Many new moms struggle to lose weight after pregnancy.
As with anything there are healthy and unhealthy ways to do things.
Having an understanding of how to lose weight after pregnancy in a healthy manner is the first step to success.
1.
Limit white foods Foods such as white bread, white rice, pastries, pasta, and sugar should be avoided.
These types of foods spike insulin levels making it hard for the body to lose weight.
Eat good carbohydrates such as fruits, brown rice, and nuts that provide healthy energy.
2.
Avoid crash diets Crash dieting is harmful to the body and potentially harmful to your newborn if you are breastfeeding.
Research shows that women who go on crash diets to lose weight after pregnancy actually end up gaining weight.
3.
Have realistic goals Having realistic goals as part of your plan to lose weight after pregnancy will keep you motivated and on task.
Wanting to lose too much weight will only lead to disappointment and possibly unhealthy tactics to try and reach the goal.
A good estimate that most women can achieve is 2-3 pounds per week.
4.
Just say no Drinking alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and liquor add to your daily caloric intake and too many drinks can slow down your metabolism.
Having an occasional drink is fine, but more than that can put the kibosh on your plans to lose weight after pregnancy.
A typical martini has around 250 calories alone and a pina colada has in excess of 300.
It's good to limit yourself to 1-2 alcoholic drinks per week.
5.
Don't starve yourself Not eating enough not only robs your body of essential vitamins and nutrients but it also slows down your metabolism as well.
This is an extremely dangerous way to lose weight after pregnancy.
You may lose weight in the short term but in the long run a starvation diet can cause serious health issues, and usually leads to weight gain.
6.
Keep stress at a minimum Caring for a newborn in addition to your other responsibilities can cause a lot of unhealthy stress.
A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine showed that women under stress gain weight in their abdomen due to increased secretion of the hormone cortisol.
Too much cortisol in your system due to stress makes it difficult to lose weight after pregnancy.
Great stress relievers include massages, a date night with your significant other, listening to relaxing music, taking a drive in the car, reading, prayer and meditation and exercise.