Postpartum Weight Loss

Patience

First of all, you'll need a healthy dose of patience. Many first-time moms expect that, after delivery, their bodies will instantly go back to how they were before pregnancy. Unfortunately, that is not the case! Keep in mind that it took 9 months for your body to get all stretched out with your baby, and it will take about 9 months for it to get roughly back to where it started. So be gentle with yourself. 

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Take a recovery mindset

Your body has been through a lot! Rather than taking the mindset of trying to punish your body back into submission, try lovingly supporting yourself by eating nourishing foods, getting rest whenever you can, and trying to reduce stress in what small ways you are able. Of course, also try to be active and spend time outside getting fresh air. All these healthy practices will help you to lose unwanted fat as a happy side effect. 

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Resume exercise or start for the first time

No one can be healthy without being active, and some sort of exercise is of the greatest benefit for losing fat and building muscle. There are so many types of exercise available, so find one or more that appeals to you. Whether it's hiking, doing group exercise, strength training, or even sports, there is truly something for everyone. Whatever you choose, make sure to listen to your body and gradually ease back into exercise after pregnancy. For weight loss, one of the most beneficial things is to combine resistance training with proper protein intake. Resistance training is anything that adds additional strain to your body, for example lifting weights, using exercise bands, or doing body weight exercises like pushups and squats. Read on below for more about protein.

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Diet

Eating well is a tremendous benefit for general health and weight loss. Try to avoid extreme diets and instead follow common-sense guidelines such as eating balanced meals of carbohydrates, protein, and fats. As much as possible, avoid processed foods and stick to clean, whole foods. Make sure to eat fruits and vegetables every day. Cook your own food when you can rather than eating out. Make sure to include at least 20 grams of a healthy protein source at every meal (meat, eggs, cheese, beans, nuts, etc). And of course, make sure to drink lots of water. 

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What if I'm still not losing weight?

Most people will see good results from eating well, with at least 20 grams of protein at each meal in combination with exercise including some form of resistance training. To see results, however, you must consistently practice these habits over an extended time. It should take about 8 weeks to start seeing some good results. If you are doing these things and still not making progress, it may be worthwhile to see a counselor, because oftentimes we have other issues in our lives that may be creating psychological pressure that's keeping us from losing weight. Finally, if you're still struggling with weight loss, try finding a good holistic health practitioner who can help find the underlying cause of the issue, which could be hormonal, metabolic, or something else. The good news is that for the vast majority of people, good eating and exercise will produce great results, and you'll appreciate your healthy body more than ever!