Putting on some weight is an essential part of pregnancy to ensure optimal health for the baby and the mother.
However after giving birth, most mothers are not used to the extra weight and want to shed the extra kilos as quickly as possible. But future mums take note; losing weight after giving birth is different to losing weight at any other stage of your life. Your body has undergone a massive change and it's important to embark on your weightless journey slowly and responsibly.
Most women gain between 12-17 kilograms during pregnancy, and around 22 kilograms if they're having twins. This is the healthy amount of weight to gain - it's important to make an effort to not gain less or more than the recommended amount (however obviously there are exceptions - consult your doctor if you're not sure.) Studies show that if you don't lose the added weight after a year of giving birth, it is more likely that the added weight will not come off.
However ladies - proceed with caution. You should not be in such a huge rush to lose the weight that you do it unhealthily. The healthy amount to lose should be between half a kilo to a kilo a week. How you may ask?
Here are a few suggestions;
Eat a healthy diet
A person's diet is definitely the most important factor in losing weight. You can spend hours at the gym, but if you're eating too many calories for your body then you will never lose weight - as they say; 'abs are made in the kitchen.' A simple tip to think about should be that half of your plate (yes every plate!) should be vegetables. Eat the vegetables first, and you'll soon see how full you'll get! The rest of your plate should be filled with protein (chicken and fish are the healthiest sources) and complex carbohydrates (quinoa, sweet potato etc.) If you focus your meals around these rules, you'll quickly find that you won't even have any space left for junk food! Another important tip is to drink at least 2 litres of water a day! It may sound like a lot, especially if you're not used to drinking water, but trust me the benefits are fabulous! It fills you up, flushes out the nasty toxins in your body and makes your skin glow!
Exercise, exercise and exercise!
The most important thing about developing a fitness regime is finding something you enjoy. If you are not enjoying the exercise you're doing, you will never continue with it. Luckily, there are so many options available in this day and age. Some women enjoy going to the gym whilst others despise it. Some prefer Zumba or dancing. Others enjoy getting into team sports such as netball and basketball. It helps to keep yourself updated with the basketball news and odds (or any other sport) to keep you motivated and excited. If you'd prefer to swim, then by all means swim! Anything that gets your heart pumping and your body sweating will do the trick.
Most importantly know that you are not alone!
Many people have struggled with weight issues following pregnancy. But don't rush into anything too quickly, and make sure to take the appropriate amount of time to let your body rest and recover after giving birth. After all, 'slow and steady wins the race!'
