First, let’s get one thing straight–Pregnancy weight comes from a couple of places. @SharonMazel has this great image from her Instagram.

Pregnancy weight is not linear and it is definitely not all fat. Some women lose this weight pretty quickly, especially if they are breastfeeding while others do not. For those who are struggling, I want you to remember that postpartum recovery takes upwards of a year assuming you don’t have any complications. I don’t know why we expect mommas to “bounce back” postpartum but it can be damaging mentally and physically for women.

We need to remember that losing weight does NOT always = health. Our body’s go through a LOT during pregnancy and postpartum. The goal needs to be healing your body more than actual weight loss. When we heal our body and we feel better, the weight usually comes off with it. Going on ‘special’ diets/detoxes or restricting foods will do more harm than good. I have never had a client who needed to reduce their caloric intake. Most people are not eating enough to fuel their body, therefore, their bodies in return hold on to the weight because it doesn’t know when they will get good nourishing foods again.

For the first 6 months post-birth, these are my top tips:

• Focus on digestion- you are what you digest…not just what you eat. Try eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, and add in some warm lemon water with a tsp apple cider vinegar in before each meal.
• Don’t start exercising too early. You should exercise as if you are in your 3rd trimester until at least 6 months postpartum. If you want to get your tummy back quickly? See a pelvic floor physical therapist!
• If you are symptomatic, get your thyroid and hormones checked–and I don’t mean the basic panel your doctor will give you, request a thorough exam even if it isn’t “procedure”
• Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate…and then hydrate some more. I have some great electrolytes on my Amazon page here.

I know that these suggestions seem super simple however nutrition can be fairly simplistic. When we look at how our bodies function and what it actually needs–THIS is what it needs. Your body is in fight/flight mode after you deliver. You need to get back into a restful state. Stress is not going to help you lose weight. Dieting/reducing calories + stressful exercise does NOT equal healthy weight loss. You will most likely hurt your body and end up gaining the weight back.

If you continue to struggle after 4-6 months, see a nutrition professional. There are many out there. I, myself am one. I’d be happy to chat with you about your struggles. If I don’t feel that I am a good fit for your needs, I am happy to find a nutrition coach that would best suit you. I have a great list of referrals. 🙂 E-mail me for a free consultation livingsatisfied@gmail.com