When you've just had a baby, you may put too much pressure on yourself to lose the baby weight immediately. Go easy on yourself. The composition of your body has changed over the course of your nine-month pregnancy. You'll more than likely need to adjust your routine to accommodate the changes in your body, the baby's schedule and your need for rest and good nutrition. Remember that you need to stay healthy and energetic as you recover from pregnancy and meet the demands of caring for an infant, so gradual weight loss is preferable.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor about safe types of exercise at your six-week checkup. It is imperative that you give your body at least six weeks to recover from pregnancy and childbirth. Exercising too soon or too strenuously can cause excessive postpartum bleeding and muscle injuries. Baby website BabyCenter.com also notes that exercising too soon can affect your milk supply for your baby.
Step 2
Breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding site KellyMom.com says that breastfeeding alone can burn 250 to 500 extra calories per day. Breastfeeding also helps to contract your body, bringing you closer to your pre-pregnancy shape.
Step 3
Carry nutritious snacks with you in your baby's diaper bag. Instead of eating three large meals per day, eat five or six smaller meals or snacks. Not only will it help your metabolism speed up, burning more calories, but it is easier when you are busy with a new baby to eat a low-fat cheese stick or an apple than a whole meal.
Step 4
Exercise with your baby. Getting to the gym might be difficult in the first few months. Instead, rent a mom and baby exercise DVD, or find a fitness class that incorporates babies into the mothers' workout. Put your baby in the stroller and take a brisk walk every day.
Step 5
Keep a weight loss journal in which you record your food choices, exercise and weight each day. A study published in a 2008 Journal of Contemporary Clinical Trials found that those who kept a weight loss journal lost more weight than those who did not. Jotting down the information each day will make you feel more motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment.
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