Get rid of the baby fat

By Bob Otieno

Adding weight may come as part of the ‘new mom’ package but here are simple ways to lose the extra flab

For blissful nine months, you were the excited mom-to-be. Most of the time you felt great and you were the focus of a lot of attention.
Then comes the baby and beyond the stress, sleep deficiency and feelings of isolation, there is also the postpartum belly fat to deal with. Here are some great tips to help you get your pre-pregnancy body back by turning your body into a fat burning furnace.

1. Avoid crazy diets. Don’t fall for the quickie diets that promise instant results. They are not good for you or for the baby. Eat lots of fruits, veggies, lean protein and drink plenty of water.

2. Slowly resume exercising. Being at home with a new infant can be isolating for a new mom. Put the baby in the stroller and go out for a walk. Take it easy the first few times, especially if you’ve had a Caesarean section. As you regain strength and your doctor gives you the green light, you’ll be able to begin or resume weight training and more strenuous aerobic exercise, and start heading back to your pre-pregnancy shape.

3. Avoid sugary drinks and caffeine. Both caffeine and sugar affect your blood sugar levels radically. If you are nursing, they can also affect your baby’s sugar levels, making the baby edgy or grouchy. The best beverage for a new mom is plain water. Reducing empty sugar calories is the best first step to getting rid of the postpartum belly fat and the loose, poochy skin that comes with it.

4. Don’t skip meals. You’ll be skipping the benefits of a higher metabolism. It sounds completely wrong, but you should eat more frequently than before. Just eat smaller meals. If you eat like this five or six times a day, your metabolism and sugar levels will remain consistent, keeping you energised and ready for motherhood.

5. Take a rest. Finding time to rest can be a challenge for a new mom. Make it a point to take a nap yourself whenever the baby drifts off. Give yourself permission to let the housework slide a little. With knees slightly bent, lie down on your left side with your left arm pillowing your head. This opens your spine, helping to relieve any pain there.

6. Breathe deeply. Most people don’t use a lot of their available lung area. Take ten deep breaths at least three times a day. This will move more oxygen to the brain immediately — at least twenty per cent more. You’ll clear toxins from your body and increase your thinking power instantly.

4. Make a list. When you’ve got a lot on your mind it’s so easy to forget stuff. Don’t stress yourself by trying to force your brain to do something it isn’t wired to do. Write things down for instant stress-reduction.

5. Eat slowly. As a new mom busy with a crying baby, the temptation is to eat a snack whenever you can grab it. This is a mistake as it can lead to a digestive upset. Also, you may feel like you haven’t really eaten so you may be tempted to reach for sweets or greasy chips as a fill-in. Sit at the table and eat from a plate. Enjoy your food; it’s much better for you than eating on the go.

Stress and post-partum belly fat are part of the package of new motherhood. You can conquer them both. Just use common sense and follow these easy steps. Listen to your body. You’ll know when it’s time for exercise.