7 Ways For New Mums To Get Back In Shape

The most important thing you need to remember is to not rush into anything, as your body has taken nine months to look this way and it’s not going to revert back to normal overnight. But getting back your pre-baby body is not as daunting as you might think, take a look at these seven tips to help new Mum’s get back in shape.

1. Eat your way to a better post-pregnancy body

You will have watched your diet carefully during the nine months of carrying your baby, and if you want to get back in shape after giving birth, then you still need to eat healthily. It‘s the same principle whether you want to lose weight after Christmas or shape up for your holiday - what you eat affects your weight. It might be tempting to eat fast food to save time but this won’t sustain your energy or help you to lose weight. Instead, you should aim to eat wholegrain foods, fruit, vegetables, fish, lean meat and drink plenty of water.

2. Breastfeeding

Not all Mothers choose to breastfeed but there are some people who believe that ‘breast is best’ when it comes to feeding their babies. Breast milk provides essential nutrients that your baby needs, is readily available and free and another added bonus of breastfeeding is that it can help you regain your pre-baby figure, as the body naturally burns calories during the process of producing the milk.

3. Go swimming

Jumping headfirst into an intense weight loss plan after giving birth is not advised as your body has been through a lot over the past nine months. Easy your way into a more gentle fitness routine and go swimming. As a low impact exercise, swimming is perfect for new Mum’s, it’s easy on the joints as your body weight floats on the water. The atmosphere of the pool and the repetitive nature of swimming also make this fitness option a peaceful and relaxing activity.

4. Get some sleep

This might be easier said than done but as a new Mum, aim to get some sleep whenever your baby does. A lack of sleep can leave your body craving sugary and fatty foods to try and give yourself a much needed energy boost. Since your baby has arrived, your sleep pattern will likely have been turned upside down and this can slow down your metabolism, increase your stress levels and make you more likely to give into your cravings - which will do your weight loss efforts no favours.

5. Zumba

Zumba is the another good workout for new Mums. Combining aerobics routines, great music and Latin dance, the activity can burn up to 500 calories an hour to help you tone up and get into shape. The full body workout is also a great way to socialise as you’ll meet women of all ages in the classes. Zumba is also a great way to de-stress, as exercise releases endorphins to leave you feeling happy and relaxed.

6. Take your baby for a jog

Jogging or power walking with your little one is not as difficult as it might sound. There are specialist prams available called ‘jogging prams’ that have three wheels, are more streamlined and are designed not to topple over on uneven terrain. The average person will burn around 100 calories for each mile they jog or power walk and going outside with your baby outside gives them the benefits of fresh air and a change of scenery.

7. Relax

It’s important for all new Mum’s to remember that putting pressure on yourself to achieve your desired figure will do your body more harm than good. As we’ve mentioned earlier, it’s taken your body nine months to adapt to pregnancy and the effects of carrying your baby are not going to disappear overnight. It’s perfectly normal to feel a little self-conscious about your tummy, but too much stress can actually hold back your weight loss - as stress makes the body releases sugars into your bloodstreams that turn to fat if they are not used as energy.  Try to relax and do one thing at a time to minimise stress levels.