Investing in Health: Losing Weight Post-Baby

From the pregnancy glow to the new baby's giggles and smiles, welcoming a little bundle of joy into your family is often a heart warming, happy experience. But despite those adorable tiny toes and cute little coos that invade your home, there can be one thorn in your side: extra post-pregnancy weight. If you have put on a little jelly in your belly, have no fear. Banishing the bulge is possible. Follow along for some tips and tricks from a newly slender mom.

My Story: Following the Best Doctor's Advice Ever

At my six week post-pregnancy check up, my doctor gave me some great advice: “Exercise daily, eat three square meals per day, and add in healthy snacks; the pounds will melt off. Don't eat any junk. Well, maybe just a little junk {wink}.” I followed her advice to a T, and I lost weight rather rapidly.

The key to my weight loss was watching my portion sizes in those three square meals, eating healthy snacks like fruit or yogurt, and walking every day. By three months post-partum, I was back into my skinny jeans (yay!). I was nursing, though, so my weight loss was boosted by my little calorie-burning machine, aka “The Baby.” Even so, nursing or not, weight loss is possible for the new mommas...but there are some common thoughts that can trip up everyone. Let's look at those common mishaps.

Some Tricky Weight Loss Bandits

Although my doc made post-pregnancy weight loss sound simple enough, there are a few traps to watch out for. Here are some of the common thoughts that can derail your weight loss efforts:

• “Nursing Moms Can Eat with Abandon” – One of the wonderful benefits of nursing is the extra calorie burn. Mothers who opt to breastfeed can take in an extra 500 calories from their pre-pregnancy maintenance diet and not gain a pound. Obviously, then, eating the same amount of food or slightly less than consumed during pregnancy will result in weight loss. The calorie trap here, though, is that nursing can give mommas the munchies, and it's easy to eat too much. Watching food intake is key for nursing moms who want to shed a few pounds.
• “I Can Starve Myself Thin” – Many people think that eating a tiny amount of food will result in weight loss, but starving yourself can have the opposite effect. When your body senses that you're eating too little, it will stop burning as many calories. This results in lethargy – a terrible state when you're already tired from taking care of a baby! – and no weight loss. Instead, eating at least 1200 calories for formula feeding moms or 1500 calories for nursing moms can produce the best results.
• “One Meal Per Day is Fine” – Although it is tempting to eat one large meal per day when you're a super-busy new mommy, the tactic is terrible for your diet. Your body will go into starvation mode if you're not fueling it throughout the day. Aiming to at least snack several times throughout the day and eat a large meal with the family can produce better diet results.

Of course, every woman is different, and weight loss can be stifled by a metabolism change post-pregnancy. If you're having trouble losing weight, talk to your doctor about any potential medical issues. But for many mommas, following a sensible diet and exercising can help shed that unwanted baby weight.

How about you, MV readers: how did you lose your post-baby pooch?

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