8 Tips to Lose Pregnancy Weight

Hi Mom,

It's me, your little one. Yes, I can talk now as I am 6 months old. I am here to tell you something important that you have been neglecting for a few months now. But first, a big thank you for protecting me and nourishing me when I was in your womb for nine months. All the nutrients that you gave have made me healthy. Even after I was born, you have done your best to meet my all needs. But now, its time for you to take care of yourself.

I understand that I take most of your time. You are constantly worried about what to feed me, where I am, what if I roll over, and so many other things. But this stress and the hormones are making you gain weight.

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Why lose weight after pregnancy?

I heard the doctor aunty tell that the pre-pregnancy weight or the weight gained after pregnancy increases the risk of various diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes and some cancers. If you are planning to give me a younger sibling, then you must understand that being overweight can increase the risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and other heart diseases. So, mom, start making changes in your lifestyle, exercise, follow your diet and stay healthy.

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Tips to lose weight post pregnancy

Most of the moms lose weight six weeks after childbirth, and the remaining weight is lost over the next few months. The best time to begin losing weight is after 6 to 12 months after the baby is born. In case you find it difficult to lose weight, your doctor gave you a booklet the other day, remember mom? That booklet had a few guidelines to lose weight after pregnancy. The following are those tips:

Have realistic goals: Do not be fooled by the weight loss stories of the celebrities, as losing weight after childbirth requires time. You may need at least 1 to 2 years to lose weight, depending upon your pregnancy weight.

• Breastfeed: Breastfeeding has several benefits for me as well as you, including your weight loss.

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• Watch what you eat: Counting calories will help you to be mindful when you are eating and keep you away from the junk food.
• Eat more high fiber foods: Consuming foods that are rich in fiber will make you feel full and reduce your overall calorie intake, thereby helping in weight loss.
• Prefer healthy proteins: Foods with more protein content boosts the bodys metabolism, reduces appetite and decreases calorie intake.
• Munch on healthy snacks: Discard all the junk food, and stock up on healthy nuts, vegetable salads, fruits, and yogurt.
• Start Exercising: Regular exercise like cycling, running, jogging, or even walking, will help in losing a lot of weight. After a few months, you can start resistance training to lose weight and gain muscle mass.
• Stay hydrated: Drink at least 2-3 liters of water to lose weight and to replace the fluids lost through breastmilk production.
• Sleep well: Getting enough sleep can be difficult for new moms. But, it is important to sleep well, as lack of sleep can make you gain weight.

Precautions:

You may be excited to begin your weight loss journey, but hold on a second and go through the following precautions:

• Do not crash diet as you will still be breastfeeding that requires more calories and nutrients.
• Avoid added sugar and refined carbohydrates, as they may be high in calories but lack other essential nutrients.
• Avoid highly processed foods, as they contain more amounts of sugars, salt, calories, and unhealthy fats.
• Avoid alcohol as it adds on to the calories without giving other nutrients.

Seek help from CallHealth

CallHealth is one of Indias best healthcare service provider at your doorstep. It provides three programs with various complementary and add-on services. The programs vary based on the duration and can be tailored for new mothers depending upon their goals. The packages include a diet coach, a nutritionist, a fitness trainer, gym membership and some sessions of yoga, aerobics, and Zumba. You can avail all the services at home and be monitored online.

Endnote:

So, mom, start taking care of your health as we are going to have many adventures together.

Bye until next time!

Article by CallHealth Wellness Team