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How To Get A Flat Tummy After A Baby
Regaining a flat tummy after pregnancy is important to many women.
Losing weight is a priority to many new moms, and it is often something they struggle with for years. Losing pregnancy weight is not as easy as you might think. It’s not any easier than losing any other type of weight.
The trick is to not put on too much weight to begin with. However, if you find that you have, there are ways that you can slim down quickly and safely. Let’s take a look at how you can lose the tummy after you have a baby.
How To Lose The After Pregnancy Belly
Putting the time and effort into losing weight and getting in shape while caring for a new baby is a challenge. You are likely exhausted and most days you may not even find the time to brush your teeth.
Fitting in a workout or cooking a healthy meal from scratch probably seems impossible. However, taking care of yourself is important. You can’t be the best mom for your baby if you aren’t in top form. Taking care of yourself includes eating nutritiously and getting in daily exercise.
The key is to make sure you are being active. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to put on tights and hit the gym. Get a pair of comfortable shoes and go for a daily walk. Pushing the stroller for 30 minutes a day can burn off more calories than you’d think. If you weigh 130-140 pounds and you walk 30 minutes you’ll burn close to 100 calories. If you can go longer for 30 minutes then you’ll burn more.
If you couple that with cutting calories through diet then you’ll be on your way to safe and healthy weight loss.
*VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you talk to your doctor about how many calories you’re supposed to be getting each day. This is especially true if you’re breast feeding. You don’t want to go overboard with diet and exercise to the point that it could impact your babies health.
There are also a LOT of pregnancy and post pregnancy workout videos. Look for the yoga videos. With my first son, Samuel I did a 30 minute yoga video everyday and it really helped me stay in shape. You can find quite a few of them on Amazon.com.
How To Lose The Baby Belly
Tips For Making The Time To Commit To Weight Loss
Accept help when it is offered. This is crucial. If people are asking what they can do to help, take them up on it. Call or email your friends who said, “Let me know if you need anything.” Have them run to the grocery store for you to stock up on healthy foods (raw fruits and vegetables). Ask them to help you prep the items to make it easy for you to grab something healthy to eat with one hand as you nurse or play with the baby. Carrot and celery sticks, hummus, apples, hard boiled eggs, raw almonds, bananas, nut butter and real jam, and essentially any other fresh fruits and vegetables are all great options. You can also look into lean meats, fish (be careful because some fish has mercury and other potentially harmful substances), and whole grains.
Talk to your doctor about more healthy food options.
I can’t stress enough how putting the baby in the stroller and going for a walk is good for you. Not only for your physical well being but also for your mental well being. Pregnancy is tough both mentally and physically and a good walk can help you clear your head and gather your thoughts. Try and Walk every day. If the weather is not permitting an outside walk, load up the car and walk at the mall.
The best way to lose your post pregnancy belly is through healthy eating and exercise. You can make the time for yourself to accomplish this. You deserve to be healthy and to feel good in your own skin. Your baby deserves a healthy, fit and confident mother. You can accomplish this if you try!
Find A Support System
Weight loss after having a baby is something most women struggle with. You are not alone. Look for forums and online communities of women in the same boat as you. You will be able to motivate and encourage one another, exchange fitness tips and share your successes and struggles. There are likely Mommy and Me playgroups that meet regularly in your area. These meetings will get you out of the house and around other women who get it. Team up for organized activities that will help you all meet your goals, such as group walks or meal swaps.
Don’t forget to ask your husband or significant other for support.
Tell him what you need and let him help.
Fake It Until You Make It
Use a post maternity belly band to create the illusion of weight loss as you continue working on achieving your weight loss and fitness goals. Working on your posture and wearing slimming clothing styles will also help you achieve a thinner appearance. Dresses and tops that slim the stomach instead of clinging to it will help with this effort.
Flaunt your best feature!
This is the chest area for many new mothers. Wear a low cut top or eye catching necklace to draw attention upward and away from your stomach. Embrace your new figure! Your body gave you a beautiful new baby. Be proud of what it has accomplished. Your pride and joy will give you increased confidence and acceptance with your body that others will take notice of. Also, with a little effort and a bit of time you’ll be able to get rid of that after pregnancy belly and get the body back that you had before you became pregnant.
Michael
May 1, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Has anyone seen the photos and video of Jessica Simpson during her pregnancy? I saw her when she made an appearance on the Tonight Show and she has blown up like an over fed hog. I was shocked to see how much bigger she is in sheer mass. She mentioned an assortment of junk foods that she has been eating and I feel sorry for her because she is ignoring rule number one from this article.
Admin
May 7, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Hey Michael,
It’s a shame that in this country women have been completely misled into thinking that during pregnancy they can eat whatever they want. During pregnancy the baby “eats” what the mother eats so why eat junk food? Pregnancy is a time when you should be MORE strict about what you eat, not less.
Sara
Carroll
May 2, 2012 at 9:57 am
I couldn’t help but watching a certain infomercial (a few times already, since it seems to always come on after 4 in the morning) which promotes an intense fat burning, body sculpting program called “Insanity. I’m sure many of you have seen it. One of the test subjects / customers is a mother of two kids and the dramatic improvement she displays from the start of her third trimester to the end of 30 days of the workout is amazing.
Admin
May 7, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Hey Carroll,
Insanity is a good program but it’s VERY intense. It’s really only for people who are already in shape and want to take their fitness to the highest level. If you really want to get into shape like that but you’re not used to working out as hard I recommend you start out with another program by the same company which is called the P90X. The P90X is also very intense but not as much as Insanity. Make sure you consult your doctor before starting any weight loss programs like these.
Sara
Nancy
May 2, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Why is belly fat so difficult to get rid of? It has to be the most stubborn fat ever and it doesn’t matter if you starve yourself or what it is the last place you start losing. All of these diets that claim you will lose the belly fat first are a bunch of whoha because I have tried everything shy of lipo suction or laser lipo or a tummy tuck.
Admin
May 4, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Hey Nancy,
Try to avoid “diets.” Focus more on changing the way you eat. Consume MORE fruits and vegetables and cut out as much sugar and processed foods as you possibly can. Minimize your carb intake (but don’t cut carbs out completely because you need them).
Sara
Syl W.
May 2, 2012 at 3:57 pm
After my baby, I want a flat stomach now and it has been twenty years sense I had a baby. What can I do now to get that flat tummy especially the lower abs? Mine are hard but they stick out as well. Can this be fixed by a certain exercise? Every diet and exercise program I do I have some kind of ab session because I want that six pack.
Admin
May 3, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Hey Syl,
To get rid of the fat you should consume less calories and exercise more. Make sure that for lunch and dinner HALF of your plate is fruits and vegetables. Try to cut back on carbs and eliminate sugar and processed foods. You’ll also want to do MORE cardio. Ab crunches and sit ups alone will not give you a six pack. You need to burn off the fat on top of your abs and that takes cardio. Try Zumba, spinning, dancing, or other types of higher intensity workouts. Make sure you’re in the right shape to do them, however. Talk to your doctor before you sign up for any type of high-intensity workout programs.
-Sara
Stacy
May 2, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Do you suppose that some women’s bodies naturally have a bulge in the lower abdominal area? Ever sense I can remember back in school and everything I have never worn my shirt tucked into my pants because I have always had a bulge in that area and I didn’t want to look pregnant in school. I even had this in junior high school when I was running track. Maybe it’s natural.
Admin
May 2, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Hey Stacy,
There isn’t a “natural bulge” on women or men. If you are having trouble getting rid of it try reducing your calories by only eating fresh, whole foods. Also, try and get as much exercise every day that you can. Try walking, jogging, swimming, bike riding, hiking, etc. Stay active and get healthy!
Sara
Aaron
May 2, 2012 at 3:57 pm
I watched that video and the before and after photos of her were amazing and to think that was just three months after having her baby and she has had three!! Sometimes I just think there are certain things that are not fair at all. I have wanted a flat belly all my life and can not seem to achieve it no matter what I do. Even if I eat right and exercise.
Admin
May 2, 2012 at 8:00 pm
Hey Aaron,
You may have to change to a different style of diet. Try cutting back on carbs and eat ONLY fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and whole grains. Cut out all diet products like diet soda. Exercise daily and change up what you do. Focus on being as healthy as you absolutely can and you will find that your belly will slim down over time.
Sara
Sharon
May 2, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Well I wish I had known about that belly band that she wore day and night for 2 months to remind her belly of where everything was supposed to be when I had my son. It has been twenty years now and my belly still isn’t flat I still have that loose skin because I would start a regime and nothing would happen so I would quit and start another one later.