So…after a wonderful long pregnancy you have your new beautiful addition, plus about 10 extra pounds. What can you do and how can you start to get back into shape?
One thing I remember after having my last child, was understanding that it took a while for the weight to be put on. It would take just as long to take it off. So setting realistic healthy goals for weight loss are key. Set some sensible goals of 1-2 pounds loss per week and keep active. Having a new baby takes a lot out of us as new moms, and working out and eating healthy are not always at the top of the list. There are some easy ways though to start getting back into shape and to also ensure you are eating healthy.
* Make sure you are drinking plenty of water everyday. It is easy to become dehydrated especially if you are nursing.
* Pack a lot of little healthy snacks in your refirgerator in small ziplock bags at the start of the week. That way you have grab and go bags to nibble on.
* Make sure you are eating three well balanced meals a day along with healthy snacks. It is easy to forget to eat well when we are tired and busy.
* Take the baby on walks in the stroller. If you visit a park it is easy to use some of the gym equipment to do some push ups, pulls ups and steps.
* Do some stretches on the floor with the baby. Do some push ups and place the baby in front of you on the floor. Every time you go lower you can kiss your baby on the head.
Keep in mind, most workouts can not start after baby without your OB’s permission. Normal activities usually can begin after 6 weeks postpartum. Check with your Doctor for approval.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I found it helpful to journal what I was eating. I did this in the same notebook that I used to journal my breastfeeding (I had a fussy baby). Later, I shifted to an electronic journal so I could really track what was going on. I was sure that I was never going to lose all the weight, but when I physically wrote down what I ate and read it, I could see where I was making diet mistakes. Today I journal in MSN Health and Diet, which has a ton of great resources in it. And I also use their HealthVault to keep track of my kids’ innoculations. I gained 50 lbs. with my first baby. I thought I’d never lose it. I did. But it took some time.