Having a baby is hard work. Not only did you spend nine months growing your child, but chances are that your labor and delivery was physically exhausting. While many women want to rush back into their pre-baby shape, the truth is that losing the baby weight can take time. If you’ve been wanting to lose weight, there are a number of ways that you can get back into shape even after you have a baby.
1. Create a plan
One of the most important things you can do when you’re ready to lose weight is to make a plan. How will you lose the weight? How much weight do you want to lose? What sort of food will you eat? Will you join a weight loss program or work out on your own? No matter how you plan to lose weight, make sure that you create a reasonable plan that you can stick with.
2. Set reasonable goals
Losing your baby weight within a year after giving birth is a reasonable goal. Losing your baby weight in two weeks is not. While it’s normal and natural to want to lose weight as quickly as possible, the truth is that it can take time. Remember that it took almost a year to gain the weight that you did. It can take a long time to lose it, too.
3. Include your baby
Feeling overwhelmed because your baby needs you a lot? One of the most important things that you can do is to include your baby in your workouts. Consider getting a workout DVD that includes your child. Another option would be to do something like exercising while you’re at the park, taking your baby on walks, or even doing stroller workouts with your little one.
4. Find like-minded friends
Working out by yourself can be lonely. Try to find some mommy friends who also want to workout and get in shape. While it might be difficult at first to make new friends, you’ll find that having a good support network can make losing weight a lot easier.
5. Rest as much as possible
No matter how much weight you want to lose, remember to rest when you need to. If your baby is up all night and you’re simply too tired to work out, give yourself a break. Remember that you have plenty of time to lose weight. Resting after growing a baby is incredibly important. Never deprive yourself of sleep in order to exercise
