Getting Back in Shape after Baby

Whether you've recently had a baby or are expecting one soon, you're likely looking in the mirror and wondering when you will get your old body back. It might seem like an impossibility, especially if you compare yourself to those celebrity moms who bounce back from pregnancy at lightning speed. The reality of it is that regaining your figure after pregnancy takes a lot of time and commitment, and there are a lot of things for you to consider in regards to your health and the health of your new baby.

If you're looking for tips on advice on getting in shape in Kansas City after having a baby, then read this article. It will give you some guidance on when it is safe for you to begin after having your baby, and how much dieting and exercising is safe.

When to Begin Exercising

Pregnancy and delivery put a lot of strain on your body; you've essentially been running a marathon every day for the past several months, so you need (and definitely deserve) some time to recover. If you've had a normal, healthy pregnancy and a standard vaginal delivery, then you can usually begin light exercise as soon as you feel well enough to do so. The important thing is to listen to your body. If you feel the workout is too strenuous, then cut back and try a more mild workout routine.

If you've had a more difficult pregnancy or delivered via C-section, then you should speak to your doctor before starting to exercise again. The last thing you want is to tear any stitches from the incision and end up back in the hospital.

Even if you do get right back to mild exercise after delivering your baby, you shouldn't really aim to lose weight for at least 6 weeks after your baby is born. Your body needs that time to recover. At your 6-week checkup, ask your doctor if you're healthy enough for a more rigorous workout routine, and go from there.

Diet and Breastfeeding

Exercise is only a part of what it takes to get back into shape, and you likely know that it takes some dieting and calorie counting to lose weight. However, if you are breastfeeding, you should still be consuming between 1,800 and 2,000 calories a day. Anything less than that, and you will be robbing yourself and your baby of vital nutrients. Simply put, you can't produce good, wholesome breast milk for your child if you're not consuming the food that your body needs.

If you are not breastfeeding, then you can safely begin to cut your calories. However, keep in mind what was mentioned above; give yourself at least 6 weeks to recover before you start cutting back on your calorie intake. Even then, you should never aim to lose more than 1 pound per week.

How Much Is Too Much?

It used to be that there were a lot of "don'ts" regarding working out after having a baby. However, these days, more and more doctors are encouraging mothers to get a healthy amount of exercise postpartum. Why? Well, not only will it help you to get back into shape, but studies have shown that exercise can help to reduce the risks of postpartum depression. But how do you know when the exercise you're doing is too much?

The easiest thing to do is to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard, especially in the first few weeks after delivery. A good guideline is to start with the workouts that you were able to do in your third trimester. If those seem too easy, then you can work backwards from there until you are once again doing the same workouts you did prior to becoming pregnant. 

For more advice on getting in shape in Kansas City after baby, speak to your doctor or another qualified medical professional.

Source : articlesbase.com