It’s almost inevitable that some form of weight gain happens during pregnancy. Given that pregnancy is two people in one body, what else is more indicative of the likelihood of adding a few more kgs? Just as we expect weight gain during pregnancy, we anticipate a return to the status quo after the pregnancy. However, this does not readily happen. More often than not, mothers have to work towards this weight loss. In this article, we have a few tips that may help with this. First off, where does all that weight come from?
What Is Baby Weight?
Baby weight starts with the baby itself, and this makes sense because we call it ‘baby weight’. Apart from the actual weight of the baby, the amniotic fluid, increased breast tissue, enlarged uterus and placenta all add to weight gain in pregnancy. A woman may also gain extra fat stores in pregnancy. This acts as energy reserves for birth and breastfeeding. For the most part, this weight gain is important to the pregnancy. However, it outlives its usefulness after a baby and the placenta have been delivered. It may even increase the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Excess weight gain during pregnancy is more likely to lead to these problems.
See Also:What is expected in pregnancy?
How To Lose The Weight?
Start small and be consistent at it. Do not expect a drastic change because it seldom happens. Many women do not lose all the weight gained during pregnancy.me If you are not planning to get pregnant anytime soon, your weight loss plan may well extend over 2 years or more.
Crash diets are not going to help much. You need food containing enough calories to help your body heal after pregnancy. You also need to breastfeed your baby and the baby needs the best of nutrition. It’s a good thing that breastfeeding has been proven to help in weight loss after birth. However, the effect is not immediately seen, at least not for the first 3 months of breastfeeding.
Eat more foods high in fibre. You need the vegetables now more than ever. They help to control calorie intake by helping you feel fuller for longer and reducing hunger hormone levels. Endeavour to take more eggs, lean meats and beans. These proteins help the body to burn more calories and suppress appetite.
Avoid added sugar and refined carbs. This should go without saying, as you must know. Sugary drinks and juices, cakes, biscuits and pastries do not help weight loss. It is best to stick to the usual whole foods- vegetables, eggs, beans, fruits, meat, fish and others.
Lastly, you need to engage in more physical activity. You may need to hit the gym or go for a few minutes of jogging every morning. Always ask for help. Some women have gained and successfully lost the baby weight. They can guide you towards making the right choices in your journey to weight loss. Stay healthy!
Reference:Healthline
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