It's amazing. You give birth and in the next 2 months you drop 20-30 pounds and you're thinking, "Boy, everyone should be on my diet." And then it hits you. The big PLATEAU. What do you do when the last 5,10, or 20 pounds won't budge? Try these tips that I've used after my 2 pregnancies when the scale (or my favorite Gap capris) were not being friendly:
1. Keep a food journal. It's amazing how much you put in your mouth without realizing it. For one whole week write down EVERYTHING that you put in your mouth. If you go to www.bloombikeshop.com you can download a free food log template.
2. Try to get in a little cardio everyday. It really helps. Even if it's only for 15 minutes. It gets your metabolism kicking.
3. Try to lift weights 3 times a week. Weights put on muscle and muscles fill out those weird sagging areas that you get after you have a baby (all of us who've had babies know exactly what I'm talking about). You can be 130 and a size 8 without weight training or 130 pounds and a size 4 with weight training.
4. Try to do some Pilates or Core training. Your core really takes a beating during pregnancy and becomes pretty weak. You're setting yourself up for back and other physical problems later in life if you don't attack your core now. Try taking a class or do a video (while the baby sleeps!). Or you can buy great dvds at www.Gaiam.com.
5. Keep in mind the extra five. Yes, you do burn more calories while you breastfeed and you lose weight quicker, but your body only lets you get down to a certain weight and then it stop in fear of starvation (of the baby). So you'll keep on an extra couple of pounds while you're still breastfeeding. They literally fall off the week after you wean your baby!
Hope this helps all of you new moms (and prepare all of you moms-to-be). Good luck!
Yours in Health,
Larysa
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