For many women, pregnancy causes permanent changes such as a softer belly, slightly wider hips, and a larger waistline - and that's okay. Being a healthy and happy mom is far more important than fitting into a particular size.
There's no such thing as a "magic pill" to help you lose weight: A healthy diet combined with regular exercise is the best way to shed the pounds - and to keep them off. And it's important to exercise while trying to lose weight to ensure you're losing fat instead of muscle
But don't go on a strict diet - women need a minimum of 1,200 calories a day to stay healthy, and most women need much more than that - between 1,800 and 2,200 calories a day - to keep up their energy and prevent mood swings. To lose about a pound a week, cut out 500 calories a day by either decreasing your food intake or increasing your activity level.
Start by choosing low-fat, high-fiber foods such as fruit (like apples, oranges, and berries) and raw vegetables (like carrots, jicama, and red pepper strips) for healthy snacks. Other ways to squeeze in more fruits and veggies: Use fruit or vegetable salsas or vegetable reduction sauces over fish or chicken, add shredded carrots to your sandwich, try grilled vegetables, and eat pureed vegetable soups.
Research shows that drinking milk, choosing whole-grain products like wheat bread and multigrain cereal, and eating breakfast can also help you lose weight. Slow your meals down, too, if possible. When you take your time eating, you'll notice that it's easier to tell when you feel full - and you won't overeat.
Finally, although you should be drinking about 8 or 9 cups of fluids each day, watch what you drink - a surprising number of calories can be hidden in juice, soda, and coffee drinks. Dilute juice with water, or stick with plain or bubbly water.
Your daily meal plan should include the following:
6 or more ounces of grains or starches, at least 3 ounces of which should be whole grains
1 1/2 cups of fruit, including at least one vitamin C-rich fruit (like kiwi, oranges, strawberries, or
cantaloupe)
2 cups of vegetables, including at least one vitamin A-rich veggie (like sweet potato, carrots, spinach,
or kale)
4 to 6 ounces of protein from a variety of sources (like fish, meat, eggs, beans, or nuts) (Note: If you
don't drink much milk, you'll need to load up a bit more on protein.)
3 or more servings of low-fat dairy or calcium-rich foods (like milk, cheese, yogurt, or fortified soy milk)
4 teaspoons of added vegetable fat (healthy choices include canola or olive oil or foods like avocado, nuts, and seeds) (Note: If your baby's at high risk for allergies, you may want to avoid all nuts while nursing.) Avoid trans fat - the "bad" fat found in many processed foods, baked goods, fried foods, and fast foods. Check labels for trans fat levels.
Are you struggling to get rid or unwanted stubborn baby weight?
Do you have trouble recognizing yourself in the mirror these days?
Do you wish you could regain you're pre-pregnancy body?
Visit Weight Loss After Birth Guide for great tips, instructional videos and recipes, all designed specifically for new moms wanting to burn those excess post-pregnancy pounds!
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