PREGNANCY WEIGHT LOSS SECRETS!

"TO CLIMB STEEP HILLS REQUIRES A SLOW PACE AT FIRST." Shakespeare

Are you having pregnancy weight loss issues? First of all, congratulations! Your body has just experienced an amazing miracle! Rejoice in that and don�t be too quick to jump into a weight loss plan. Make �good nutrition� your goal instead of �losing weight.�

Welcome to Pregnancy Weight Loss Secrets!

You will learn some important pregnancy weight loss secrets to make your journey easier. Before beginning, make sure you give your body the time it needs to adjust. You created life! How incredible is that? It�s going to take some time for your body to bounce back from that. Don�t forget that it took nine months to gain your extra weight and it should take at least that long to take it off.

There are several important factors that will affect your pregnancy weight loss after you come home from the hospital:

The type of delivery you had is a major factor. Recovering from a C-section will definitely slow down your progress. Doctors agree that it takes at least six weeks to fully recover from abdominal surgery.
Whether or not you breastfeed will play a role in your pregnancy weight loss. This has been a controversial issue for years, but studies conducted at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Davis confirm that women who breastfeed do lose weight more quickly.
The process of breastfeeding draws upon your body�s �energy stores�, burning up fat! The study further reports that the biggest difference (in your weight) between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding shows up between 3-6 months after birth. You need an extra 500 calories a day when you breastfeed, but your body burns 600-800 calories a day in the breastfeeding process, so you do the math! Just be careful to adjust your intake accordingly when you stop breastfeeding!
Your level of fitness prior to pregnancy is probably the most important factor in your pregnancy weight loss. If you were fit before your pregnancy, you�ll find it much easier to get back into shape.

Below are some EASY TIPS you can follow to help you stay healthy and lose that baby-fat:

Your weight loss should be gradual�a pound a week at the most! Make sure your doctor clears you for exercise before you begin.
Clean the pre-delivery junk food out of your house and stock up on healthy, nutritious foods. Get plenty of lean protein, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Only allow yourself 1-2 bites of those foods that you know won�t help you reach your goals. Don�t eat empty calories!
Eat frequent, small meals. This will help keep your blood-sugar levels balanced. An imbalance frequently promotes over-eating. Remember that your body can only metabolize so much at once. Meals that consist of more than 400-500 calories typically end up as stored fat.
Make yourself a rule that you won�t eat after 7:00-8:00 at night, depending on your lifestyle. Don�t get in the habit of grabbing a �little� bite of something when you get up with the baby at night!
Post a chart on your refrigerator to keep your journey �visual� and to help motivate you. Include your measurements and weight, but don�t check them more than once a week.
Check out any local post-natal programs that might be offered by the YMCA, recreational centers, or hospitals. This is also a great way to connect with other new moms. You could form an early-morning walking group. Exercise is always more fun with friends!
Keep the baby�s changing table upstairs to force yourself to walk the stairs frequently.
Take your baby for walks daily. The fresh air will be good for both of you.
Walk slowly on a treadmill or ride a recumbent bike while holding your baby. The noise of the machinery will probably be soothing to your baby. Holding the baby�s weight will be a workout for your arms.
Purchase or check out (from your local library) fitness DVDs. You can use these in the privacy of your own home while your baby is close by. Create a fitness "DVD exchange" with your friends.
Weight training will help boost your metabolism, but it�s not essential to go to the gym or purchase equipment; you have your baby! Postpartum fitness expert, Renee Jeffreys suggests that you do lunges while holding on to the back of the stroller, or hold your baby carefully to do arm presses over your head, while lying on a bed.
It is widely known that there is a relationship between sleep deprivation and weight loss. Who is more deprived of restful sleep than a new mother? Take a nap when your baby does. Nothing else that needs to be done is as important as you being rested and refreshed. Your unusual sleep patterns will play havoc with your metabolism, so get sleep when you can!
Finally, cut yourself some slack in your pregnancy weight loss journey! Enjoy each moment! You don�t want to remember how fat you felt after your baby; you want to remember every joyful, precious moment you spent together!

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