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Okay, your new bundle of joy has finally arrived. The belly you once stuck out proudly is replaced by your new baby and your 9 months of "eating for two" has now expired. So now what?

Now it's time to get your old body back, but how? Most first time moms are surprised to see that when they leave the hospital they are left still looking pregnant, and some are

immediately discouraged. So here are a few safe and very simple tricks that I used that will get you right back into your pre-pregnancy pants.

First things first, DRINK SMART! Being a new mom can leave you exhausted, but instead of reaching for a can of soda to give you a caffiene boost, grab a bottle of water. Staying hydrated will not only keep you energized but will help you knock off a few of those pregnancy pounds.

The next little tip is PLAY WITH YOU BABY! Doing a few baby exercises is not only good for you, but it will keep you and your baby interacting. A couple examples of this are arm exercises. Simply lie on your back, place baby SAFELY on your chest and gently raise your baby up and down. Another good one is the baby crunch, which is my personal favorite. Once again place your infant safely and securely on your chest and gently lift your upper body. How about that? Beating the battle of the bulge while still bonding with your baby!

Another thing to keep in mind is what you are eating. For 9 months you had a free pass to eat whatever you wanted. Now it's time to change the menu up a little and change some habits. You don't need to throw all the frozen pizzas and quarts of ice cream away, but just make sure you add some fuits, vegetables, chicken and other healthy foods to your grocery list. Getting your daily amounts of needed nutrients will help you stay healthy, and keep your energy up. Also, EAT SLOWER! Granted it's hard to get a meal in with a crying baby in the background, so the first reaction is to shovel your food in your mouth. DON'T. Take your
time and allow your body to realize it's full before you overstuff yourself. (A hard lesson for me to learn since I LOVE to eat...fast!) One more tip in eating. If you want a piece of cake, EAT A PIECE OF CAKE. Cravings are normal evening when your not pregnant. Trying to avoid what you are craving, or even trying to skip a meal, will only lead to binge eating in the poor attempt to fullfill that craving. Plus your a new mom so you deserve it!

Last but not least, keep in mind that it took you 9 months to pack on the pounds and you should allow yourself the same amount of time to take them off. It takes a womans body 10-12 months to recover from having a baby, so if the weight doesn't just fall off right away don't stress. Rigorous exercise and crash dieting will not do you or your baby any good, so be patient with your body. Allow yourself time to get back to the weight you want. Anyone can do it. In fact making these small but significant changes not only helped me to lose my pregnancy weight, but aided me in losing an EXTRA 10 pounds on top of it! AMAZING! So with that in mind good luck and congradulations on your newest exercise equipment...I mean baby!

Learn more about this author, Ashley Hammond.
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