Remember the adage "nine months on, nine months off" when it comes to baby weight. It took you nine whole months to put on all those pounds as your body prepared itself to grow, nurture and then deliver a baby. Although you'll probably walk out of the hospital significantly lighter than when you waddled in, it can still take time to lose those baby pounds.
Establish Your Schedule
Even if you had a regular exercise schedule and workout routine before baby, don't expect to slip right back into it. Your life, your energy levels and your schedule are now completely different. Adjust your exercise schedule with realistic expectations. Maybe you can't spend several hours -- or even one -- at the gym since baby came, but you can squeeze in 10- to 15-minute workouts a few times throughout your day. Don't throw in the towel if you can't get the workout you want. Be flexible, but don't skip out on exercise.
Your Lifestyle
If you never had to work to lose weight or maintain your weight before baby, here are the basics: Watch your caloric intake, drink plenty of fluids, get lots of regular exercise and get enough sleep each day. Of all of those, sleep can be the toughest with a new baby. Nap or rest when you can, and go to bed at the same time -- which should be reasonably early -- each night. Create a workout routine that combines both cardiovascular exercise and strengthening exercises to help you burn more calories. Fill yourself up on fiber-rich foods like whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and healthy protein choices. Skip out on salt, and restrict fat and calories.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression can make getting out of bed difficult each morning -- much less losing the baby weight. Postpartum depression can zap your energy levels significantly, and affect your sleep and certainly your mood. It can also ruin your motivation and even desire to lose weight, exercise and eat healthy foods. Talk to your doctor about dealing with postpartum depression and your struggles with losing weight.
Motivate With Other Mamas
Sometimes it's simply too tempting to snuggle that baby all day and not take time for yourself -- whether it's getting to bed early, fixing yourself a healthy meal or getting in a good workout. Join a club or group with other moms and motivate each other to lose weight. Create a list of exercise buddies you can call up for a workout, or to go out to dinner and stick to healthy choices. Keep each other motivated and focused on your weight loss goals -- and live a healthy lifestyle for your children.
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