 From the moment the baby weight starts to accumulate on our bodies, the scheming begins about how to drop the pounds once the little one arrives. After your baby is born and your days gradually begin to regain somewhat of a routine, it's time to put your ideas into action. If you're not sure exactly how to begin, here are seven proven steps for working your way back to your pre-pregnancy body—or better! 1. Get Up & MoveMost new moms are too sleep-deprived and overwhelmed to even think about exercise. That's perfectly OK, says exercise physiologist and postpartum-fitness expert Renee M. Jeffreys, M.S. Most women's bodies aren't ready for serious exercise until six weeks after giving birth, anyway—longer if they've had a Cesarean section. Start by walking around the block, Jeffreys says. If it feels good and doesn't cause or exacerbate bleeding, walk a little farther the next day. Do this until your six-week checkup, after which you should be ready to do 20 to 30 minutes of cardio 3 to 5 times a week. You don't even have to leave your neighbourhood: The Surgeon General says that pushing a stroller 1-2 miles in 30 minutes burns 150 calories. So does walking up and down stairs for 15 minutes. 2. BreastfeedWhen you're breastfeeding, you need an extra 500 calories a day, or about 2,700 total. But since breastfeeding burns 600 to 800 calories a day, even if all you do is sit comfortably and feed your baby, you could still be losing weight. Some lucky women can drop all their baby fat, and then some, through breastfeeding alone. That happened to Tiffany Tinson of Bronxville, N.Y. Six months after giving birth to her first child, Connor, Tinson had dipped to 10 pounds below her prepregnancy weight, even though she was eating more and not exercising much. "I attribute it all to breastfeeding," she says. But be aware that as soon as you stop or taper off breastfeeding, or begin supplementing your baby's diet with solids, your calorie needs will plummet. You could really pack on the weight if you don't adjust your diet downward and/or your exercise routine upward. 3. Lift Weights & Get StrongWeight training will go a long way toward speeding up your metabolism. However, instead of going to the gym or investing in a set of dumbbells right away, Jeffreys suggests incorporating your baby into your routine. Hold the baby to your chest and do lunges, say, or do lunges behind the stroller as you walk. Or lie on your back, holding the baby above your chest, and slowly press her up toward the ceiling several times. If you're unsure about what you're doing, hire a personal trainer with a certification in prenatal and postnatal fitness for a few weeks to get you on the right track. 4. Take Naps"Getting plenty of sleep has been shown to help with weight loss because you're not compelled to binge on high-calorie, high-sugar foods for energy," says Sheah Rarback, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Strange sleep cycles like those forced on you by a newborn can upset your metabolism and make it harder for you to lose your pregnancy weight, Rarback says. Take a nap anytime the baby does, housework be damned. That way, you won't end up with a long-term sleep deficit, and you'll keep your energy levels and your potentially naughty cravings in check. Whatever you do, don't sacrifice sleep for exercise time in those early weeks. If you don't sleep enough, you won't have enough energy for satisfying workouts, anyway. 5. Get a MassageMany women, after giving birth, are opting for the traditional Malay/Indonesian massage (AKA the jamu massage) to help them get back in shape. The jamu massage is usually recognised by the binding, known as bengkung perut, which is a piece of cloth or a girdle. In the jamu massage, your stomach is bound fairly tightly after the massage in order to help it regain its original shape. While slimming massage techniques help to tone and flatten the abdominal muscles, it also helps active mothers relax and revitalise from the exercises recommended in points 1 and 3 above. For more than 10 years, Jari Singapore provides pre/post natal massages by certified and licensed masseuses in the comfort of your own home. To learn more about our trials and packages, click here or call us at +65 8233 2476! This article contains an excerpt from "Tips for How to Lose the Baby Weight" as featured on fitpregnancy.com.
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