Losing Baby Weight Dos and Don’ts To Get You Feeling Great

 Every woman wants to lose the baby weight once they’ve had their child, but it’s never as easy as the celebrities make it seem. It would be amazing if between one day and the next you could get back to your pre-baby weight, but in reality, it will take a while. 

The key to losing baby weight is not to stress. Your body just did an amazing thing: it made a baby and gave birth to that baby. You should be proud and ecstatic with those results, not worried about losing weight immediately.

The truth of the matter is that losing baby weight is different than losing weight at any other time, especially if you are breastfeeding. So, how do you lose baby weight safely and effectively without putting yourself or your baby under undue stress?

Here are our top dos and don’ts for getting the baby weight off permanently.

DO Talk to Your Doctor

Before you start immediately trying to lose baby weight, talk to your doctor about your specific needs. If you had a cesarean or a complicated birth/pregnancy, you might need to take it a little easier for a while. Advice from your doctor about how and when to commence your exercise and diet program is a must. 

DON’T Start Trying to Lose Baby Weight Immediately 

As soon as you leave the hospital, don’t start trying to exercise and lose weight. Even if you were active during your pregnancy and had a smooth delivery, your body still needs time to heal. The general rule of thumb is to wait around two months post-delivery before you begin exercising.

DO Light Exercise and Smaller Servings

When it is time to start exercising—your body feels up to it—start slowly. Start with light aerobic exercises such as walking, cycling, and swimming, which are low impact on the body (or you can try these pregnancy workouts). You can also start with smaller servings of your current plate to start losing baby weight.

DON’T Overdo It 

As we said, you should start small. Don’t overdo your exercise and dieting until you feel pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or other complications. Take it easy. You’re a new mom. Ease into your exercise. 

DO Consider the Effects of Breastfeeding 

If you’re breastfeeding your new baby, there are a few things to consider. First, breastfeeding burns about 500 calories a day and requires around 800 calories, which means you shouldn’t cut back on your caloric intake too much. Also, it’s important to note that breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which causes your uterus to shrink back to its normal size, which can be great for losing baby weight. 

DON’T Pay Attention to Celebrity Moms

The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to celebrity moms and how fast they can lose weight and get their body back. They are surrounded by personal trainers, dieticians, nannies, and so many other people dedicated to helping them get back in shape. It’s unrealistic to think you can emulate them. 

DO Drink More Water 

New moms need more water than you’re probably craving. Make sure you get at least the recommended eight glasses of water a day to flush unwanted toxins from your system, and to help you feel fuller and ward off cravings. The more water you drink, the better your metabolism, which will help with losing baby weight. 

DON’T Forget Your Baby

If you’re trying to figure out how to get active and lose the weight, don’t be afraid to take your baby along. Your baby can easily get involved in your exercise regimen. You can take them on your walk by carrying them in a sling or pushing them in a stroller. Babywearing can even add some weight to your strength routine of lunges, squats, and rotation movements. 

DO Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Losing baby weight won’t happen overnight or even within a few weeks. Of course, you may be able to lose about half the weight within the first month or two, but the rest can take months or even a full year. Give yourself at least nine to twelve months to make a full comeback physically. Let your body find its new equilibrium and take it just a step a day. 

DON’T Obsess Over the Scale

Muscle weighs more than fat. So, if you’re working out hard but you’re not seeing the scale change, don’t fret. Our weight naturally will go up and down over time due to hormones, water retention, and more. If you let the scale control your happiness, all you’ll feel will be frustration. Instead of weighing yourself often, focus on how your clothes are fitting and how you’re feeling.

Losing baby weight after giving birth won’t be easy, but it is possible. Just make sure you embrace your current shape during the process. You’re a new mom, and you deserve to be loved exactly as you are.