Altameroy Blog

A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now
that baby’s here, you’re probably wishing those extra pounds
would hurry up and disappear! While it won’t happen overnight,
these six simple tips can help you lose that extra weight in a
healthy way. (If you’re looking for parts 1 and 2 of this
article, you can find them both at
http://www.mambomoms.com/articles.html)

5) Get moderate exercise on a regular basis. Of course, you
should get the go ahead from your doctor first, and you will
likely need to wait longer if you’ve had a caesarean birth, but
most new moms can begin a gentle fitness program very soon after
their baby is born.

Exercise is definitely one of those things that most of us feel
obligated to do and few of us seem to enjoy. In fact, for many
moms, having a new baby seems to be a great excuse not to
exercise. After all, you’re legitimately busy, sleep-deprived,
and probably a bit nervous about leaving your precious bundle
with someone else while you head to the gym. But wait! Who ever
said you had to pump iron, punch a bag or jump around in a
fitness class for an hour to get your exercise?

The whole key to sticking with a fitness program is to choose an
activity you enjoy. If you enjoy hiking outdoors, why not invest
in a baby carrier so you and your baby can do this together?
There are all kinds of baby trailers on the market now so your
baby can join you on a bike ride or even a cross country ski
outing if these are activities you enjoy. If swimming is fun for
you, why not offer to take a friend’s teenager to the pool. She
can sit close by with your baby on the pool deck while you do a
few lengths, and then you and your baby can enjoy a leisurely
lunch or cup of tea while the teen gets a chance to play in the
pool in return for helping you out. Yoga classes for moms and
babies are also popular now, and this can be a very enjoyable
and relaxing way to spend time with your baby while you exercise.

For the new mom who wasn’t active before pregnancy, gentle forms
of exercise such as taking a stroll are ideal. If you can find
another new mom close by to share this time with, your walks
will become a pleasant activity that you look forward to,
instead of part of your dreaded post-natal fitness program. If
your health unit or community nursing program offers a drop in
program for new moms you will be able to connect with other moms
there. Or perhaps you’ve stayed in touch with a mom you met in
your pre-natal classes. As you start to feel more energetic you
can increase the length and the intensity of your walks. Ans if
the weather is bad you can always walk around the mall and enjoy
the sights.

Gentle dancing or rocking while holding your baby is also
excellent exercise that both of you can enjoy. When your baby is
fussy or tired and nursing her doesn’t seem to be helping, why
not put on some music and introduce her to your favourite dance
steps? She won’t mind if you don’t get the steps right, she’ll
just enjoy being close to you while you move, and you’ll get the
fitness benefits. Most babies will enjoy dancing with you even
when they’re not tired and cranky. As she gets older your dance
dates will probably be greeted with giggles and squeals of
delight.

Remember though that moderation in your exercise program is the
key. Even if you bounce back quickly from your baby’s birth and
are feeling very energetic, be sure to start slowly and increase
your exercise level gradually. Too much too soon can set you
back by causing you to feel exhausted later on in the day. This
can lead to grouchiness or a bout of the baby blues, neither of
which will motivate you to continue exercising! Remember the old
adage, “always leave ‘em wanting more.” This should be your
fitness mantra in the first few postpartum months. In other
words, stop before you’ve had enough and you’ll be more likely
to continue with your fitness program the next day.

6) Wear your baby often. Using a sling or carrier to keep baby
close during the day will make your baby happier, plus it will
give you a little extra weight to pack around as you do your
daily chores and activities. It may not seem like much, but as
your baby grows you’ll be increasing the amount of weight you’re
carrying while you go about your daily routines. And that adds
up to extra weight loss for you.

Instead of using a stroller when you take a walk, put baby in
the carrier. Instead of putting her in a swing or rocking seat,
rock her to sleep in your arms or in your baby carrier while you
stand and gently bounce to and fro. When you go to the grocery
store, carry her in a sling instead of putting her in the
shopping cart. In fact, if you’re lucky enough to live within
walking distance of your grocery store, you can even make this a
daily outing to pick up a few items each time. Your baby will
enjoy the extra closeness of being in a sling or carrier as you
do laundry, tend the garden, or even take some time out for a
hobby like bird watching. Babies in our society seem to spend so
much time strapped into various pieces of equipment. Most will
love the opportunity to be closer to the person they most
adoreyou!

The bonus for mom is that extra weight to carry equals extra
calories burned. Over the course of a year this can add up to
significant weight loss, in a very healthy way for all
concerned. Depending on how often you carry your baby, and how
much she weighs, you can easily burn an extra 100-200 calories a
day just by carrying her along for part of your day. Anytime
you’re on the go, try to carry your baby with you and you’ll be
getting the benefit of the increased calorie burn that comes
with packing around an extra 10, 15, or 20 pounds.

And there you have it, six painless ways to lose those extra
pregnancy pounds effortlessly and without stress. Remember, your
baby won’t be small for long so try not to get too preoccupied
with weight loss. If you eat well most of the time, get some
moderate exercise on a regular basis, and follow the rest of the
tips in this article series, you’ll get back in shape with
hardly a second thought.