The Importance Of Returning To Your Pre-pregnancy Weight

The most important reason to lose the additional weight you gained during your pregnancy is that being overweight can adversely affect your health

. Excess weight can cause a wide range of health problems such as backaches, leg pain, varicose veins, and extreme fatigue. Fatigue, in and of itself, is reason enough to lose weight. You need energy to take care of yourself, your baby and your family. Additionally, there are serious health conditions associated with being overweight and if severe enough, it can cause hypertension and diabetes. There is also the long-term risk of obesity if you do not lose your extra baby weight.

Losing those additional baby pounds can have a positive effect on your self-esteem, as you will feel lighter and fitter. In addition, obesity often becomes a vicious cycle. It is difficult to exercise when you are overweight so you may forego exercising altogether. This often leads to more weight gain that, in turn, further lessens the likelihood that you will exercise. By following straightforward advice, this trend can be reversed and as you lose weight, you will see your body becoming more toned. Your energy will increase and you will want to exercise. Once you start witnessing the positive results of a slimmer, toner body, you will want to keep at it.

There is tons of advice regarding weight loss as well as fad diets currently on the market. However, I urge you to remember the following:

AVOID FAD DIETS. It may be tempting to try and lose your excess baby weight as quickly as possible. Regardless how badly you want to fit back into your pre-pregnancy jeans, it would be wise to remember that fad diets do not work. They strip the body of essential nutrients and initiates an unhealthy pattern of losing weight and gaining it right back (and then some) after the diet ends. It is not advisable for any new mum to severely restrict her caloric intake. If you were considering going on the latest fad diet, it would be a disservice to your body as well as your baby, especially if you are breastfeeding.

SET GOALS. As a new mother, it is important that you set realistic weight loss goals. You need all your energy to care for your new bundle of joy. Keep your weight loss goals simple such as eating moderately, avoiding fast food binges, and including five servings of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.

BE PATIENT. It appears that society has placed an unrealistic burden on new mothers to be super-mums. After delivery, they are expected to regain their pre-pregnancy bodies within a month. This is not only unhealthy, but totally unobtainable. During pregnancy, your body underwent dramatic changes to create the optimum environment for your babys growth and development. After delivery, your first priority should be to heal and care for your new bundle of joy. By ensuring you eat a well balanced diet and include exercise into your daily routine, you will lose the excess pounds you gained during pregnancy in the healthiest way possible.

Here is some food for thought. A study tracked new mums who did not shed their excess baby weight within the first year after giving birth. It was noted that these women had a higher incidence of being overweight 15 years later than those who returned to their pre-pregnancy weight within one year of delivery.

by: Julie Jameson

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