Tone Your Body after Pregnancy – Pregnancy changes a woman in several ways. She will not only experience the emotional challenges of growing a tiny person in her womb for nine months, but there will be some physical changes in her body. Sometimes these changes last for a while, sometimes forever. Of course, you see it as a small sacrifice of motherhood.
However, when you see all those images of slim and curvaceous celebrity new moms, you feel like you never want to look in a mirror again.
However, take heart. Before you go into anxiety mode, recognize that you definitely can get back into your pre-baby body shape after having a baby. Nevertheless, all you need is dedication and patience. It is a key to losing baby-weight and snapback from pregnancy with a model-perfect shape.
So, take a smart approach and follow these nine tips to get back to your pre-pregnancy body or even better.
- Give Your Body Some Time to Recuperate
It is not good to go on crash diet programs or heavy exercise during post-pregnancy. Experts are strictly against it. Do not forget that your body is still in a healing stage. So, do not rush into things. However, at the same time, do not be too relaxed. Give your body some time to recover and restore its normal procedures. This healing stage can take 12 to 14 weeks. Therefore, during this stage, it is imperative to avoid cutting calories and going into heavy exercises to lose extra pounds.
- Get Up and Move
Once you are comfortable and get a green signal from your doctor, start some simple exercise like a short walk. Do some post-natal exercises such as water aerobics, yoga, Pilates, and follow some lightweight programs. It will reduce back pain, leg cramps, constipation, and improve your sleep. It will get your body moving and allow you to burn some calories. Mostly, new mommies are not ready for an intense workout for at least 6 to 7 weeks after delivery and longer if they had a C-section. Therefore, in starting, you can walk for 10 to 15 minutes, and gradually you can increase as you get the green signal from your doctor after 6 to 7 weeks checkup.
- Breastfeed
Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to shed some extra pounds that you may have gained during pregnancy. If you breastfeed, you can burn approximately 600-800 calories per day. It can help you in a long way to drop some of your extra weight. However, keep in mind that your body will need extra calories when breastfeeding. So, ensure you follow a well-balanced diet plan. You should avoid food such as soda, chips, and sugary sweets as they are empty-calorie foods.
- Get Plenty of Sleep
Getting sound sleep and enough rest is essential. If you do not have proper sleep, then it can upset your metabolism and make it twice harder for you to lose weight. The better you feel, the better you will be able to deal with weight loss after pregnancy. Usually, babies have strange sleep cycles that make them unaware of differences between day and night. If you do not have someone to take care of your baby while you sleep, you should sleep at the same time your baby is sleeping.
- Establish a Healthy Eating Philosophy
When you were pregnant, you may have felt as if you could eat anything and get away with it. However, it is not true. Once you deliver a baby, it is hard to lose that extra pound. However, after a baby, now it is time to establish a healthy eating philosophy. Set some rules for your nutritional needs. It will help improve your metabolism and do away with the cravings. Remember, you should never skip your breakfast. You should include healthy fats, extra fiber, fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts to your daily meal.
- Have a Positive Body Image
You should model a positive body image. Make positive self-talk your priority. You should get rid of any negative thoughts and realize that you are good enough the way you are. It will help you to improve your body confidence when you have low self-esteem. Stop comparing yourself to others and practice gratitude. Value your body for what it does. Instead of “I am so fat,” you can tell yourself that “Yes! My tummy is squishy, but isn’t it nice and soft?” It will make a huge difference.
- Don’t Forget to Hydrate Yourself
You should drink plenty of water because it helps you to hydrate the skin and make it more elastic. You will also notice that your body is more efficient with more water, too. It can burn fat more quickly and reduce water retention in your belly.
- Join the Company of Other Mothers
Joining other mothers’ company can provide you with excellent moral support and help you know that what other mothers are doing that works for them. You can also go jogging with them and go through a video workout routine. If you are a first-timer, then a mom who is on a second or third child can impart a lot of wisdom to you.
- Elective Surgery
If you have tried everything and still not getting desired results, then you can opt for a mommy makeover surgery. It will help you tighten muscles and remove excess skin. Such surgeries can help you reduce the fat in your body and bring you back to your pre-baby body shape.
Takeaway
In summary, gaining weight during and after pregnancy is quite normal, but you must learn ways to get back into shape. Keep in mind, be patient, and embrace the challenge of tone your body after pregnancy. Indeed, you will not be able to lose weight as quickly as you want, but stick to your desire and follow the above-discussed tips. You will succeed.
