Getting Rid of Baby Fat

Dieting, Breastfeeding and Naps

• Getting rid of baby fat starts with eating right and adjusting your diet from eating for two to eating to lose weight. You shouldn't begin dieting immediately after giving birth because your body still will be trying to heal from the pregnancy and delivery. Slowly ease into eating a diet rich in lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Your focus should be toward your health and not a crash diet. Keep your blood sugar stabilized during the day by eating frequent, small meals. Not only will you maintain your energy level during the day, but calories consumed are less likely to be stored as fat and are metabolized more quickly if they are distributed throughout your day. Avoid empty-calorie foods such as sodas, flavored coffees and chips.
  During your pregnancy, you probably ate when you felt hungry. You will now need to reduce snacks and make sure they are low-calorie yet filling foods instead of high-calorie, low-nutrient junk food. Stock up on nutritious foods such as whole-wheat crackers, raisins, yogurt, low-fat milk and veggies.
  In addition to eating a well-balanced low-calorie diet, women who breast-feed also burn an additional 600 to 800 calories a day. Your body needs at least 500 extra calories a day to breast-feed, which will mean increasing your daily caloric intake to at least 2,700. But even with an increase, women who do not increase their activity after giving birth still manage to lose weight while breast-feeding.
  Your newborn can wreak havoc on your sleep cycle, which can upset your metabolism, making it even harder to get rid of baby fat. After giving birth, you need to sleep when your baby sleeps and let go of the urge to do housework or exercise. It is important to get plenty of rest, which will prevent you from binging on high-caloric foods for energy. As your baby gradually ages, your body will adjust to the change in your sleep cycle and you can begin to implement times for cleaning and exercising.

Exercising after Delivery

• The idea of exercising might seem overwhelming for new moms. Women are not physically ready to exercise until at least six weeks after delivery. The best way to begin getting rid of baby fat is to start with small steps daily to increase your activity. Start by walking around the block in your neighborhood and increase your distance slowly a couple of days at a time. Pushing a stroller as you walk burns 150 calories every 30 minutes, so consider taking your baby along with you on your walks. Most babies enjoy the outdoors and the change of scenery. Once you feel comfortable with a walking routine, try incorporating cardiovascular workouts into your exercise routine. Try to do cardio for 20 to 30 minutes at three to five days out of the week.
  You will not stick with an exercise routine that you do not enjoy so if walking isn't your thing, try swimming or cycling, or any other activity that will burn calories. Lifting weights is another great way to speed up your metabolism and tone up sagging baby fat. Try connecting with other new moms in your area to find a workout buddy. Many women find that companionship during workouts helped them stay focused and dedicated.