with the nutrition it needs to recover from pregnancy and childbirth. Moreover, you are likely to regain any lost weight within weeks or month of discontinuing the diet.
