How to shift the "Baby fat" after pregnancy

Pregnancy is a miracle! The little life that is kept safe as it growth within a woman is truly glorious but unfortunately many woman spend less time focusing on the wonder of pregnancy and birth and direct their focus to their new, larger bodies. 

Part and parcel of being pregnant and having a baby is gaining weight. Normally, a healthy woman having a "normal" pregnancy will gain around 30 pounds during their pregnancy this can be taxing mentally, emotionally and physically on the body. Not only do mothers gain weight their body undergoes a transformation and after birth will never be exactly the same again.

Just because weight gain is an intrinsic aspect of pregnancy it does not mean that one cannot lose the "baby" weight. How is this achieved? A new mother is working on less sleep which means less energy, perhaps experiencing depression and just the sheer act of looking after a newborn can be time consuming so when to workout?

First, it is essential to give the postpartum body time to recover. This will vary from individual to individual but the general time for recovery is six weeks. After a rest / recovery period it is safe to begin exercising. If exercise was a part of your routine during pregnancy then adding it back into the schedule will not too hard. Start small, add two workouts a weeks for a couple weeks and then add another workout for several weeks, repeat this process until there are five to six workouts each week.

What constitutes a workout? A workout can be anything from going to the gym and working on gym equipment, taking a class, working with a trainer to doing a home DVD or lifting weights or taking a walk / run. the workout should last from 20 - 60 minutes. A variety of workouts will keep your mind and body interested.

When returning to an exercise program be sure to listen to your body. Listening to your body does not mean being lazy and giving in but rather knowing when to push harder to see results and when to slow down to protect the body from injury or illness. Hydration is key in this process. Not only will hydration help regulate your body weight it will send power to muscles and the brain.   

Do not get discouraged if you are not shrinking down as fast as your friend or you sister, everyone is different and responds different to pregnancy. Focus on your personal success not your success compared to someone else's.

Food plays a vital role in any weight lose goal. Mothers who are breastfeeding should not eat lower than 1200 calories. Diets can be dangerous as so many begin a yoyo effect of losing weight and gaining weight and in the long run distort the workings of your metabolism. Just by careful food choices you can drop the baby fat. Lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains is the way to losing the spare tire around your middle. Keeping a food journal can be a great way to moderate your food intake.

It is absolutely possible to shift the baby weight it just takes exercise, healthy diet, sleep, hydration and determination.