8 Tips For Reclaiming Your Pre-Pregnancy Body

We all know that losing weight is quite a gruelling and challenging task, regardless of age, gender or circumstance. Losing the extra kilos gained during pregnancy is an especially difficult challenge for most new mothers, considering you are busy with a new little human to take care of.  Most new mothers tend to put their own needs last during this amazing albeit stressful time in their lives, and can find it difficult to reclaim their pre-pregnancy body due to these stresses. For those who don’t know where to start, here are 8 helpful Tips For Reclaiming Your Pre-Pregnancy Body.

1. Set Reasonable Goals

When we embark on a weight loss journey, many of us tend to have exceedingly high expectations of ourselves. This is even more common with women who have just given birth due to how the media portrays celebrities who reclaim their pre-pregnancy body in less than four weeks! Since we are not Hollywood stars who have the privileges of an everyday personal trainer and personal chefs, it is important that you set reasonable goals for your own weight loss. After pregnancy, your body may have changed in shape or become curvier, so keep your goals small and measurable. Slow and steady wins the race!

2. Treat Yourself!

It is common for new mothers to go through a stage of feeling “frumpy” as they often do not have enough time to pamper themselves. Why not treat yourself and make yourself feel like a sexy siren once again by for example, getting laser hair removal? Not only will this make you feel sexy again, it will save you a copious amount of time shaving your legs – time you may not be able to spare with a new baby around!

3.   Avoid Crash Diets

It is important that you do not put yourself through crash or starvation diets at any point in your life, especially so after just having a baby. You need to be healthy for both your own recovery and have enough energy to take care of your baby, so always stay away from “miracle diets” or any fad diets that may be on the market. Always make healthy food choices, cutting out unhealthy processed foods and eating nutrient dense foods from a wide variety of food groups. Fruits, whole grains, lots of veggies, lean protein and healthy morning smoothies are all fantastic healthy options.

4. Breastfeeding Burns Calories

Many doctors highly recommend breastfeeding due to the high number of benefits it can bring to both mother and child. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrients for your child, more so than any baby formula possibly could. On top of that, breastfeeding burns an insane number of calories which can help you shed those extra pounds even faster. Breastfeeding also releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size, helping to reduce uterine bleeding after birth.

5.    Rock That Girdle

Many new mums these days are embracing the girdle – no they are not just for your granny! Many healthcare practitioners recommend wearing a girdle to help reshape your body and reduce any retained water weight that you may be storing in the hip and abdominal areas. To choose what suits your needs best, have a look at the many reviews available on various post-partum girdles.

6.   Workout With Baby!

Stroller fitness such as walking or jogging with your child safely fastened into a fitness stroller is a very convenient way to get fit for new mums. You and baby can get some fresh air, whilst you can get your shopping done at the same time! There are also many video workouts specifically for mother and child available online that you can try in the convenience of your own home. Some gyms offer baby-friendly classes these days, so don’t forget to enquire at your local gym!

7. Get Some Sleep Even If You Think It’s Impossible

We know you are probably propping your eyes open with matchsticks right now, because there’s nothing like a new baby in the house to ensure no one gets a wink of sleep. However, it is crucial that you do indeed find a time of the day to get adequate rest and sleep, even if it means having to take turns with your partner during feeding time or getting a relative to baby sit for a while so that you can catch up on your much needed rest. Studies have found that lack of sleep can cause new mothers to hold on to their baby weight by boosting appetite for fatty foods – yikes! So remember, sleep is key!

8. Stay Hydrated

Ensuring you stay hydrated throughout the day will help keep you feeling healthy, on top of curb your appetite for unhealthy snacks. Many people often mistake thirstiness for being hungry, and instead of drinking a glass of water, go straight to the cookie jar. This can happen even more so when you are stressed with the hectic schedule of having a new baby. Should you still feel the need to snack after drinking water, opt for healthy choices such as Fat Free Popcorn or Veggies with Hummus.

With these 8 tips in mind, we are confident that you will get your pre-baby body back in no time! Always remember that these processes do not happen instantly, so never rush it! Slow and steady wins the race, and always ensure that you are healthy in the process of reclaiming your pre-pregnancy body. Love your body and it will love you back!

Written by E. Hudes