How to Lose Post Baby Pounds
By Melinda Friedland
With a little effort, a woman can easily get into great shape after having a baby. Some women even get into the best shape of their life after giving birth.
To have the greatest results for weight loss after pregnancy, it's important to know how many calories should be taken in each day. One pound of weight is equivalent to approximately 3,500 calories. Losing one pound per week would result in a loss of 3,500 calories for that week. An excess number of calories taken in, isn't going to result in a loss of weight so it's necessary to first determine how many calories are needed on a daily basis. There are a number of calorie counters online that feature calculators to help with weight loss goals and daily caloric needs.
Keep a Food Diary
Some calorie counter websites feature a food diary that is kept online, allowing one to enter in each of the foods and drinks consumed for that day. The diary entry can then be printed out if desired and kept in a 3-ring binder or folder to keep for future reference if needed.
Choose Healthy Foods
The healthiest foods include lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains and lots of water. Always avoid processed foods and sugar as much as possible. So many foods are filled with chemicals that they can hardly be called food. The chemicals that go into processed foods are not accepted very well by the body. Sometimes the body doesn't even know what to do with certain things and then it just gets stored.
Exercise Regularly
After a pregnancy, women have to wait anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks before physical activity can be resumed. One activity that can be done during those first few weeks is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can help a woman burn up to 500 calories or more per day and it also provides numerous benefits for the baby as well. Once the doctor gives the okay to resume in physical activity, it's time to get to work.
A good exercise program will include both cardio workouts and strength training workouts. Strength training builds up muscle mass which allows the body to burn more calories at rest and cardiovascular activity is great for burning off excess calories and strengthening the heart and cardiovascular system. Exercise can also help prevent serious health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Read more at Suite101: Weight Loss After Pregnancy: How to Lose Post Baby Pounds http://weightloss.suite101.com/article.cfm/weight_loss_after_pregnancy#ixzz0ckllGEwG
