Gaining weight during pregnancy is recommended as it is good for your developing baby. Now that you are nursing your baby, you would definitely want to lose weight while breastfeeding and get back to your pre-pregnancy shape. Here are some tips that you can apply and you will be able to lose weight while breastfeeding your baby.
breastfeed your baby
Exclusive breastfeeding is the right way to burn extra fat. Your body produces milk using the nutrients you consume. This process requires a lot of energy, which means that your body’s cells will have to burn more fat and calories to release more energy for their proper functioning. Mother’s milk also contains fatty acids. These fats that get stored in your body pass out through breast milk to nourish your baby. In other words, breastfeeding helps you shed extra pounds.
eat a balanced diet
Your breastfeeding period is not the time to go on a diet or start fasting to lose weight. You may feel that you are eating more than you need. There is nothing wrong with that. You will get hungry easily because more fat is burned and the nutrients that are used for the production of breast milk need to be replaced quickly. To ensure that you are well-nourished, you should consume a balanced diet and snack more on fruits and vegetables. This will ensure that your body gets all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the food you eat.
drink enough water
If you want to lose weight while breastfeeding, it is important that you drink enough water. Firstly, consuming more water will help keep you hydrated as you are losing a huge amount of water through breast milk. 50% of the content of breast milk is made up of water and hence you need to replace the lost water by drinking enough water.
engage in some exercise regime
Getting in some exercise will also help you lose weight and get back to your pre-pregnancy shape while you’re breastfeeding. Regular exercise improves the metabolic process of your body and helps you to gain lean muscles easily. Therefore, you must include exercise in your post-pregnancy plan. The type of exercise to do depends on the state of your health. Walking or doing some kind of yoga is a good option for you. You can discuss with your doctor or fitness expert for advice in this regard.
time to relax and de-stress
Being stressed while breastfeeding can make you gain more weight. When you are stressed the body produces more stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones reduce the rate of digestion; Increase your heart rate and reduce the circulation of blood to the digestive cells. Due to this, your weight will increase even more. Therefore, it is important that you avoid stress while breastfeeding your baby.
By following the above tips, you will be able to lose weight while breastfeeding.
Source by Hari Om Agrawal
