• Rewards Room
    • You are here
    Home / Mum & Baby / Pregnancy / 5 things you should know about post-baby weight loss

    5 things you should know about post-baby weight loss

    Updated:9 Nov 2016 10:48 AM | Posted by
    Samantha McMeekin's picture
    Samantha McMeekin
    Comment

    We all know that Shakira’s hips don’t lie, and when those hips are part of a voluptuous, healthy post-baby figure wearing a bikini, it sparks hope in the hearts and bellies of all new mums who want to be at their healthiest and happiest again. 

    RELATED: Zooey Deschanel's pregnancy diet

    Weight gain is fairly inevitable during pregnancy, but it’s also fairly common to want your figure back after your baby is born. And there is no need to think that this is unachievable. You just pushed a small human out of you; you’re a super woman after all.

    So celebrities aside, what is a realistic time frame for fitting back into your old clothes? Is there a difference between baby weight and regular weight? Should you be changing your diet and exercise regime after the birth or just go back to what you were doing pre-baby? As you can imagine, these things often vary for woman to woman but there are some general facts that you should know before embarking on your post-baby weight loss mission.

    Post baby weight loss fact #1- It takes time

    Despite what some supermodels may have us believe, it’s not very realistic to give birth and then be strutting your stuff in a bikini a week later. Woman who get their figure back instantly are rare. For most it takes months to get rid of the baby belly and for some it may never go away entirely. A realistic time frame to aim for when trying to lose your baby weight should be no shorter than nine months. It took your body nine months to stretch and accommodate for a full-term baby so you should allow at least the same amount of time for it to go back to normal.

    Post baby weight loss fact #2- It’s not just fat

    According to babycenter.com “even though your baby is out, you may still have a round, squishy midsection that makes you look like you're six months pregnant.” This is due to the extra fluid retained by your body during pregnancy and the expansion of your uterus. It takes six to eight weeks for your uterus to return to its normal size and the extra fluid is slowly “eliminated from your body through urine, vaginal secretions and sweat.”

    Post baby weight loss fact #3- Breastfeeding helps

    It is safe to lose weight while breastfeeding and according to kidspot.com breastfeeding burns around 2000 kilojoules (500 calories) a day. Nursing can also trigger contractions that help to shrink the uterus. While a healthy diet with a balance of important nutrients is essential while breastfeeding, The Australian Breastfeeding Association explains that, “a loss of up to around half a kilo per week is safe for breastfeeding mothers.”

    Post baby weight loss fact #4- The rules for weight loss are the same

    There’s just no way around it. In order to lose weight long term you have to eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly. There’s no permanent quick fix for post-baby weight loss, just the same as regular weight loss. The only difference with post-pregnancy weight is that you should wait at least six weeks before even thinking about calories and cardio – your body needs time to recover from labour and the birth. Once you do feel up to exercising, start with gentle exercises like walking and yoga. Considering the main area of weight gain and expansion was your belly you should also add stomach muscle exercises to your regime. 

    Post baby weight loss fact #5- You can exercise without leaving your baby

    One of the main reasons new mums struggle to lose their baby belly is finding the time to be away from their newborn, which only gets harder once baby number two, three and four arrives. But you mustn’t give up hope! Simply walking or running with your little one in a pram is a great way to fit exercise into your daily routine. There’s also Bababoogie, a newly released fitness DVD that allows mothers to exercise while their baby is safely strapped to them in a harness. The program includes a series of fitness routines for Mum, with cartoons and music played alongside to keep baby entertained. 

    Do you think it’s possible to get your figure back after having a baby? What are your tips for post-baby weight loss?

    You might also like

    What they don’t tell you about your first trimester

    152 Comments

    Conceiving 101

    80 Comments

    The awkward side effects of pregnancy

    163 Comments

    What no one tells you about giving birth

    217 Comments

    72 Member Comments

    JenniferSanchez 14 Aug 2020 8:57 AM

    SAVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP ONLINE WITH A TRUSTED AND RELIABLE SPELL CASTER. Email: odungaspelltemple@gmail.com My name is Jenny and I am very happy to doctor Odunga for helping me get my ex husband back and this made me very excited that I came online here to post about his work. I made a promise to him that if he got my ex husband to me in 2 days, I will make a great testimony and bring many people who need help to him for help. His spiritual temple is in Africa and he has been helping so many people. He is a great spell caster and can help you no matter where you are. My husband Peter is now back with me and this spell caster brought my husband back to me in 2 days, someone who left me for 4 years now. Can you please contact this man? He will help you and you will see. His temple Email is odungaspelltemple@gmail.com

    FIX THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS TO ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE ON:

    Get your ex back spell Lottery Spell Money spell Pregnancy spell Prosperity spell Protection spell Get a huge loan without paying any fee spell Long life spell Freedom From Prison spell Love/Reunion spell Marriage spell Popularity spell Killing/Revenge spell Healing spell

    Contact HIM of any of these today at: EMAIL: odungaspelltemple@gmail.com OR Call and WHATSAPP HIM +2348167159012

    S-P 18 Aug 2019 9:07 PM

    Also, I just wanted to add that we are all very different, and what might work for someone may not work for someone else. So don't despair. Take care of yourself and your baby first and foremost.

    S-P 18 Aug 2019 9:05 PM

    Great article and tips.

    Peggy Rothchild 15 May 2019 7:26 PM

    I have used spell casting to get my ex husband back to me and also get pregnant with twins girls through the help of a great and trusted spell caster after 12 years of marriage.

    When I came online last year, I met a testimony about Priest ODUNGA who has been helping people and I decided to contact him. We spoke on email at (odungaspelltemple@gmail.com) and later he gave me his Whats App number which is +2348167159012 and he assured me he would help me get my ex husband back after 3 years of no contact. My husband left me because I was unable to give him a child for 9 years after our marriage. There was no contact between us anymore and I didn't know how to get to him. Priest Odunga is the best spell caster I must say. My husband called me after 24 hours of contacting Priest Odunga. Soon I received a herbal medicine for fertility from this man, I became fertile. I and my husband reconnected that very week, had sex and I became pregnant. Today, I am happy today to be the mother of twins girls and this is ALL THANKS TO PRIEST ODUNGA. I came online to say this If you need help, I believe you are saved with this spell caster. Contact his email at (odungaspelltemple@gmail.com) and you too will give a testimony too to help others

    bebeautiful34 13 Dec 2017 2:25 PM

    A year after giving birtg and I'm still struggling to lose the weight. Fact #4 is so true. People tell you breastfeeding and looking after the baby will make the weight just fall off, but that's so not true. You have to work really hard to make it fall off!

    skincare junkie 24 Jun 2017 2:28 PM

    After I gave birth, my body weight is lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight. So no weight loss was necessary for me!

    onlyoni 8 Oct 2017 9:19 PM

    I only had one child and even though that was at the age of 42 I didn't have any trouble getting back to my pre-baby weight. I definitely think 12 months of breastfeeding was the answer.

    jlsta 4 May 2017 7:20 PM

    definitely possible! wow Shakira looks beautiful!

    Yohanna 9 Mar 2017 3:26 PM

    Definitely lots of water retention. But unfortunately many women still think they need to eat for 2, so they do get overweight (in fat mass as well). And that is not good

    clearcrystalwater 3 Apr 2016 6:22 AM

    I found it fell off so fast after first bub but it still fell off after the 3rd one. 20 kgs each time!

    Linda_Vesinger 23 Feb 2016 1:53 AM

    my baby weight dropped easily with my 1st child, but got harder to shift with subsequent pregnancies

    Miss19 21 Dec 2014 2:53 AM

    Shakira looks great in that photo!

    Goldcat 7 Dec 2014 8:15 PM

    It is comforting to know that it's not just all fat.

    Emma Jo 29 Apr 2014 5:52 AM

    Super useful! I'm due any day now and keen to get started as soon as my body has recovered. The comments from women on here about losing weight with breastfeeding has helped me believe there is still hope for us to trim down!

    Ellyloves 17 Apr 2014 11:33 AM

    This is so sensible!!

    apple8 13 Feb 2014 1:03 PM

    Great article.

    Goldcat 22 Nov 2013 1:53 AM

    Some really good advice there

    Sandmal 29 Oct 2013 5:50 AM

    Thanks for these tips. I'm having my baby in march and it's good to remember these points.

    stackcats 25 Oct 2013 12:40 AM

    I'm due in a couple of weeks, let's see if the tips work...

    Ellelily 16 Oct 2013 12:02 PM

    Great tips for new mums

    Ssajwani 6 Oct 2013 3:15 PM

    Great tips!

    Fabb22 27 Aug 2013 7:04 PM

    nice article,informative

    LovelyOne 7 Aug 2013 5:59 AM

    Thanks for the tips. I had my precious bundle of joy almost 2 weeks ago. I put on 19kg and have lost 10kg already. I looked 6 months pregnant after giving birth but only look like I'm 5 months pregnant now...

    Shop A Everyday 6 Aug 2013 7:01 AM

    it does come off, like they say it wont happen overnight but it will happen

    Lily Mei 3 Aug 2013 11:26 AM

    I am always so impressed when I see a new Mum jogging with her pram and baby in toe. Amazing ladies.

    Pages

    You need to log in or become a member to post a comment.
    TOP