Having a baby is a great experience. But if there’s anything new moms (and experienced moms) can agree on, it’s that belly fat is a real nuisance.
This is especially true since it’s so difficult to get rid of. Trying to lose weight after pregnancy can be difficult if you don’t know the right steps to take.
So in this article, we’ll focus on post-baby weight loss tips you can use to get back your slim physique.
Let’s take a look!
- The Smarter Post-Baby Weight Loss Diet
It’s common for women to immediately go on a diet after pregnancy (once given the green light by the doc). However, this isn’t always the way to go.
If you’re serious about losing belly fat, then improving your diet and lifestyle long-term are key. The issue with fad diets is that they’re temporary, which means you do it for several months, then stop once you reach your desired weight.
But what’s going to happen once you start eating the wrong foods again and working out less? You’re going to gain it all back and possibly more.
So eat a well-balanced diet and consume healthy snacks to curve your hunger throughout the day.
- Add More Super Foods to Your Diet
Another way to decrease your belly fat is to eat more superfoods each day. What’s great about superfoods is that they can do two things – helps you lose weight and increases your nutrition substantially.
This is important, especially if you’re breastfeeding. There are a number of superfoods you can add to your list.
For instance, you can eat more fish, which contains DHA and omega-3 fatty acids, which are key to helping your child develop a healthy nervous system and brain. Cold water fish are the best, such as sardines, salmon, and tuna.
Also, you can add in superfruits like acai berry, goji berry, and turmeric to help shed more weight. The idea is to choose foods that are rich in nutrients and low in fat and calories.
- Breastfeed Your Little One
In case you didn’t know, the act of breastfeeding alone can shrink your belly fat greatly. In fact, you can burn up to 1 lb a week. But this is only so if you’re well-nourished and healthy.
Typically, breastfeeding moms require 300 to 500 calories more per day than what you needed prior to your pregnancy.
Some moms even feel their stomach muscles contracting during breastfeeding sessions, which speeds up the uterus shrinkage (and bleeding).
There’s still research going on to determine whether breastfeeding really does help you lose your baby weight faster. The results vary from person to person, since your diet and lifestyle play a major role in your weight loss.
However, breastfeeding is a good idea either way, since it’s a healthy choice for your newborn. As far as how long you breastfeed is up to you. Some do it for six months and others do it for as long as two years.
- Get Moving Every Day
You can’t expect any belly fat diet to work for you if you’re not also exercising. This is key to getting your heart pumping and body sweating, which are key to detoxing your body and shedding excess fat.
It’s a good idea to put together a routine to help you stay motivated. For instance, you can create a schedule that works around your job and baby activities. If your baby tends to sleep around noon for 35 min, then use this time to put in a workout.
Working out can also improve your mental and emotional well-being. It can help with depression, which is sometimes an issue right after pregnancy.
When your body’s fit, you can feel better about yourself and have more energy to manage taking care of a newborn each day.
- Drink Plenty of Water
Water is the only substance that can truly hydrate your body. Drinking enough water each day is critical to flushing out your system. You can think of your digestion as a toilet – it can’t flush without water!
When you drink a lot of water daily it can help boost your metabolism, which is key to losing weight and belly fat. Typical recommendations include 8 glasses of water every day.
However, there are other recommendations, such as drinking half your body weight in ounces per day. And looking at your urine – if it’s dark yellow, then that’s a sign of dehydration. So is having a strong odor.
The goal is to get your urine as clear as possible. And you should be using the bathroom every 3 to 4 hours.
- Get Lots of Sleep
Now, this seems a bit difficult to do, especially when you have a newborn baby. However, if you’re working out and eating right while taking care of your baby, then sleep will come easily to you.
Also, as a rule of thumb for new moms, it’s recommended that you sleep whenever your baby sleeps. This will give you plenty of naps throughout the day. Be sure to go to bed early as well – staying up late will make you cranky and lazy, which means no working out.
If needed, ask someone for help watching your baby so you can take a long nap. And if you’re breastfeeding, you can always pump milk so others can feed your infant.
Getting Rid of Your Baby Fat
There’s a fine line between baby fat and obesity, especially after pregnancy. If you’re not careful, you could become obese, making it more difficult to return to your pre-pregnancy weight.
With the above tips, you can ensure you’re on the right path to shedding weight and your annoying belly fat. There are also other tips you can use to enhance your results, such as eliminating certain fatty foods from your diet and doing high-intensity interval training.
So give these tips a try to see what helps you with your post-baby weight loss. If you’d like to learn more about leading a healthier lifestyle, then check out The Primitive Palate blog. We share a ton of great recipes, so come by our site today!
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