Simple Tips For Weight Loss After Pregnancy

I've seen many cases where lots of women are worried and totally frustrated to see the changes in their body when it comes to significant weight gain due to pregnancy. So, what is a women to do if you've just given birth and still have 20 or more pounds to lose to get back to your pre-baby body? In this article I would like to share simple tips to lose weight after pregnancy.

1) Regain Your Energy

You probably don't even realize that your body has just been through a very traumatic experience with all the debilitating tension that occurs during the delivery process. Before attempting to get back into a regular exercise regime, give your body some time to rest and restore your lost energy since the giving birth. Before you start any weight loss program after pregnancy, make sure that your body feels better and that simple tasks such as walking or lifting slightly heavier objects do not cause you any physical pain.

2) "Break Up" with Your Bad Eating Habits

Usually unconsciously, a lot of women think they can eat whatever they want during their pregnancy and often feel it is the fetus that is directing their cravings and causing them to want certain foods. There is definitely some truth to this, but once your baby is born, you need to remind yourself that you are no longer "eating for two". It can start with a few mistakes here and there, but the truth is continuing to eat unhealthy foods will cause you to continue gaining weight instead of losing it. A perfect example is late night junk food and after dinner dessert. These may have been unavoidable cravings while you were pregnant, but you need to eliminate them after baby if you want to lose weight.

3) Use Logic

Ask yourself, is this weight loss program reasonable and realistic for my lifestyle? If a program offers extreme promises such as LOSE 30lbs in 5 DAYS, you should be cautious. The more unrealistic it seems, the more unrealistic it really is and I would stay away from any diet plan just trying to sell to you on your frustration. Also I would recommend avoiding dietary or slimming supplements, especially fat burning pills, medications or any herbal supplements. These can be dangerous to your health when you don't have all the facts and if you are still breastfeeding you are also putting your baby's health and life at risk.

4) Start Eating Weight Loss Foods

There are tons of tips, resources and free weight loss plans for postpartum women which you can be easily found online nowadays. You may use the Internet to do some research on weight loss foods after pregnancy for both women who are breast-feeding or not.. I personally suggest you look for a weight loss diet plan for women that works with your lifestyle, this way you will be more likely to stick with it. Most weight loss programs have all the information you need to shed extra weight and explain the essential nutrients you require to reach your weight loss goal as quickly as possible, but if you spend money on a program and never follow it, there really is no weight loss program that will work for you.

5. Do SOMETHING Physical Everyday

This is probably the biggest mistake I see among my friends and family when they complain to me about postpartum weight loss. It's exhausting caring for a new born day and night and the thought of going for a jog or working out at a gym probably makes you want face plant on the floor. But, the only way to get over this feeling is to start doing SOMETHING. Start with light exercises, such as walking with the stroller or a yoga class will not only get your body back in motion, but it will also help to reduce postpartum depression. The ideal time to start light exercises is about six weeks after giving birth and as you stick with it you can move up to higher impact routines such as strength training and cardiovascular activities which will help to tighten and tone those parts that got "loose" after giving birth.

6. Be Patient

Last but not least, you need to be patience with yourself. It took 9 months for your baby to grow and develop and cause that extra weight on your belly and bottom. You can't expect your body to bounce back in just a few short weeks, even if you are following a postpartum weight loss diet plan for women. Getting back into shape will take eating the right foods, consistent physical activity and most importantly...time. A good support system always helps so ask for it! Your family members, friends and especially your husband want you to succeed so lean on them when you're having a tough day and feel you like hanging from the ceiling fan!

Gook Luck! 

By Naomi Kinaschuk

Mommy Makeover - Get Back Into Shape After Pregnancy

Children are truly one of life's greatest joys. However when you have a baby, weight gain and changes in your body occur that can be very distressing and often impossible to correct with diet and exercise alone. While controlling weight gain and working out can improve your body after having children, some body changes do not recover no matter how hard you try. Fortunately a modern Plastic Surgery procedure called the Mommy Makeover can help you get in shape after pregnancy and recover your original body. The Mommy Makeover is designed to restore the shape of your Breasts and Tummy after changes that have occurred during and after having a baby.

How Your Body Changes after Having Children.

There are a host of normal physiological changes that occur in your body when you have a baby. The most frustrating changes for many mothers however occur in the Breasts and Abdomen or Tummy. Following the cessation of breast feeding the Breast Gland (Mammary Gland) atrophies and becomes smaller and sags down on the chest wall. In addition, the skin of the abdomen becomes loose and sags downward and can develop stretch marks. In addition, in many people there is excess fat under the Tummy skin and Flank area. These changes can persist even after weight loss and conditioning through diet, exercise and working out.

Mammary Ptosis is the formal word for Sagging Breast when the Nipple Aereola is below the Inframammary Fold, the fold beneath your breast. When the Nipple Areola is above the Inframammary Fold but the Breast Gland sags below the fold the condition is called Glandular Ptosis.

Abdominal laxity is the term used to describe sagging of the lower Abdomen or Tummy. In some people the two Abdominal Muscles that form the "six pack" split or separate, a condition called Diastasis Recti, which is a separation of the two muscles named Rectus Abdominus.

Stretch marks, red or pink areas of thin skin on the Tummy, are formally called Abdominal Striae.

Muffin Top or Excess Flank Fat is the fullness and your sides above your hips, which can protrude over a belt or tight fitting pants. Flank fat is often very difficult to lose after having a baby.

What Causes Breast, Tummy and Body Changes after Having a Baby.

· Breast Atrophy-Loss-During pregnancy a portion of your Brain called the Pituitary Gland secretes Hormones which stimulate your Breast Gland to enlarge and begin producing milk. After the cessation of Breast Feeding hormonal stimulation stops and the Mammary Gland involutes or atrophies and becomes smaller. The loss of Breast Fullness is called Post-Partum Mammary Atrophy.

· Mammary Ptosis-The skin around the Mammary Gland is stretched by the enlargement during pregnancy. However the skin does not tighten in many people after Post-Partum Mammary Atrophy has occurred. With less Breast Tissue inside an enlarged skin envelope the Gland sags, not unlike letting air out of a balloon.

· Abdominal Laxity-The Abdominal Skin is stretched to make room for the baby. After delivery the skin does shrink and tighten but often not back to the original shape of the Tummy. When adequate shrinkage has not occurred the remaining loose skin sags down onto the lower Tummy.

· Excess Flank Fat- The Fat around the waist or flank area is one of the most difficult to lose after pregnancy. This area called the "muffin top" is very frustrating when you want to wear clothing that reveals the midriff or waist area.

· Stretch marks-Stretch marks or Striae are caused by rupture or breakage of deep skin collagen which is caused by the stretching of the abdominal skin during pregnancy. This damage to the deep skin layer called the Dermis results in redness and thinning of the skin in the area.

What Is A Mommy Makeover?

The term Mommy Makeover can be applied to a variety of different Plastic Surgery procedures designed to get your shape back after pregnancy. However, most commonly Mommy Makeover refers to procedures done to restore the Breast and Tummy to their pre pregnancy appearance. Most commonly a Breast Lift and or Breast Augmentation with Implants and some form of Tummy Tuck are done.

· Breast Lift-Dermal Mastopexy-This procedure is designed to correct sagging.There are many different varieties including the Anchor, Lollipop, Periareolar, Crescent, Circumareolar, Donut, and Benelli Lifts. Check my January 2013 Blog for a complete discussion of the different types.

· Breast Augmentation with Implants-Breast Implants can be used to restore the fullness and cleavage lost after Post-Partum Mammary Atrophy. For a thorough discussion of Breast Augmentation see my website.

· Tummy Tuck- Tummy Tuck can restore the Abdomen to a nice flat shape. Full Tummy Tuck requires moving the "belly button", while a Mini Tummy Tuck or Bikini Tuck only requires skin excision below the Navel and a scar hidden below the underwear or Bikini.

· Liposuction- When necessary Liposuction can be performed as part of a Mommy Makeover to remove the "muffin top" or excess fat above the Navel in patients who are candidates for a Mini Tummy Tuck.

· Laser Treatment of Stretch Marks-Recently a new Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks that actually helps has been developed. It involves the use of a specific laser called a Non ablative 1540 Fractional Erbium laser. Stretch marks are made smaller and white but do not disappear entirely. See my website for more details.

What Is the Recovery Time after Mommy Makeover?

· Week one-During the first week after Mommy Makeover you will be sore. The tightening of the abdomen can cause discomfort if you straighten up your posture, so you will be walking bent over for a few days. You may have drains which are usually removed day one or two after which you can shower. We encourage you to walk to prevent blood clots in the legs.

· Week two- You will feel much better the second week and can usually return to work that does not require lifting by the end of the second week.

· Week three- At three weeks most patients are back at work and many can start exercising again. If you had the repair of a Diastasis Recti you cannot do sit ups until six weeks and only if cleared to do so by your Doctor.

· Week Six- By six weeks you should be enjoying your new body and your surgery should becoming a distant memory.

· Three Months- By three months the nearly final results of Liposuction should be seen.

· Six months- By six months any incisions should be matured and white.

Who Should Do Your Mommy Makeover?

In my opinion only a Plastic Surgeon Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery should perform this complex procedure. Experience is very important, especially when multiple procedures are done at the same operation.

Seek out the opinion of friends whom you know have had the procedure. Search websites like Realself and Loveyourlook for reviews on doctors that you plan to consult. Ask your doctor specifically how comfortable he/she is doing this type of surgery and multiple procedures. Ask to see photos of his/her results and if possible to speak to patients who have had the procedure.

With an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with whom you feel comfortable, the Mommy Makeover can be a very satisfying procedure and help you regain your shape after pregnancy.
By Brooke R. Seckel, M.D., FACS