Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss
The realistic and healthy approach to shedding your baby weight
As a personal trainer, it’s no surprise that most of my clients come to me with goals to lose weight. Many of these new clients are also new moms – who want to lose their post-pregnancy weight super quick! It’s not unusual to hear, “Well, Katie Holmes lost her baby weight in a month after Suri was born!”
This unrealistic “Hollywood” approach to weight loss scares me. I truly believe that successfully losing weight and keeping it off takes educating yourself on your body and how nutrition and exercise affects it. A big portion of my responsibility as a personal trainer is to not only help clients achieve their goals, it’s also to help them set realistic goals, and to give them the proper knowledge to do so. That’s why I’d like to share some of the weight loss tips that I give new moms with you today.
Make a schedule and stick to it! – A new mother will typically retain 12 to 25 pounds of baby weight after they’ve given birth. Yes, ladies even Katie Holmes and Denise Richards fall into this category. And while exercise, taking care of your body and eating right can help you lose your post-preggers pounds, you’re life as a busy mom may make it almost impossible. Katie and Denise have a throng of nannies and personal trainers to whip them back into shape, but most of us have less than an hour a day to ourselves after baby comes along. Make a schedule with your hubby, with new grandma, or with your sister or best friend. Ask them if they would be willing to baby sit for just an hour a day – split it between them if you have to – so that you can have this time to go for a walk, to take a yoga class or to just get out and be active. Time alone or socializing away from baby will be healthy for your body and mind.
Can’t get time away to workout? – There are many ways to workout with baby. Try a Mommy & Me resistance or yoga class, where baby is the star fitness partner. These muscle conditioning classes are specifically tailored for new moms. Holding baby will act as the resistance. If you don’t have time to get to a gym take some stroller strides with baby. By this I mean go for a run with your newborn. The stroller will add resistance to your run or walk. Once you get the hang of it, challenge yourself with some hills.
Take it slow and easy – Remember that gradual weight loss is essential to your success. You’ve just endured nine months of pregnancy, so it’s realistic that it will take almost as long to shed those same pounds. Trust me; my clients who take the time to shed the weight gradually, minus the fad diets, pills and powders, always meet their goals of permanent healthy weight loss. On the flip side, those who try to lose weight too quickly always suffer a rebound weight gain, and have a tougher time in the long run.
Forget the “Hollywood” weight loss approach – Don’t fool yourself, Angelina looked so svelte after baby Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt because she had a team of dietitians preparing her healthy meals, nannies to watch the baby while she worked out, and fitness trainers to whip her back into shape. When stars have motion picture commitments they’ll often sacrifice a lot to lose weight. Stars are not very healthy weight loss role models.
Eating healthy will help you recover – A pregnant woman’s body will take up to 6 to 9 months to return to normal post-birth – more if you’re breast feeding, which can leave you absolutely drained. Don’t push yourself too hard with unrealistic weight loss expectations. After all having a newborn can be stressful enough. Start by concentrating on eating healthy. Many new mothers are very focused on the baby, and eating healthy is for their good as well as yours – especially if you’re breastfeeding. Remember you need adequate calories and nutrients for the energy to take care of your baby and yourself. That thought should help you stick to a healthy diet.
Anna Fleet is the face and voice behind FitnessGear101.com [http://www.fitnessgear101.com/]. A professional writer, certified personal trainer and self-proclaimed fitness-geek, Anna has a unique no-bull approach to getting in shape and remaining healthy for life!
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