We always wonder how celebrity moms look so well shaped after pregnancy. Whether its Kareena, Kapoor Khan, Genilia D’souza, Shilpa Shetty all have snapped back from pregnancy with a model-perfect shape in almost no time. In fact, their figure looks much better after pregnancy. So the million dollar question is “how are they able to achieve this”?
Answer is – Dedication and patience are key to losing postpartum baby weight and looking like your pre-baby self again.If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got proven steps for working your way back to your pre-pregnancy body—or even better! Read on for six tips to losing the baby weight:
1. Timing is everything : Give yourself some time: Immediately after giving birth to baby is not always the best time to try and lose the baby weight. The body needs to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, blood volume levels and water levels.
2. Breastfeeding and calorie burn : The post-partum mom needs at least 400 extra calories a day if breastfeeding. The body will use these calories as part of the basal metabolic rate (the average number of calories burned doing normal daily activities.
3. Exercise to perform : You can’t just hit the gym and start running or lifting weights. So start with walking, this could be either an early morning or after dinner routine. Once your gynecologist gives you a go-ahead on the exercise, try performing light exercises such as pelvic tilt and hand and leg raises
4. Eat healthful snacks : Eating too much sugar can send your blood-sugar levels on a roller-coaster ride, and when your blood sugar drops, you’re more likely to eat the first thing you can get your hands on. To avoid temptation, keep only nutritious foods at home.
5. Ample amount of sleep/rest : Recent scientific studies have linked a good night’s rest to decreases in depression and increases daily energy levels. The better mom feels, the better she will be able to deal with weight loss after baby.
6. Hydration : You need to drink a lot of water if you are breastfeeding staying hydrated also helps to clear excess pregnancy fluid left behind, your body can’t rid itself of all that extra pregnancy fluid overnight. Keep hydrated to reduce fatigue, quench thirst and produce plenty of milk!
In addition to these tips, here are quite a few easy and natural ways of shedding the proverbial “Mummy Tummy”.
—Ruchita Srivastava—
Mommy to a 3 year old daughter, baker by passion and MBA by profession.