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Postpartum Weight Loss
Exercise is the Key
The best way to lose weight after pregnancy is by exercising. Many
new mothers are told that they need to take care of the baby first
and then they can take care of themselves later. However, this is
probably not such a great idea. As any new mother knows, taking
care of the baby will take an enormous amount of time and energy
and you may feel that there is not enough time left over for
exercise.
The Benefits of Exercise
A recent study has shown that women who begin to exercise right
after delivery tend to lose more weight in the first six weeks than
mothers who do not exercise then. Only about 35% of women
exercise after giving birth. It is well known that physical well-being
impacts a great deal on psychological well-being. Post-partum
women are known to be especially vulnerable to depression.
Exercise will not only help women lose the weight they gained
during their pregnancy, it will also help them to avoid or minimize
post-partum depression. Some women are concerned that
exercise may somehow impact their ability to breast-feed. This
study did not find any evidence to support this.
Finding the Time
Having trouble finding the time to exercise? Set aside a certain
time every other day when someone else watches the baby. Use
this time to exercise, without worrying about needing to change the
baby's diaper or do the laundry. You may feel that you just want to
take a nap during this time. However, keep in mind that exercising
regularly will actually give you more energy than you would have if
you did not exercise.
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