The Best Way to Lose Weight After Baby

Your doctor may have recommended that you gain 25 to 35 pounds during your pregnancy, and you may have taken a bit of creative liberty with that number. What she didn't tell you was how to get that off after baby was born. While the few extra pounds that most new moms carry are troublesome, remember that you have a brand-new baby to care for, so avoid "crash" or "fad" diets. Not only does he not care if you're 20 pounds overweight, he needs you in tip-top condition to receive proper care.

Time

You may have returned home from the hospital wondering how you could deliver an 8-lb. baby and all the extras that come along with her and still be above your pre-pregnancy weight. If you gained the recommended amount, much of this can be attributed to excess fluid, an enlarged uterus and localized swelling.

By the 6 to 8 week mark, you will have lost a substantial portion of this. Nearly all the weight remaining can be attributed to fat stores built up during pregnancy.

Breast-Feeding

All major medical associations have declared "breast to be best," and breast feeding is a great calorie burner too. The average breast-feeding mom uses an extra 500 calories per day, according to Safer Child, Inc. An ounce of breast milk contains roughly 22 calories and requires additional calories to produce.

Couple these extra calories with the constant up-down routine your baby creates and his uncanny ability to demand to be fed the second you microwave the leftover lasagna. Considering all the calories you're burning and missing, you're well on your way to getting your pre-baby body back.

Walking

Whether you have a completely content baby or one who is colicky all day long, she's going to love moving. The affinity she developed for it didn't change when she was born. Moderate walking burns around 400 calories an hour, according to the President's Council on Fitness, so embrace your newborn's need to move.

Sleep

Studies have shown that your body is friendlier to the idea of losing weight when it has proper rest. "Sleep when baby sleeps" is excellent advice. You may miss the luxuriously long stretches you enjoyed during your third trimester, but the average newborn sleep anywhere from 14 to 18 hours per day, according to BabyCenter.com. Take advantage of these short periods of sleep to keep yourself energized and your body primed for weight loss throughout the day.

Relax

During the new-baby period, you may think Mother Nature created infants to maximize your fatigue. Rather than attempting to fit his schedule to yours, spend baby's first months practicing newborn care the way Mother Nature intended. Not only will your baby be happy and healthy, you'll be able to get your body back without uncomfortable diets or overexerting yourself.