Tips for losing pregnancy weight

You are also, no doubt, exhausted and fed up with hearing about celebrity mothers miraculously losing pregnancy weight seemingly overnight.

What they don't tell you is that they have a full entourage of personal trainers, nutritionists and private chefs that help them look their absolute best following pregnancy - not to mention all the Photoshopping being done.

For a 'regular' mum who has to do all the cooking, all the cleaning and look after the children, what are you supposed to do about losing pregnancy weight?

Here, I've put together a few healthy and safe tips to get you started.

1. Have a support network

To be successful in losing pregnancy weight, it's important to make time in your hectic schedule.

Private time is often a prized commodity so enlisting the help of family and friends is vital so that you can get some physical exercise done, visit the supermarkets, spend some time with friends and ust have some ME time.

A big mistake a lot of mums I work with make is trying to do everything by themselves.

If you have supplies from the supermarket you need, give a list to your partner or ask grandma if she can take of the baby for a couple of hours so you can work out and relax.

2. Fill your body with nutrients

The weeks and months after birth arethe worst times to fill yourself with junk food.

During your pregnancy you no doubt had food cravings so you now need to reverse this.

You want to be consuming several small, well-balanced meals throughout the day to kickstart your metabolism again.

These meals should consist of lean protein, high fibre fruit, green vegetable, whole grains and dairy products.

You will also need to be eating carbohydrates as this is what will supply your body with the energy you need to exercise.

Against common beliefs, carbohydrates are needed to lose weight.

You should also be drinking a minimum oftwo litres of water per day. When exercising, this should increase depending on the activity level.

3. Get active exercise

You know you should do it but it sometimes takes every bit of your energy to simply get out of bed.

However cardiovascular exercise is essential for remaining healthy, and it will also help in losing pregnancy weight more quickly.

It's not neccesary to go to the gym; you could work out in your garden while your baby sleeps in the shaded area, or you may choose to take a long walking while pushing the baby's pram.

You should be aiming to get 30 minutes of physical activity four to five times per week.

You will see that your energy levels rise, while the snumbers on the s cales go down, although the scales shouldn't be the only thing you measure your progess against.

4. Get Enough Sleep

Although it is difficult when you’ve got a new baby, it’s important that you find the time to get sufficient sleep every night.

To do this, enlist the help of others. You could also aim to take naps during the day when your baby sleeps to keep your energy levels up and maximise you rest periods.

Sleep deprivation is very common in the general population. For mums, it's almost a given.

Sleep helps our body function both mentally and physically. Even a small lack of it will affect your concentration levels and immune system.

Care for the ones you love by caring for yourself. With a mix of nourishment, the correct exercises, as well as ample rest, you will be on the right track to losing your pregnancy weight.

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