by N Zinser

Created on: May 22, 2009

Losing weight post pregnancy is one of the easier times to tackle weight loss, especially for nursing moms. That may seem like a hard concept to grasp when taking the new little one home and adjusting to feeding and sleeping schedules, but it is! However, it's important to remember a few things before going through any weight loss or exercise regimen. The primary thing to keep in mind is that it takes several weeks for your body to physically heal from childbirth. It's always advised to check with your obstetrician before starting any exercise program. If you're nursing, you also must remember that you need an additional 500 calories to maintain a good milk supply. Modifying eating habits and increasing water intake are also very beneficial to jump starting your post pregnancy weight loss.

The first few weeks are not the time to start your new diet or pilates class. Giving your body a rest for 6-8 weeks is the generally accepted rule, but you always should check with your doctor just to be sure. Most women have a checkup with their obstetrician at the 8 week mark, and that is a great time to discuss what would be the best plan for you going forward. After getting the go-ahead from your doctor, you can tackle light exercise. Walking with your baby in a stroller or Baby Bjorn is a great way to get a good workout without too much strain. Post-pregnancy workout DVDs are readily available, and offer light aerobic and cardio exercises. It can be easy to sneak a few minutes of a DVD workout during nap time. Getting in even 15 minutes a day of exercise adds up, and can help you drop that pregnancy weight.

Now that it's time to start your diet, if you're nursing, you need that additional 500 calories to keep your milk supply. It is pretty remarkable when you consider that the act of nursing alone can burn enough calories every day to warrant an extra 500, but it does indeed. An adult woman is recommended by the FDA to consume 2,000 calories a day. In order to lose weight, they recommend cutting 250 to 1000 calories a day . However, you should not consume less than 1,200 calories a day, as your body would go into "starvation mode", which actually would stall weight loss, and cause your milk supply to diminish. A low-fat diet is a good place to begin, focusing on lean meats, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Eating small meals every couple of hours can help keep blood sugar up and can actually prevent overeating. If you eat late, it can put a damper on weight loss - so if you find yourself wanting to snack late, eating fruits, vegetables, or even having a glass of milk is the best way to cure the craving without sabotaging all of your good diet behavior during the day. Upping your water intake is essential to keep the weight loss moving along. It's recommended to have 8-10 8 ounce glasses a day, and having flavored seltzer or water are a tasty way to get the recommended amount in.

For new moms, losing weight post pregnancy is not as hard as it seems; it is similar to any normal weight loss plan. Always checking with your doctor before beginning is the most important tip to remember to keep yourself on a healthy path to weight loss.

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