Best Weight Loss Tips Post Pregnancy

by Ankita Sehgal Freelance Blogger, Lives in New Delhi

A lot of women find it difficult to maintain a healthy weight post-pregnancy. Adjusting with the new routine, taking care of the little one and recovering from childbirth becomes a struggle and between all this, they neglect their diet and exercise. According to a study, 65 percent of women are at risk of chronic obesity and postpartum weight retention. It is however important to have a healthy weight post-delivery, especially for women who plan for another pregnancy in the future. Excess weight can increase the risk of diabetes and heart diseases and may increase the chances of complications in later pregnancies. If you are trying hard to lose postpartum weight, here are some effective ways by which you can do that:

1- Breastfeed your newborn if you can: Studies have shown that breastfeeding can significantly help new mothers lose extra weight. It can help them get rid of extra weight in six months post-delivery. However, in the first three months, there may be no or negligible weight loss. This is due to reduced physical activity and the intake of extra calories during lactation. For women who are not breastfeeding, a healthy diet and regular exercise are enough to shed those extra pounds.

2- Keep a check on your calories: Another weight loss tip that has been found to be very effective in losing weight is to keep a check on the calories you are taking in. Counting calories will help you figure out if there are any problem areas in the diet. Moreover, it will ensure that you are taking enough calories to get the nutrition and energy you need. Nowadays, there are mobile apps as well that help you keep a check on what you are eating throughout the day.

3- Add high fiber food and healthy proteins to your diet: High fiber diet assists in weight loss as it keeps you fuller for a longer period of time. It slows down the digestion process and reduces hunger hormone levels. This results in less calorie intake and thus helping in weight loss. Adding healthy protein to the diet like eggs, meat, dairy, and nuts also decreases appetite and at the same time boosts metabolism. So you can include these sources of protein in your diet to assist healthy weight loss without any side-effects on the body. Remember, refined carbs and sugar are a big 'no' as they are high in calories and have very little nutritional benefits.