After 9 months of carrying a tiny little person who was prone to kicking your bladder all day every day, it’s nice to have your body back, isn’t it? Except your body doesn’t look or feel like it once did before you got pregnant. Hang in there, Mom. It took time for your body to change during pregnancy and it’s going to go through more changes now as your hormones adjust after pregnancy, especially if you’re breastfeeding.
I know it can be disheartening to look in the mirror and feel unattractive, but remember that your body just did something amazing. You need to give yourself some time to get your body back in shape again. Here’s what you can do to make that happen.
- No dieting
Your body needs enough calories and nourishment during this post-baby time period. Especially if you’re breastfeeding. If you cut too much out of your diet, you’ll cause your body to think it’s starving and it will start storing fat to help you make sure you have enough nutrients to produce milk for your baby. Your eating habits should be healthy all around. Focus on eating well and that way, when the odd donuts or cookie comes your way, you won’t need to worry if you enjoy it.
- Eat super-foods
Kale, fish, berries, dairy. These are just some of the things you should be eating to have a healthy lifestyle. And not only are these things good for you but they also keep you feeling fuller for longer. When you feel like mindlessly snacking on chips, make kale chips instead. They’ll satisfy that craving and give you some of the best nourishment around without adding more to your waistline.
- Get moving
Exercise is essential for getting that body back in shape. It will help firm everything up as the extra weight comes off too. But you’ll need to take it easy in the first few weeks. Wait until your post-baby checkup to get the all-clear from your doctor. Until then, unless you’ve been ordered to stay in bed, taking the baby for a walk in the stroller will do you both some good. Once your doctor says you can get back to more strenuous exercise, find something you enjoy and do it so it won’t feel like a chore.
- Drink plenty of water
Much of the time that we feel hungry, it’s actually thirst we’re mistaking for hunger. Most of us are not hydrating enough. And if you’re breastfeeding, you really need to be getting enough fluids. Get a water bottle that you can take with you everywhere and drink from it. Not a fan of water? Add a fresh slice of lemon to it for a little flavor with no added calories.
- Rest up
A big factor in weight gain is lack of proper sleep. While getting used to a new baby is going to take a toll on your sleep, things will balance out in a few weeks. Instead of staying up to watch more TV, get to bed earlier so that you don’t sabotage your hard work. Besides, who doesn’t love more sleep?
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