by Kristina Manusu

Created on: September 18, 2008   Last Updated: November 01, 2008

My pregnancy weight gain can be explained with three words, I HAD TWINS! I gained nearly 50 pounds during my pregnancy. However, when I saw my friends after giving birth, they were astounded and jealous that I had lost all of that extra weight. And it wasn't just due to giving birth to two six-pound babies! It's simple to lose the weight after having a baby; by watching what you eat and incorporating a little bit of exercise into your day, you too can become a yummy mommy'.

After 23 weeks of morning sickness my stomach settled and started to grow, and grow and grow! I tried to look after myself but unfortunately I had cravings for sugar; chocolate and ice cream were part of my diet. Fortunately I had a dog that needed to be walked every day. When my feet weren't too swollen I would waddle down the street to the park. I probably got more exercise on the way back because I had a very weak pregnancy bladder and would have to quickly waddle home in order to relieve myself!

After my twins were born I began to work towards my goal of losing the large amount of weight I had gained. I took simple steps which any person can take;

1.Get as much sleep as you can. I know it's hard to sleep when your baby is crying all night, but try to grab 40 winks whenever they do. You cannot expect to lose weight if you are constantly exhausted.

2.Try to eat healthy. While a box of chocolates may seem like the perfect comfort food when your baby has FINALLY gone to sleep, it certainly won't help your waistline. Be sensible about your diet, you don't need become a vegetarian or cut out sugar altogether, it's all about balance. Make sure you eat the recommended servings of fruit and vegies, as well as meat and grains. Then, you can treat yourself to a little chocolate.

3.Include exercise into your day. Put your baby in their stroller and go for a walk. By carrying your baby around in a sling, you can build up your arm muscles. Try gentle exercises like Yoga and swimming which are friendlier to your post baby body.

4.Surround yourself with people who are supportive of your quest for weight loss. Being praised for your efforts gives you the motivation to continue down this hard road. They can also watch your baby for you while you exercise.

By following these simple steps, two months after birth I was looking and feeling as fantastic as I did before pregnancy. However, don't feel pressured to lose weight quickly, everyone's body is different and works differently. Experts say it can take up to a year to lose your pregnancy weight. If you don't lose weight within the first few months don't worry, when your baby starts walking you will defiantly get more exercise and definitely lose that weight!

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