Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Now the real work begins, and we’re not just talking about taking care of a newborn. Are you worried that you can’t lose the baby weight? Weight loss postpartum can be something scary to look forward to, but it really isn’t. You probably have been less than pleased about the shape of your body over the last nine or so months, and want to return to your pre-baby body as soon as possible. You’re a Fit Mommy – you can do it!

It’s common for women to feel less confident in themselves when they’re dissatisfied with the way they look. That’s why it’s important that you balance the speed in which you lose the baby weight with maintaining your health. After all, it’s all for naught if you end up too weak to take care of the baby!

Weight Loss Postpartum Should Be Safe

A good goal for your postpartum weight loss plan is to give it a year after the birth of your baby to lose all the weight. You gained the weight over nine months and losing it too quickly can do things like harming your milk supply and leave you less able to take care of your newborn. The first thing you should do is to ask your doctor at your six-week checkup what they recommend to experience steady but safe and lasting weight loss after pregnancy.

Usually, they will recommend cutting calories by 500 out of your daily diet and increase the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat. Try to divide your meals into 5 or 6 smaller ones so that you’re eating a little throughout the day and won’t suffer from the hunger dieters experience that causes them to eat more than they should.

Start Gently With Exercise

Taking care of a newborn can be exhausting work. Regardless, you should try to carve out tiny increments in your day for gentle slimming exercise. For example, you might take a few minutes every now and then to enjoy a little yoga. Don’t focus on how to lose postpartum weight fast by diving in immediately into heavy-duty aerobics.

Later on, you can pencil in some walks around the track, trails, or your neighborhood with the baby in a stroller. You don’t have to leap into aerobics classes the minute you’re out of the hospital! Some local community organizations might even offer new parents some exercise programs that include their children. Weight loss postpartum is all about improving your health, so you can enjoy the wonder of seeing your little one grow.

Don’t Overdo It

Be realistic about what kind of weight loss after pregnancy, you will experience and how long it may take. A year is not a huge amount of time, even if you want to fit into your old clothes immediately! Remember that you have a new baby to take care of at the same time you want to lose weight and don’t lose heart! Being healthy enough to take care of your new baby is the most important thing you have to keep in mind. Fad diets and heavy exercise will only end up sabotaging your efforts.

Eventually, you will start to see the fruits of your efforts with pride, and your baby will appreciate all the energy his or her fit mommy has to spare. Keep it really simple and increase your physical activity slowly but surely. Take your time. The key to steady weight loss postpartum is balancing diet and exercise with the demands of your everyday life – and you can do it, you know you can.