Guest Post: Practical Tips to Kick Start Losing Your Baby Weight

Being a mum is definitely one of the most beautiful things in the world, even though it can be really challenging and sometimes frustrating. One of the issues the majority of new mums deals with right after giving birth is losing weight, which can put a lot of pressure on them. However, you should know that it isn’t impossible! Just stay with us and learn about four practical tips that will inevitably speed up the process of losing your baby weight!

Breastfeed Your Baby

​Some experts claim that your body has the ability to burn 300 to 500 calories when you’re nursing your baby, which is definitely one of the easiest ways to start losing your baby weight. What’s even better about that is the fact that you can actually shed some pounds by sitting in a rocking chair and reading a magazine while you’re breastfeeding, which sounds almost too good to be true. Well, sometimes it can be, because women tend to consume too many calories because they use breastfeeding as an excuse. Make sure not to do that, since it’s the only way to maximise your weight loss – especially in the first months after the baby is born.

Fuel your body with good nutrition.

Providing your body with nutritious and healthy meals is of the utmost importance, not only when it comes to losing baby weight, but also for your overall well-being. It gets even more important when you’re breastfeeding, because that’s one of the best ways to keep a healthy milk supply. Fresh veggies are always a good idea, and you can eat them in so many ways – as a delicious vegetable soup, as a refreshing salad, or you can even munch on raw veggies if you’re a fan of the clean, fresh taste. The same goes for fruits – these are amazing in all kinds of smoothies and raw desserts.  Just make sure not to consume too much avocado and nuts, since you can easily go overboard on excess calories.

No carbs or empty calories

​One of the most effective ways to lose weight includes decreasing the amount of empty calories you’re eating. Basically, empty calories come from artificially added sugars and solid fats in foods like cheese, desserts, fatty meats, whole milk, and even soft drinks. So, give your best to stay away from these as much as you can and stick to foods with no added sugars that are either low-fat or fat-free. These definitely have fewer empty calories, which is exactly what you need when you’re at the beginning of your weight loss process.

​Don’t forget to sleep

Even though a good night’s sleep seems an impossible mission to the majority of new mums, the fact is that you simply need it in order to lose some weight. As sleep decreases, your cortisol levels increase, which results in your inability to metabolize calories effectively. Getting on track after giving birth is difficult in itself, and trust us – it’ll get even worse if you don’t sleep properly. So, guard your sleep by getting a sleep mask and an air purifier which can help a lot with this issue. Just make sure to read air purifier reviews before making a final decision, since these can be really helpful when it comes to getting a quality device that will improve your sleep. Just add a couple of drops of lavender to your pillow, since it’ll help you fall asleep much faster, and voila – you’re ready to rest like a pro. However, if a full night is simply not an option, you can always try to nap when your baby naps. Even though it may seem irrelevant, it definitely works!

​As you can see, there really are a lot of great ways to kick start losing your baby weight. All you should do is make your health one of your priorities (apart from your baby, of course), since that’s the only way to do it right. Once you realize that getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals without empty calories, and breastfeeding your baby are the best ways to start losing weight, you’re halfway there!

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Samantha Oliver has a B.Sc. in nutrition, and has spent two years working as a personal trainer. Since then, she has embarked on a mission to conquer the blogosphere. When not in the gym or on the track, you can find her on Ripped.me, or in a tea shop