Best Practice for Losing Weight After Having a Baby

Losing Weight After Having a Baby

Finding it hard to get rid of the excess weight you gained throughout pregnancy? You are not alone – which is not a bad thing at all. Why so? Because it means that there are endless tried-and-tested slimming methods out there that have worked for other mothers before you. This means…there might be one (or two) for you as well!

The good news is that you can gradually lose most weight gained during pregnancy with good nutrition, exercise, and a little patience. Of course, it might take some time. You’ve spent 9 to 10 months growing a human inside you. Your body has undergone huge changes, most of which you have never experienced. Hence, take as long as you need. Now, assuming you have given yourself enough rest and time to heal, we hope you’ll find the best method that will do wonders for you! 

Is it hard to lose weight after birth?

Not necessarily. If you have always maintained a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight after birth can be easier too. Regardless, studies showed that many pregnant women are overweight or obese at conception, and a third of them gain weight in the recommended amount of time during pregnancy. If you did not start living healthily before conceiving, it could be more difficult to lose weight after – but not impossible! Developing healthy eating and exercise habits that promote weight loss during the postpartum can be challenging, but the first step you take matters the most and will be the beginning of your new life.   


Best Practice for Losing Weight After Having a Baby

Start With Light Exercises

To help you lose weight after giving birth, a brisk walk to a nearby park or playground with the baby is a great start. It is one of the most underrated cardio exercises! Not to mention, it is a sure way to meet and befriend other mothers on the same weight-loss mission as you. Having a friend who wants to achieve your goals can be extremely helpful. Plus, when you don’t feel as motivated to work out, you can help each other or share your struggles, and they are more likely to understand as they are mothers too.

On top of potentially finding ‘workout buddies’, making new friends and doing exercises can help lift your mood. If you need to, you can consult experts who specialise in postpartum body health so you can get more information about activities that will help you exercise (at your pace) and lose weight.

Breastfeed

This one goes without saying; breastfeeding is a magical thing! It is good for your baby’s growth and development and can also help you lose weight because your body uses fat to store energy for feeding your baby. Mothers who breastfeed their baby, at least in the first few months after birth, tend to lose more weight quicker than mothers who do not breastfeed. Hence, if you can, try to breastfeed as much as possible.

In fact, you are advised to have more food (approximately 500 extra calories) if you are nursing, and you can do this without worrying about gaining weight! Producing breast milk acts like a ‘workout’ for your body that can burn hundreds of calories even when you don’t seem to be doing much on the outside. This also should tell you that you will need more rest when you breastfeed!

Maintain a Balanced Diet

Maintain a Balanced Diet

Your diet is one of the most essential aspects to consider if you plan to lose weight. Combine the active lifestyle (breastfeeding contributes too!) with a healthy eating habit, and you may see results quicker than you expected.

Dietitians agree that the best meal is balanced, with a little bit of everything on your plate: whole grains, carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Find the best sources of these nutrients and select your foods from there. Remember, having lesser items on your plate doesn’t mean it will contribute to weight loss.

Of course, it’s safe to follow the general rules, such as having more fruits and vegetables and limiting deep-fried oily foods and foods with high sodium levels.

It’s hard to say when the weight loss will be most visible or when you will stop losing weight, but research shows that many women retain as much as 5kg at least after all efforts. Losing those last few kgs can be tough, but maintaining nutritious eating and exercise can help keep your body healthy and fit. After all, your and your newborn’s health should remain the priority. 

Counting calories and trying to lose weight immediately can be tempting, but do not try anything drastic, especially with your diet. Losing weight through diet also means you need to pass more nutrients to your baby. The healthiest way to lose weight is to slowly, over time.

Drink Water

Everywhere you look, there are so many fizzy drinks on the shelves in the market. They may be tasty, but they have a lasting effect that only adds to the weight you badly want to shed. Cut down beverages that contain a high amount of sugar completely.

Make water your best friend to achieve your goal. You should have a glass of warm water after waking up before eating any breakfast. This will help your system flush out toxins from your body and aid in digestion.

Understandably, some people don’t like drinking plain water. If you are one of them, you can add a slice of cucumber or lemon to spice up the taste. That said, be sure to drink enough water throughout the day too.

Take Walks

Walking is a great and inexpensive way to lose weight, even though it can be challenging for some, especially mothers who gave birth through the caesarian section. You should not wake up one morning and walk for three kilometres.

Instead, start by slowly walking short distances as you build momentum, and eventually increase the distance daily according to your preference and comfort.

Sleep

That’s right; sleeping can help you burn off fats! Due to the fast pace of life, people are reducing their sleeping hours and making them shorter and shorter. This, however, does more harm to your body than good. Getting a good night’s sleep helps your body to be able to burn off stubborn calories. Plus, you will be mentally alert after waking up, and this will help you make good decisions regarding your daily routine and diet, which, of course, can help you lose weight!

Get a Safe Slimming Treatment

Slimming Treatment

This one can work even for long-time mothers! At PNSG, we offer a Slimming & Relaxation massage as part of our postnatal care Singapore mothers can look forward to enjoying. Our slimming massage is available as an individual package, but if you want a more comprehensive pampering, opt for Premium Postnatal Massage. All your discomforts are combated and your needs met, leaving you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed at the end of every session.

On top of the slimming benefits, some other results you can expect are smoother breast milk flow and production, toned body, brightened and smoother skin, sped-up womb recovery, and better night’s sleep, among many others. Going with Premium Postnatal Massage would be ideal if you have just given birth. It starts with 5 sessions of postnatal massage and is followed by the slimming massage right away when your body is ready to embark on that journey.

As the weight you gain is most likely due to water retention, you can leave it to our skilled therapists to tackle your water weight – even during pregnancy. We bring full body pregnancy massage right to your place so you don’t have to step outside and have your discomforts relieved in the comfort of your own home. So if you’ve wondered, “Is there any prenatal massage near me?” now you know – it can’t get any closer than your own bedroom!

All in all…

No set weight loss plan will work for all mothers after giving birth, so don’t feel disheartened if one thing does not work for you. Moreover, the more weight you gain during pregnancy, the longer it takes to lose weight, say experts. But if you eat a healthy and balanced diet, you’re bound to lose weight. If there should be one main takeaway from this blog, let it be that the pregnancy – or even before it – should be considered the best time to develop healthy habits because it affects both your health and your baby’s.  

Postnatal Massage Recovery Postnatal Massage Recovery
whatsapp