by Adisyn Lee

Created on: September 19, 2008   Last Updated: August 01, 2009

As a pregnant person I was indeed a bit of an overacheiver, we all do it in something whether it is school, work, or sports only my surpassing excellance moment was in regards to my pregnancy weight gain. I made the same mistake that many women do in taking the eating for two philosophy and applying it most generously to my plate filling technique. I ate, and ate, and ate, and didn't notice anything was wrong until one day when I looked across the table at a Chinese buffet into the loving and almost fearful eyes of my husband who asked me, "Will you ever be the same again?" We laugh at that now, but at the time I realized that I hadn't thought ahead to just how I was going to lose this weight. We spend our pregnancies gaining weight as a badge of honor allowing those around us to recognize the state we are in, our bodies belong to the babies they are a vessel in which protects and nurtures them. Then the glorious day comes in which your body finally becomes your own again, you have the baby and then suddenly it dawns on you, "This is NOT my body"! No, this is most definitely not your body. This is the stretched, sagging, wrinkly, dimply, lumpy shell of a body that has housed the little creature in which you now hold in your arms. But it can be your body again and now you have the greatest workout partner available at your disposal, your baby.

After you have the baby you may find yourself like me wondering how to approach weight loss. The key to losing weight is to eat the recommended calories of 1800 to 2000 for postpartum and breastfeeding mothers in a more structured way. During your pregnancy you might have found yourself eating based on a craving, now it is important to consume only healthy calories. Lots of water, fruits and vegetables are important in regaining a balance to the hormones and instrumental in weight loss. Do not restrict yourself, just be wise in your decisions, if you consume more calories in one meal just subtract that from the next. Snacking is also important for it will keep you from overeating at meal times and it will also keep your blood sugar level thus keeping your energy level up. Snacks should be low calorie and high in protein such as mixed nuts and cheeses.

The final key to weight loss after pregnancy is exercise. Yes, I know you are tired, you haven't slept in days and you barely have enough energy to brush your teeth let alone exercise. Instead of approaching weight loss as a chore try doing what I did, involve the baby! I would place the baby on my knees and do sit ups to kiss her or make her laugh. I would do push ups and do the same. It never felt like exercise it felt like being a loving mother. Take walks, around the neighborhood or just around the house. Just spend time moving with your baby. This way you get the benefit of activity and calorie burning with the added reward of spending time with your child. I promise you that you will reap the benefits such as I did. Three months after I had my daughter I was within ten pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight this was surprising especially since I had gained nearly seventy pounds. Dont let your post pregnancy figure discourage you, it is as temporary as the pregnancy itself. You just have to find the motivation you need and what better motivation than your new child. I find that I enjoy weight loss more now that my workout partner is the person I love most in the world, and I know that you will enjoy it too.

Learn more about this author, Adisyn Lee.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.