Most moms would agree that losing weight after having a baby is challenging. Between the extra pounds that come with the pregnancy, the physical changes that come with motherhood, and the demands of caring for a newborn, it can be hard to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight. Luckily, there are a few tricks that can help you get back on track.
Eat When You’re Hungry
One of the biggest changes that come with motherhood is the way that your body reacts to food. Your body craves nutrients, and it reacts to carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in different ways. Before your baby was born, you were probably accustomed to eating when you were hungry and stopping when you were satisfied. Since having a baby, you may have noticed that your body’s cravings have changed and that you feel better when you eat certain foods. Before long, your body will learn to crave nutritious foods and will begin to reject less healthful ones. So, as your baby nurses, eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re satisfied. This will help to keep you both healthy and satisfied and may even help to boost your mother-daughter relationship.
Reduce How Much You Eat
In the same way that your body craves certain foods, it also has a hormone that leads to overeating. This hormone is called ghrelin, which is produced in your stomach. When you’re pregnant, ghrelin levels increase, encouraging you to eat as much as you need to in order to grow a healthy baby. After your baby is born, ghrelin levels decrease, causing you to feel less hungry. However, this doesn’t mean that you should eat less. In fact, the opposite may be true. Your body needs more calories now than it did when you were pregnant, which is why you need to eat more frequently.
When you lose weight after having a baby, it’s important to understand that what your body needs changes as well. Instead of cutting out food groups like you did when you were pregnant, you need to adjust your diet so that it has the same nutritious value but fewer calories. You can do this by either cutting back on the amount of food that you eat or by changing the food groups that you consume. For example, if you were to cut back on the amount of food that you eat, you could eliminate fried foods and sweets while still having a healthy meal. You should also try to limit the amount of food that you consume at night so that you can have a peaceful sleep. This way, you will be less likely to overeat and put the pounds back on. It’s also important to drink plenty of water while trying to lose weight after having a baby. This will help to keep you hydrated and prevent you from becoming dehydrated, which could potentially cause you to gain even more weight.
Start A Routine
One of the most effective ways that people get back in shape after having a baby is by establishing a routine. You’ll have to figure out what works best for you, but some moms find that morning walks with their babies in strollers help to motivate them to exercise. You could also try taking a bike ride with your baby in the trailer or going for a swim at the beach. Whatever it may be, creating a routine will help you to stick to your goals and will give you something to look forward to each week. As they say, motivation can be a huge factor in your weight loss journey!
Get Proper Rest
As if losing weight after giving birth wasn’t challenging enough, mothers have to deal with more than just their bodies trying to adjust to their new shapes. Pregnancy and childbirth can also take a serious toll on your mental health. The hormone oxytocin can cause you to become engrossed in your baby’s cries, as they can be extremely soothing to newborns. This is why it’s important to set aside some quiet time for yourself each day. Whether it’s taking a stroll, going for a swim, or having a sleepover with your partner, trying to get some me-time will help to recharge and to get the motivation that you need to continue on.
As you become more familiar with your new body and how to take care of yourself and your baby, you will begin to see the results of your efforts. With time, you’ll be able to look back on your life before pregnancy and laugh at how much you’ve changed. Don’t give up! Losing weight after having a baby can be challenging, but it’s worth it in the end.