After having a baby, many new mothers are shocked to realize that they have retained much of their baby fat. This situation is nothing to be concerned about as very few women immediately revert back to their normal body weight after the delivery. After all, it took nine months to gain these additional pounds. There are several methods that you can use to eliminate this baby fat.

Breastfeeding. If you are trying to determine whether you should breastfeed or not, one thing that you may not be aware of is the fact that breastfeeding can cause you lose some of your baby fat. This activity can burn an additional 200 to 500 calories a day. In the long run, breastfeeding can be beneficial for both you and your baby.

Eating Right. Another step that you can take to lose baby fat is to eat right by planning healthy, well rounded meals. You should also make sure that your portions are normal sized, as you may have gotten used to the “eating for two” servings. When planning your meals, you should keep in mind that you are going to need a few additional calories to maintain the hectic schedule that a new baby demands. Again, if you are breastfeeding, you should include those additionally needed calories as well.

You should also drink ten to twelve glasses of water daily and try to eliminate soda, juices, and other beverages that are high in sugar.

Setting Up an Exercise Program. Exercise is a key element to any weight loss program, and a good work out schedule can help you to lose baby fat. Before you begin, however, you will need to get the approval of your obstetrician. With normal deliveries, the amount of time that you must wait before you can start an exercise program is six weeks. For women who have had caesarean sections, the time period is extended to eight weeks.
Once the doctor has determined that it is safe for you to begin exercising, you may want to start with some cardiovascular workouts. Walking, swimming, and aerobics are types of these workouts in which you can lose baby fat.

You may also want to try muscle strengthening exercises as well. Sit ups and crunches are a good way to tighten your abdominal muscles. Kegel exercises can be used to tighten your vagina and strengthen the vaginal wall.

Keeping a Good Self Image. If you want to lose baby fat, it is vital that you keep a positive attitude. Every woman is different and you should never compare yourself to others. Some women lose all of their pregnancy weight a week or two after delivery while others never return to their original body weight.

The worst comparison that you can make is between yourself and Hollywood mothers. These celebrities seem to be back into their regular sizes almost immediately and you may feel frustrated that you cannot do the same. You need to keep in mind is that these women's success is based on the way they look. Many of these women have a whole team of dieticians, doctors, and personal trainers to help them lose baby fat. Many celebrities also have nannies which allow them the opportunity to spend every waking moment at the gym. If you had the resources that these women have, you would have the same results.

You should be realistic about the results of your efforts to lose baby fat and look upon every pound lost as a success.

Comments (1)

Posted by Mariuxi Romero, November 15, 2009

I totally agree with the above. With my first pregnancy it took me almmost a full year before I reached my pre-pregnancy weight. The hardest part was the initial 3-4 months post-delivery, when my tummy and hips just didn't seem to respond to "fast enough" to my careful food intake and exercise. But after that, the weight started to come off, slowly but surely the extra layers shed. So for new moms, biggest tip is patience! And stay positive...we already have it hard enough as it is with new baby duties! This will be my mantra after I deliver baby #2 in Jan.

- Mayinski from www.mamihoodinme.wordpress.com