Pregnancy Signs & Symptoms, Week by Week Pregnancy Guide

All women will put on some weight during pregnancy, whether it is just the baby weight or extra due to more calories because of cravings. It leads to those women looking for ways to lose the pregnancy weight quickly and then keep it off afterwards.

Follow a healthy eating plan to lose weight during pregnancy

There are a number of healthy eating plans that will help you to lose the extra weight that you have put on. Your doctor or midwife may also be able to offer advice on the best plans to choose from. It is worth remembering that the baby weight will usually shift fairly quickly but any extra weight that you put on will take some time.

Follow the plan strictly but remember not to cut your calories down too much if you are breastfeeding; this will ensure that your baby is getting the right nutrients from you and that you still have the energy to get through your day.

Do not be disheartened when pregnancy weight loss is slow

Not only do you want to lose weight, you want to keep the weight off too. The best way to do that is by losing the weight slowly. This will mean that your body is still getting the needed nutrients and you are not cutting your calories down too much.

Losing weight quickly by crash dieting or following low fad diets will just lead to you cutting your calories to an unnatural level – when you start eating normally, you will just pile the weight back on.

Add exercise into your day for a pregnancy weight loss

Getting back in shape will mean work from you in the form of exercise. There are a number of different options that you have, including running, going to the gym and swimming. There is no excuse, even if you are a single parent and have no money for a baby sitter; go for a walk with your baby, which will also mean that your newborn will benefit from fresh air and the ability to build up an immune system.

Start off with light exercise if you hardly did anything during pregnancy or before. This will help to get your body used to it and will avoid injuries from happening. You should aim to build up to 30 minutes of exercise, five times a day, which is also a healthy amount for everyone.

Have fun with exercise to lose your pregnancy weight

Do not do something that you hate; this is the fastest way to avoid all forms of exercise. Find something that you enjoy and can have fun with. Join a dance class – Zumba is extremely popular and a great workout. You could also call a friend and go for a swim; as a new mom you will need some alone time.

Another option is home dance DVDs or workouts on the games consoles. If you have a Nintendo Wii or Xbox Kinect, it is time to get fitness games and start working in the home. You can do this at any time in the day and you will have so much fun, you won’t believe how much exercise you are doing.