Losing baby weight

It takes time for a young mother to get back in shape. It takes most women about 6 weeks to shed half of their childhood weight and then slowly over the next 6-12 months to shed the rest.

When you're ready to start, consume at least 1800 calories per day. If you're breastfeeding, add an additional 500 calories to that. With exercise, you can lose up to 500 grams per week.

You can also help yourself by avoiding these common mistakes that make it difficult to lose weight during pregnancy.

Being too impatient

The desire to lose weight quickly forces you to make decisions in favor of quick results, not long-term ones.

For example, you might be tempted by a fad like only eating grapefruit. You will lose weight, but drastic diets will backfire. You will probably get it all back when you start eating normally again.

The Fix: Push for a plan that will deliver long-term results, even if it takes longer than you'd like. Your doctor or dietitian can help you choose a weight loss plan that is worth the time.

Comparing yourself to famous moms

Ignore the celebrity moms who seem to lose their baby's weight overnight. They often hire coaches and leaders to help them. Plus, chances are that some of their weight loss efforts weren't healthy.

Solution: focus only on your own body. Don't make yourself look like someone else. It's about health and what's good for you, not keeping up with a starlet whose life is very different from yours.

Not getting enough sleep

It's hard to close your eyes when your little one relies on you day and night. However, sleep and weight are linked.

Among the young mothers studied, those who slept 5 hours a night or less were more likely to have lost at least 5 kg more by the time their child was one year old than mothers who slept 7 hours a night.

Solution: Take every opportunity to sleep. You will feel better and this will help you lose weight. Ask your pediatrician or sleep coach for advice.

Packing only baby food

Your little one's bag has everything he needs, but did you forget someone?

Solution: pack food for yourself. Try healthy snacks like partially fat-free cheese sticks, kale chips, and bagged tuna.

Skipping meals

You are busy with your new baby. Therefore, it is understandable that it is easier to skip lunch or dinner.

Don't make it a habit. Severe calorie restriction on a regular basis puts your body into starvation mode. As a result, your body stores fat instead of burning it, contrary to what you want.

Solution: Eat regularly, even if it's not the kind of food you had time for before the baby was born. Short and simple - reheated leftovers, a sandwich, a bowl of soup - it's better than nothing at all.

Setting unrealistic goals

You will be disappointed if your goal is too ambitious. Have you given yourself enough time to lose weight?

Solution: give yourself some slack. It takes 6-12 months for your body to get back into shape safely after giving birth. And even then, your weight may be distributed differently than before pregnancy.

Multitasking while eating

You try to go about your business, chewing while you work. It's not your best choice. It's easy to overeat if you opt for bowls or food bags.

Solution: Even if you eat very fast, try to sit down and focus on your food while you eat. Plate with food. Turn off TVs and mobile phones. Distracted eaters tend to eat more food at a time than people who pay attention to their food.