5 Strategic Tips on How to Lose Weight after Pregnancy

Getting rid of baby weight is often high on a new mom’s priority list after giving birth and since this question shows up quite often in our mailbox here are 5 tips for moms looking for some expert advice.

1. Take your time

Aim for slow and steady weight loss. Don’t try to lose weight by dieting until a minimum of two months after your baby is born and make sure you get the OK from your healthcare providers. Your body needs extra energy and nutrition in order to recover from delivery and build up a healthy milk supply for your baby. As anxious as you may be to return to the size you were before, try to be patient. Having a baby affects every part of your body and it can take up to a year for your body to make a full recovery.

2. Use Lifesum

Use the Lifesum app but make sure to set the goals carefully. It is not recommended to actively try to lose weight the first six months after birth. The risk is that milk production and nutritional quality of milk is affected. Both the energy and nutritional needs are higher in a nursing woman and you should not have an intake of under 1800 kcal per day, preferably not even under 2000 kcal. Moreover your goal should not be to lose more than 0.5 kg per week. It is however important to be aware that a breastfeeding woman is loosing her pregnancy pounds faster than a mother who is not breastfeeding. Breastfeeding burns calories, up to 500 a day; so, even though you are eating more while you’re breastfeeding, you can still lose weight.

3. Have fun with your baby

Think you don’t have time to exercise? There’s no doubt, it’s hard to squeeze exercise into your day but you can lose some weight while spending time with your child. Bond with your baby three to five times a week with this fun and easy workout that will also help to get your body back.

4. Just walk

If you want to lose weight after getting a baby it might actually be easier than you think — just walk to lose weight! One of the best and easiest way to shed the pounds is to walk so grab your phone, install Moves and count those steps in Lifesum. After using Moves for a few days, you’ll get an idea of how many steps you usually take, so why not set a daily goal of at least 15000 steps taken? Stroller walking is a great way to lose weight and stay fit while your baby enjoys the world. But why not trying to walk faster or going uphill?

5. Eat nutritious food

Remember that it is important that the food you eat is nutritious real food, not slimming products that are tailored to exactly meet the nutritional needs of a non-nursing person. Foods high in fiber — such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains — provide you with many important nutrients while helping you feel fuller for longer.

Photo: http://www.onlymyhealth.com/imported/images/2013/July/03_Jul_2013/Best-Diet-to-Lose-Weight-after-Pregnancy-300×450.jpg