Did you know that breastfeeding is one of the best ways to shed pounds after a pregnancy?
For the average woman, breastfeeding your baby will burn an additional 600 calories a day – the equivalent of nearly two hours of aerobic exercise! Mothers who do not breastfeed their babies will need to rely on diet and exercise routines in order to lose the pounds that are commonly put on during a pregnancy. It is during the first six months that new mothers can take the most advantage of the natural weight loss benefits of breastfeeding. And breastfeeding mothers who incorporate regular exercise in to their routines will see even more weight loss benefits while breastfeeding. Some women may be concerned that exercise may reduce their breast milk production, but scientific studies have shown that this is not true and that exercise may actually increase breast milk production (Source: Lovelady, C. et al. “Lactation performance of exercising women.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1990; 52: 103-1). Dieting while breastfeeding needs to be done carefully, however. Nursing mothers need at least 1800 calories a day to ensure their breast milk supply volume remains strong, and diets under 1500 calories a day can have a negative impact on your breast milk volume and are not recommended.
Mothers who are breastfeeding should also avoid diet pills and other weight loss supplements.
Most of such dietary aids will end up in your breast milk supply and many are potentially quite harmful to your baby. In addition, cleansing programs are not recommended for nursing mothers either. In part this is because during the cleansing process, environmental contaminants (including pesticides and PCBs) may end up in greater quantities in your breast milk during the cleansing process, as they are expelled from the body. If you are considering doing a cleanse, it is best to do one before becoming pregnant or after you have weaned your baby.
For those interested in losing weight quickly after a pregnancy, it appears that a combination of breastfeeding and moderate exercise will have the greatest benefits for weight loss. Breastfeeding weight loss does need to be done safely and without the addition of weight loss supplements or severe calorie restrictions. In addition, all women interested in dieting while breastfeeding should be sure to watch their breastfeeding diet very closely, to make sure they are consuming enough of the additional nutritional requirements necessary when breastfeeding a baby.
For additional help with losing weight after a pregnancy, a program like “Lose That Baby Weight Program” can also help. This program has been specifically developed for new mothers, and deals with their specific needs and weight loss issues.
The “Lose That Baby Weight” program was developed by Karen Brimeyer, and in this program she provides important information for new moms on how to shed the baby pounds while still caring for yourself and your new baby.
Not only are there important advice and information on self-care techniques, but she also deals with specific weight loss factor that new mothers must understand to lose weight effectively, including understanding changes in metabolism, stress hormones and more.
This is a definite “must read” guide for all new mothers interested in losing weight the most effect and safe way possible in the weeks after giving birth.
To learn more, visit the Lose That Baby Weight Program website!
