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Weight loss Motivation & SupportTips for
Post Partum Weight Loss
Having a baby is a joyous yet life altering occasion. In
addition to life changes, you'll be dealing with body changes,
too. After the birth of your bundle of joy, you may find
yourself carrying around some extra weight. Post partum weight
needs to be dealt with a bit differently than regular extra
weight. One reason for this is because you're not going to be
able to jump into strenuous workouts right after giving birth.
Breastfeeding is a great way to drop those pregnancy
pounds. By simply breastfeeding your baby, you can burn
calories and shed pounds. Even if you do nothing else to lose
the weight, you'll find that breastfeeding really works to
accelerate the elimination of all that baby weight. You can
combine a reduced calorie diet and exercise with breastfeeding
for maximum results, just be careful. Before modifying your
diet in any way, consult with your doctor. He or she can tell
you what you should be eating and how often for your health
and the health of your breastfed baby.
When it comes to exercise, go slow. Your doctor will inform
you when it is OK for you to start working out. If you had a
vaginal birth, you will be able to start exercising much
sooner than if you had a C-section. Women who gave birth via
C-section are told to wait at least four to six weeks before
resuming anything more strenuous than gentle walking. Not that
there's anything wrong with walking, because it can definitely
burn calories and fat. Once your doctor gives you approval to
go back to a normal level of exercise, you can try aerobic
activity like jogging, stair climbing or swimming. Start off
slowly and go for short sessions. As you regain your strength
you can work up to thirty minute workout sessions.
Also, make sure to do some strength training in addition to
your cardiovascular activity, when your doctor says you can.
Strength training helps add definition to the body and
increases its fat burning capacities. By adding strength
training to your workout, you'll look and feel even better. If
you're using weights, go for light weights like two to ten
pounds. This will ensure you build lean muscle without
unsightly bulk.
Losing weight after the birth of your baby can be stressful
experience, but it doesn't have to be. Be patient with
yourself and understand that it's totally normal to carry
extra pounds following childbirth. Many women go with the
nine-months rule. By giving your body a full nine months to
bounce back, you won't set yourself up for failure or expect
unrealistic results. Weight loss, especially after giving
birth, should be a slow and steady process performed in a
healthy, safe manner.
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