The thought of losing weight after pregnancy can be a very daunting one, with caring for a new baby you will need to put the health and well being of others before that of your own. Sometimes this can be the first time in your life when you have to do this.
Your time is no longer your own and things that you just did before, you will have to plan carefully to be able to fit in now. Naturally your own health will be less of a priority than that of your new babys, but this line of thought can have some very serious complications.
Firstly if you simply neglect your own health, your fitness and energy levels will drop, leaving you feeling tired and lethargic all the time, with little motivation for anything other than sleep.
Secondly your self image will suffer leading to feelings of depression and frustration. Your new shape may be the worst you have ever been and if you have always been quite conscious over your looks then you will be hit even harder.
Whilst this situation is commonplace it doesn’t have to be the direction you go in. The secret is to be organised and to follow a system.
It is possible to get in to amazing shape very quickly after having children, simply follow these four essential rules for easy weight loss.
Rule 1. Organise meals in advance. Good nutrition is as important now as it was during pregnancy, whether you are breastfeeding or not. Ensuring your body has the right types of nutrients to help speed fat loss is vital. At the beginning of each week, list all the meals and snacks you will eat for the next seven days, then go out and buy them.
Rule 2. Get active. By gradually increasing the amount of activity you take part in each day. Your body is primed for weight loss in the early stages and by working with your hormones the weight will naturally come off quickly. Plan to walk regularly with the pram each day. If you feel tired or run down, just go on a few short walks of no more than 10 minutes each.
Rule 3. Exercise the stomach, but don’t make the same mistake millions of other women do after having a baby by doing hundreds of sit ups. This could leave you with a rounded stomach forever. Initially you should only attempt pelvic tilting movements because they realign the muscles and build strength without any risk of injuring the lower back or causing long term doming.
Rule 4. The pelvic floor muscles will be weak, they have been stressed over the last nine months, even if you gave birth via a c section. They should be exercised every day to ensure a full recovery. They don’t take long, aren’t physically demanding and are easy to do.
If you want to get back in to great shape or just lose a few inches from your tummy, losing weight after pregnancy can fit in to a busy new mum’s schedule. All it requires is a little organisation and planning. With the right system, losing your baby fat will seem easy, fitting nicely in to your new lifestyle.
Jago Holmes is a registered personal trainer and director of New Image Fitness Ltd. He is a qualified personal trainer with over 10 years experience working with new mums and pregnant women. He has created a website for new mothers, devoted entirely to safe and effective weight loss after pregnancy - www.greatshapeafterbaby.com
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