It's obvious after you have a baby that your body isn't going to look the same as it did before, it's true when people say 'you won't care what your body looks like, you'll be so wrapped up in your little baby', it's important as mothers, not to put pressure on ourselves to lose our baby weight so quickly, push it to the back of your mind and enjoy being a mummy! Plus when you have those middle of the night waking's and lack of sleep, the last thing you'll want to do is go for a jog! Once you've settled in and had all your checks from the doctor or even whenever you're ready to start getting in shape again, you'll probably use google to see how to lose your 'mummy tummy', truth is, there's no set way to do it, you will need to put in hard work and determination but it will all pay off :). Here are a few ideas to get you started..
Walking/Running
This is the main reason why I lost my weight so quickly, I pretty much stayed indoors the first few months to enjoy being a mommy and losing weight was the last thing on my mind. I would go for a walk every day, whether it was just around town or to the local park, to the shop or to see friends, Abbie would fall asleep most of the time in the pram so I'd end up walking for her entire nap, which was usually 30 minutes, it toned my legs so well and helped me to lose 14lbs over a few months, my mommy tummy started looking more like it used to rather than I was still pregnant. Once you've got your body used to exercise again (please remember not to rush) you could try running, get yourself some proper runinng shoes and start off slow and gentle, then work your way up to sprinting and bigger inclines! You will burn lots more and it actually releases endorphines which will egg you on the next day! Before you start any exercise, see your doctor, especially i you've had a c-section, you'll need to wait until your scar is properly healed before you do anything. As I said above. try not to rush it, go at your own pace and you'll see a big difference in not only your physical appearance but also your mentality!
Healthy Eating
This is super important, espeially if you're breastfeeding, lots of fruit and veg, foods which give you energy really, it's tiring at the beginning (and now.....), your breastmilk will pick up certain traes of the food you eat and may make your little one fussy, Abbie reacted badly to bread at first, and to this day she doesn't react well to spicy food either, it tends to give her a belly ache! It doesn't mean live on salads for the next year but eat in moderation, you can still have your chocolate bar or your friday night takeaway, but maybe pick a slightly healthier option! Try your 5 a day too, it's amazing how much better you feel after you eat fruit and veg, plus it tastes so yummy too!Protein barsOnce you're well and truly back into the land of exercise and mastered the two points above, it's worth taking the next step and have a little research into protein bars, I know what you're thinknig..protein? Isn't that for athletes and bodybuilders? That has always been what I have thought but after carrying out my own research I've been pleasantly surprised by what they actually do.. After exercising, protein assists in shaping muscle and also calorie consumption, plus it also satisfies your hunger more effectively than fats and carbohydrates so you won't feel the need to reach for those unhealthy snacks for that energy pick up! But.by increasing the protein level in your diet by 1.5-2.0 g per kilogram of body weight a day, it is actually easier to lose weight! Obviously every person is different so it's worth speaking to your doctor first to see what he recommends! There are other forms of protein in special shakes too, if you aren't much of a snacker, they are perfect for you!To summarise, just eat healthy and exercise when you can, don't stress yourselves out about it, having a baby takes up most of your time if not all! Don't put yourself down because you see all these celebrities back in their pre-pregnancy jeans after 8 hours of giving birth (ok, that was a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean!). Do it in your own pace, in your own time and remember, it took 9 months to grow your beautiful bundle of joy, it's going to take at least that amount of time to get your body back again! If it takes longer, who cares! You grew a baby! That's much more important than a bikini body in record time!x
