Monday, December 1, 2008

Part 1 Diet & Exercises For Losing Weight Post- Pregnancy

By Floirentina Ryan

Starting a diet plan straight away post delivery affects your lactation . It takes time to get back to your exact shape before pregnancy therefore you must be patient. Start slowly with 5 minutes and work your way up to 30 minutes per day for 3 days a week is ideal . Walking, swimming,cycling and other kind of cardiovascular exercise is sensible few days a week.Incorporate Pilates two days a week if you can. You must listen to your body, take it easy and do not push yourself too hard! Your body needs to heal! Post pregnancy diet plays a big role in healing the body from the changes it has gone through pregnancy. Speedy weight loss post-pregnancy is not very healthy for the new mum as it can lead to health problems and possibly post-partum depression. Have your six weeks post partum check up then start a sensible weight loss plan in consultation with your doctor.

After childbirth exercise is very important. To guarantee weight loss post pregnancy is to stick to consistent regular exercise routine, together with a proper, well balanced post pregnancy diet. When you have decided to get on with your weight loss program, do not overdo it or over exercise. Choose foods, low in fat and high protein content low in carbohydrates and increase your intake of fibrous foods like, fruits ,vegetables and drink lots of water. Avoid take away food, fried and fatty ,spicy foods and high sugar content drinks as it goes through your milk and can affect the baby.It is important to keep yourself well hydrated while you are exercising. Citrus fruits are also very good, are high on fiber as well as fluid. Include a lot of green leafy vegetables in your diet, as they are a very rich source of iron

Dieting while breast feeding is not sensible, your breast milk can get affected by crash diet. You must focus post pregnancy diet and exercise towards a healthy weight. You need a well balanced-diet to keep you both well nourished and stay healthy. Exercising and dieting in post pregnancy period can drain your energy levels and you might not be able to give all your attention to your baby's needs. Organize yourself and have plenty of rest and sleep whenever you can. Parts of your body such as your hips or stomach might not retain their original shape for a while so do not be concern about it as it will take time.

Dieting does not mean to starve yourself. Eating regular 4-6 daily helps increase your metabolism. Milk, cereals , meat and salads are good sources of nutrition. To reduce the pace at which you are eating,it will also reduce your intake, as you will experience when you have a very full stomach .Increase your water intake to at least 10 or more glasses a day. Water is the best form of fluid, detoxifies your body by washing away all the toxins and hydrates you especially when you are breastfeeding.

Breast-feeding helps weight loss in the first 12 months after post delivery. Do not depend on breast-feeding for losing weight. Breastfeeding alone does not protect you from getting pregnant again, therefore be aware and take precaution. Breastfeeding burns at least 500 calories per day. Focus on high fiber food (vegetables and fruit) whole grain nutrient-rich choices include low-fat dairy products, such as skimmed milk, yoghurt and low-fat cheeses. White meat poultry, most fish, beans, and lean cuts of beef and pork are good sources of protein, as well as zinc, iron and B vitamins.Avoid fatty,spicy foods,fried foods and take fruit and vegetables and fruit juices in moderation,goes through your milk if you are breastfeeding and can give your baby diarrhea.

You use-up the fat stored during pregnancy while breastfeeding and thereby help you lose weight and get your shape back more rapid naturally. However, you will need more calories to meet the demand of breastfeeding and your appetite may increase as well. - 15995

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