Losing Weight After Pregnancy: Why Is It So Hard?

Losing weight after pregnancy is challenging for many new mothers who want to get back to how they used to look.

The most important thing is to be realistic and patient; it took nine months for your body to get like it is. Your body has experienced amazingly difficult conditions and now your life has completely changed with the arrival of a demanding little human.

A great place to start is with your abdominal muscles. They have been stretched out of shape but luckily they will be quick to recover if you give them some help. You will probably know how to do pelvic floor exercises, so try and practise these several times a day; when you think of it, do a few contractions when you are sitting, standing, rocking baby or lying down. Work your abdominals the same way; gently contract your abs, hold, relax and repeat four times. Do this when you think of it and in different positions.

You are tired, exhausted and sleep-deprived, but some gentle exercise is going to help you feel better and will increase your energy levels. If you have an exercise machine at home, aim to do just five minutes, twice a day, while baby is sleeping or having a kick on the floor. Start out carefully and gently; you can increase the time and intensity as you gain strength.

If you don’t have a machine at home, there are other exercise sessions you can do. Put baby in the carriage and go for a walk around the block for 15 minutes or so. Pick a nice day and both of you will enjoy the fresh air. Do a short session of step-ups, squats, jump rope, dancing to your favorite music or jogging on the spot – anything that gets your heart rate and breathing up.

Losing weight after pregnancy might be hard, but it isn’t impossible. Eat 6 smaller meals and snacks a day and lots of fruit and veggies, avoid fatty snack foods, exercise a little each day, work that pelvic floor and your body will soon start to look like your own again.