Postpartum weight loss is an issue for almost every woman who has given birth.  While still in the hospital after giving birth to my first child, I looked in the mirror and thought I saw the pre-pregnancy me looking back.  My face no longer looked bloated and, looking down, I could see that my feet didn’t resemble pillows any more.

But a total shock greeted me when I arrived home.  The mirror in my hospital bathroom had kindly only shown the view of my head and shoulders.  At home I could see the entire picture and I looked like a land whale!  Why hadn’t the older women warned me?  I had assumed that, even though I had gained 35 lbs., giving birth to an 8 lb. boy would restore me to my former self!

Now, many years later, after 3 more births (all girls!), I would like to share my experience with all you new moms.  Don’t be dismayed by your post-pregnancy body.  It is not permanent!  Just remember it took you 9 months to acquire this new shape so cut yourself some slack about the time it will take to get back to normal.

Generally speaking, your doctor will want you to wait about 6 weeks before beginning any weight loss program.  Please do not start before getting her/his clearance.  Pregnancy and childbirth put a lot of strain on your body and when it’s over, rather than getting a nice, restful vacation, you dive straight into your new life of constantly being “on call” with little snatches of sleep when you can get them.  Your body needs time to heal and you need to bond with your little darling.

Luckily just the routine of baby care begins to gently tone your body.  Your tissues start to release the extra fluids accumulated during pregnancy and your muscles start to firm up.  You’ll be amazed at how much weight you lose during this time without making any special effort.

My favorite “secret” is the double benefit of breast feeding. First, when you breast feed, that baby just sucks the fat right out of you!  It is an extremely rewarding feeling to know that you are providing all the nutrition your child needs to thrive.  Secondly, in order to breast feed, you have to stop everything and just feed the baby. You are forced to catch up on some of the rest you desperately need.

Eventually the day comes when your doctor clears you to begin working on losing the weight that remains.  Where will you find the time to exercise?  The good news is that you can lose baby fat by doing short bursts of exercise.  If you can even fit in 15 minutes per day you will quickly see results.

Many moms hate their post-pregnancy tummies so much that they spend all their exercise time on crunches.  Believe me, a workout involving your whole body will benefit you more.  Because muscles are the fat burners, the more muscles you get moving, the more fat you will burn.

Your postpartum weight loss plan should not include any extreme or fad diets.  It is important to follow a complete, balanced nutrition strategy to keep up your strength and energy.  Your body cannot burn fat without adequate fuel.

In summary, if you consistently follow a healthy diet coupled with short, intense, total body workouts, you should have your pre-pregnancy body back before your child’s first birthday party!

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