Smart Weight Loss
It is important to be patient and take a sensible approach to weight loss. Generally, a sensible approach includes increasing physical activity and moderately decreasing the amount of healthy calories you eat by watching your portion sizes. For women who are breastfeeding, calorie intake should not be decreased until they are done breastfeeding. Don’t let this frustrate you, though. In general, breastfeeding women tend to lose weight naturally, even with additional calories, because their bodies are burning calories simply through the process of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding requires about 800 calories daily. Stored body fat from pregnancy kicks in about 300 calories for milk production. Your dietary intake needs to supply the rest. That adds up to about an extra 500 calories per day, or 200 more calories than you needed during pregnancy.
You may not be advised to diet, but you can still eat a healthy diet, avoid empty calories, and exercise with your doctor’s permission. An 8-ounce to 2-pound weight loss per week (1 pound if you’re breastfeeding) is considered healthy. Rapid weight loss can affect breastfeeding and comes from a loss of fluid and muscle-your goal, on the other hand, is to lose fat.
A Healthy Plan
A healthy weight loss plan does not need to be complicated or expensive. If you were eating a healthy diet during pregnancy, then you simply continue those habits while eating less. You need to devise a healthy eating plan that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Include fatfree or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins such as lean meats, poultry, fish, legumes, and soy as well. Your best bet is to visit a registered dietitian who can give you the education and guidance you need to lose weight safely and effectively as well as keep it off for a lifetime.
Essential: One of the biggest problem areas for women after pregnancy is the belly. Abdominal muscles stretched during pregnancy usually become loose in the period after childbirth and give you the “pouch” look. The only way to get rid of excess body fat is to burn more energy than you are taking in.
Checkout LINK
http://health.msn.com/
Posted on December 30th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Baby Care
Leave a Reply