Is image everything in today’s society? Image represents money and power. Image represents status and privilege. Image represents youth and beauty. It can represent many things but for the Mom who is looking to lose weight after giving birth, striving to fit into a Hollywood image can keep her down in the dumps with a good dose of self-loathing. Losing pregnancy weight is about going beyond the “image” and embracing wellness.
We gain and lose weight throughout our lives. This is due to the fact that our eating habits are regulated by a variety of factors such as our moods, stresses, cultural and family history, lifestyle and schedules to name a few. Some of these factors can have a strong influence on how you perceive food and hence how it affects your ability to lose weight after giving birth. The best way to address weight management is to do so in the most holistic way possible.
1. Go for a lifestyle program.
Half the battle in losing pregnancy weight is getting your psyche in a good place. The mind is a powerful force to reckon with and can be a great ally in your battle to trim your tummy. This is why losing weight the easy way with diet pills or trendy diets can seem like taking one step forward and three steps backwards. These quick-fix remedies omit the psychological, behavioral and lifestyle influences of weight management and hence weight loss is only temporary. You need to find a lifestyle program that incorporates these factors that are needed to attain lifelong health and wellness.
2. Do exercises that maximize fat burning.
You can speed up the weight loss process to lose pregnancy weight fast by choosing a workout program that can burn the baby fat in the most efficient way possible. To do this, you will need to incorporate resistance training into your workout. It’s quick do and easy to learn.
You can do these exercises at home without the expensive gym fees or equipment. Resistance training is strength training that tone and strengthens your muscles using different forms of resistance such as a free weights or your body weight to do lunges and squats. Because muscle burns fat, the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn.
3. Choose foods that will boost your metabolism.
The tummy is a popular “problem” area for Moms. Trying to get rid of the “Mommy belly” can be challenging but not hopeless. Your body is a fine tuned machine that works like a team. Therefore, if you are going to exercise to lose your tummy, you need to fuel your body with the right foods to keep it healthy and fit. You should be eating whole grain foods, lean meats, fruits and vegetables.
Foods high in fiber and protein such as bran and wild salmon are said to be “fat burning foods” because your body expends more energy to digest them, than the calories they provide in return. These foods also aid in providing your body with the necessary nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that are required for proper body function. Remember: the less processed the food, the better it is for your body.
4. All for one and one for all.
There is strength in numbers. What better way achieve a healthy lifestyle than to include your family? A Mom will do anything for the health and well being of her family. Thus your hubby and kids can help to keep you at least externally motivated to lose the pregnancy weight and get lean and fit. But the buck doesn’t stop there. You can involve your family by planning healthier menus and introducing healthier snack options for them. More family time doing physical activities can also help encourage and maintain your healthy lifestyle and that of your family.
In the quest to lose the pregnancy weight, you can take easy road with a diet pill or diet fad for the short-term results at risks to your health. Or you can take the long and steady road to lose the weight for the long term by striving to live a healthier lifestyle. Quality of life is measured by how we spend the time that is given to us and that includes staying healthy for you and your loved ones.
