During pregnancy your body automatically layers on fat to help you begin and support breastfeeding. This can feel frustrating and overwhelming for a soon to be mom. But luckily many experts say that breastfeeding helps reduce these fat stores and along with healthy eating it can be a great way to shed some of those pounds post baby. Here are some tips about using breastfeeding to get your baby weight off.
Your baby's health is more important.
Women who diet strictly, over exercise, and skip meals may return to their pre baby weight quickly, but there will be a higher level of toxins in their breast milk. Breastfeeding is the healthiest form of nutrition for your baby, but it is important to stay healthy for your child. It is not an instant way to take off weight. You want to plan on gradually dropping the pounds. During breastfeeding it is essential to increase your fluid intake and to ingest enough calories to fuel both you and your baby. Make sure you get a doctor’s okay before starting an exercise routine.
You have to take in calories to burn calories.
Breastfeeding typically burns 300-500 calories a day, which gives you a jump start on weight loss. So if you are eating plenty of snacks and healthy fats to keep your energy up then your body will be burning calories each time you nurse. Another way breastfeeding can promote weight loss is by helping your uterus contract back to regular size. This will help your baby pooch disappear quicker and you get back into your pre-pregnancy jeans. The longer you breastfeed the more potential you have to easily lose your baby weight. Women who breastfeed for longer than than three months without supplementation lose more than women that don’t.
Choose healthy foods.
If you are not seeing the weight loss you had hoped, examine your eating habits. One of the best ways to lose weight is to cut out any empty calories from your diet. Empty calories are calories from solid fats and/or added sugars, and include soft drinks, desserts, and fried foods. Fruits and vegetables are some of the most important foods to include in your breastfeeding diet. They provide many essential vitamins and minerals for you and your baby’s growth and development. Good snacks include apple slices with peanut butter or grape tomatoes and carrots with low fat salad dressing. Bananas, oranges, and broccoli are easy and very healthy snacks as well. It’s also important to eat protein to help battle the lack of energy that can come with breastfeeding. One half of a turkey sandwich is a great grab and go snack. Yogurt and cheese are also great sources of protein and have the added bonus of being a good source of calcium.
