Pregnancy weight loss is not an easy feat – a fact that most new mums can agree on. When trying to lose stomach fat, many things can lead us astray, so try and keep your weight loss regime simple and your results obtainable. Check out our do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind when undertaking your pregnancy weight loss regime:
Pregnancy Weight Loss Do’s
- Do talk to your doctor – If you had a caesarean or a complicated birth, get advice from your doctor about when to commence your exercise program.
- Do light exercises – The best way to start your exercise regime is to start with some light aerobic exercise. Light exercises such as walking, cycling and swimming are great as they are generally low impact on your body.
- Do drink water – Remember to drink plenty of water before, during and after each of your exercise workouts. You do not want to become dehydrated.
- Do it for you mind – If you are feeling a bit down in the dumps then exercise is a great benefit post pregnancy as you will be releasing endorphins when you work-out.
- Do pelvic floor – As part of your exercise regime, you should undertake pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) to ensure your bladder and surrounding muscles have the best chance of rebounding to their pre-pregnancy shape.
- Do smaller servings – why not replace your current plate set with a smaller version? This makes it easier to not overload your plate and therefore over-indulge… and lose stomach fat!
Pregnancy Weight Loss Dont’s
- Don’t start exercise straight after birth – If you were active during pregnancy and had a normal natural delivery, it’s generally safe to begin exercising soon (most women wait around 2 months) after delivery — or as soon as you feel ready.
- Don’t overdo it – if you overdo your exercise you can experience pain, dizziness, shortness of breath or other debilitating factors. Ease into your exercise.
- Don’t copy celebrity mums – The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to celebrity mums and how fast they lose their weight. Celebrities are surrounded by personal trainers, dieticians etc. and it’s unrealistic to try and emulate them.
- Don’t forget your baby – Why not get your baby involved with your exercise regime by taking your baby on your daily walk or playing with them in the backyard.
- Don’t deprive yourself – Of course healthy eating will help you lose stomach fat but you shouldn’t deprive yourself either. To keep you sane and in a positive mindset, treat yourself every now and again – but don’t overdo it – it will only backfire on you.
- Don’t miss out on sleep – I know that a good night’s sleep is a rarity when there is a baby in the house but sleep deprivation can make it harder to lose stomach fat. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more ‘ghrelin’, a hormone that makes you hungry, so try and get a good nights rest!
If you have any advice on your own pregnancy weight loss success, let us know!
