You are finally able to enjoy a healthy babymoon after your wedding day. You wake up blissfully unaware of the world around you, excited to enjoy a few days of parenthood with your partner. After a long day of dancing with your guests, feeding your baby, and cooing over his or her every need, you find yourself struggling with a severe appetite. You may feel tempted to indulge in snacks that you weren’t allowed to have while pregnant, but your desire to provide your child with the best possible start in life overrides any cravings you have. You resolve to lose the baby weight as soon as possible, and start your journey to a healthier you.
It’s not uncommon for women to struggle with their weight after giving birth. According to the Mayo Clinic, the number of postpartum weight disorders ranges from 20 to 30 percent of all new mothers. The good news is that there are things you can do to get back in shape in no time at all.
Don’t Be Fooled By Appearances
It’s no secret that the hormones that regulate your body during and after pregnancy can cause you to gain a lot of weight. However, this should not be an excuse for you to indulge yourself. Hitting the gym and trying out new recipes are both valid ways to shed off the extra pounds, but so is taking care of your mental health. If you are constantly beating yourself up because of the way you look, you are guaranteed to keep struggling with your weight. It’s important to realize that appearances are not necessarily an accurate gauge of your physical condition. For example, a lot of women who appear to be obese or even seriously overweight are actually in good health. On the flip side, there are thin people who are very sickly.
Look At What’s Inside
When you were pregnant, you received nutrition advice from doctors and wellness specialists who wanted to help you provide your baby with the best chance of reaching their full potential. One of the things they probably told you is to watch out for hidden sugars and carbohydrates in your diet. As a result, you may have cut out sugar, including artificial sweeteners, which are commonly found in most foods. When you cut out refined carbohydrates, you are likely to feel fuller for longer, and thus less likely to crave snacks. If you want to get back into shape after your babymoon, you should include carbohydrates, such as those found in fruits and bread, in your diet.
Avoid Food That Doesn’t Taste Good
If you are like most people, the flavors of food are more appealing to you when you are eating something unhealthy. If you have ever eaten a food that you didn’t care for, you know exactly what I mean. When you taste something bad, it really doesn’t taste good, and this can lead to you eating it even when you don’t want it. This type of food is called ‘non-preferred food’, and it is important to understand that it’s not necessarily bad for you, but it doesn’t taste as good as the food you prefer. For example, if you don’t like spicy foods, then you should avoid those foods when you are recovering from an injury, because it can cause you to lose your appetite. If you suspect that non-preferred food is causing you to lose weight, then you should speak to your doctor about an appetite suppressant, so that he can recommend a suitable medication for you to take.
Exercise
When you get to the end of your babymoon and are itching to get back out there and enjoy your life, it’s important to consider what type of exercise you need to do. You may be able to walk and enjoy your strolling, but if this is not the case for you, then you should look into various types of workouts that you can do at home. The nice thing about exercising is that it not only helps you shed the baby weight, but it also improves your overall mental and physical health. In addition to this, exercising can also relieve stress, which at this point is probably causing you to gain weight, in the first place. Finding a routine that you really enjoy, such as walking or running, can help you get motivated to stick with your program.
Reduce Stress
Too much stress can cause you to gain weight, and it’s important to recognize this. As I mentioned above, stress can suppress your appetite, causing you to eat when you are not hungry. Sometimes, this can lead to serious eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. While you are not necessarily responsible for these disorders, it is important to realize that you are contributing to them, by constantly placing yourself under too much stress. It is important to take care of your mental health, and try to reduce the stress that you are facing in your life. To do this, you can speak to your doctor about whether or not you are making sufficient amounts of melatonin, which can help you sleep better. In addition to this, you can speak to your partner or spouse about whether or not they are experiencing any stress in their life, that could be contributing to your anxiety levels. It is also important to make sure that your baby is content and relaxed, which in turn helps you to maintain a healthy weight. If they are experiencing any stress or anxiety, then this could be affecting your baby’s growth and development, which in turn places you in a vulnerable position, as a parent.
As I mentioned above, not all women who are overweight or obese suffer from postpartum weight issues. If you or someone that you know is in this situation, then it is important to get help as soon as possible. One of the best ways of helping yourself, is by speaking to a counselor, who can professionally help you work through your concerns. In addition to this, it is important to understand that there are ways in which you can change your life, and the way you feel about yourself. One of these ways is by shedding the extra weight, which will give you a new image and boost your self-esteem. You should not be afraid to ask for help if you need it, because there are people out there who are willing to give you advice and guidance. Remember, everyone’s situation is different, and what may be appropriate for one person, may not be appropriate for another. Only you know what’s best for you.