New mom weight loss is a tricky thing. You see celebrities losing their baby weight in a matter of months, but all of the people you know take significantly longer. You want to lose weight quickly, but you also want to be able to spend time with your little one. So, with postpartum weight loss, what should you expect, and when can you start?
Let’s tackle the celebrities first. The have to lose their baby weight quickly in order to start earning their rediculously high salaries again. And, with that in mind, they have nannies, nutritionists, personal chefs, and personal trainers help them every step of the way. So, if this sounds like your life, you can expect to have your pre-pregnancy body back in a couple of months.
For the normal people like us, weight loss is possible, but at a more reasonable rate. To house your baby, your poor body was stretched and it will take some time for it to normalize.
Your muscles and joints stretched and moved and it does take a bit of time for them to get back to where they were. You will have to be a little bit more careful than normal as you start exercising, because of this.So When Can You Start?
The rule of thumb is six weeks if you delivered naturally, and eight weeks if you had a c-section, alhough most doctors approve of walking, some light stretching (and sometimes light yoga), and Kegel exercises before the six week mark. Listen to your body, and talk to your doctor. If you have any signs that you are over exerting yourself such as pain or bleeding, stop!
What Kind Of Exercises Work?
Generally, whatever worked best for you before you were pregnant, will work best for you afterward. The thing to keep in mind is that your fitness levels are no where near where they were 10 months ago, so do not expect to do the same exercises at the same intensity. That is an injury waiting to happen. Start small and ease your way back into working out as your fitness level increases.
How Often Do I Need To Exercise?
You want to exercise three days a week, and your goal is 20-30 minutes per session depending on the intensity. However, at the beginning, take it easy and get back into the routine. As your fitness level increases, you will be able to go a little bit longer each week. Within a month or two you should be able to exercise the full 30 minutes.
New mom weight loss is hard, but I know that you can do it. Set achievable goals for yourself, and stick with it. Following these exercising guidelines is a great start, and along with proper nutrition, you will be well on your way to your pre-baby body in no time!
