Giving birth and having children can be a magical thing for many people, but it isn’t always easy.
Your body can change a lot after going through pregnancy and giving birth, and that’s okay! Sometimes we may retain that postpartum belly for a little bit longer than we would like.
If you are concerned about losing your baby belly, then you don’t need to worry. There are plenty of simple changes that you can make to shed a few of those extra pounds.
But don’t be too hard on yourself, mom - this is often normal!
With that being said, here is everything that you need to know about how to lose your baby belly after 1 year.
How Long Should It Take to Lose My Baby Belly?
The amount of time that it takes to lose your baby weight can vary depending on the person.
Sure, there are some women that can be back to almost their pre-pregnancy weight within weeks of giving birth, but this is not the case for every woman. It’s perfectly normal for it to take a number of months to shed the baby weight.
Some things that can influence the length of time that it takes to lose your baby belly include:
- Your current physical activity
- The amount of weight that you gained while pregnant
- Your weight before conception
- Genetics
There are also certain things that can help you to lose weight faster, such as breastfeeding and controlling your weight gain during pregnancy. You may have lost a decent amount of weight within the first few months postpartum, though this isn’t always the case for every woman.
Ultimately you need to have a little bit of patience - after all, you put that weight on over a 9 month period, so you can’t realistically expect to lose it overnight - no matter how much you want to.
How to Lose the Baby Belly
With that being said, there are certainly a few things that you can do in order to lose the weight more quickly.
Get Plenty of Exercise
We know, we know. When you’re postpartum and trying to raise a baby turning into a toddler, getting time for some TLC and exercise can sometimes be a little tricky. If you want to lose that baby belly weight though, it may be worth your time to get a little bit of exercise in.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to leave your baby behind at home with your partner and get a hardcore sweat session in at the gym, though. Even getting in regular walks in on a daily basis around your neighborhood can make a huge difference if you’re sedentary.
You can also do some exercises at home. Abdominal exercises can be particularly handy a few months after giving birth. Try and do some things such as crunches or pelvic tilts to get you started. There are home workouts on YouTube that you can follow too, such as yoga and dancing. There are plenty of ways to get your exercise in without investing in a pricy gym membership.
Work On Your Nutrition
Raising a young baby can be hard which can sometimes make you tempted to eat as much chocolates and McDonalds as your body will allow.
The problem is that eating too much of these foods can be troublesome if you’re trying to lose your baby belly. Treats are great in moderation, but you should be trying to make most of your diet consist of healthy whole foods if possible.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to eat salads for every meal if you don’t want to, though. There are plenty of options for people that aren’t huge fans of lettuce and tomato! For instance, high fiber cereals are a fantastic choice as they help to ensure that your digestive system is working optimally.
You can also have vegetables - if you aren’t keen on the taste then you can bake them into other things. Cauliflower cheese, for example!
Have a look online if you want new and exciting ways to start eating healthier. You can even do healthy swaps of your favorite fast food dishes!
Speak To Your Doctor
If you’re still struggling to lose weight after following the above guidance or if you are concerned at all, don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor!
The postpartum period can be a trying time for people with young babies, and it’s okay to ask for a little bit of help if you need it. Your doctor can give you the best advice about any further steps or investigations that need to take place.
They can also advise you on the best steps to take in order to reach your goals.
Conclusion
You probably know what we’re going to say here - you haven’t long birthed a baby, so don’t be so hard on yourself if you haven’t lost all the baby weight, even after one year. Sometimes the body may not look exactly the same way that it did before you were pregnant either and that’s totally okay.
Of course, if you do feel like you need to shed a few pounds, getting in a little bit of exercise can be helpful. You can also try to incorporate a healthier diet and lifestyle into your routine. If you are still concerned, you can speak to your doctor for further guidance.
Most importantly, just love yourself. Every mom is different, but one thing is for sure - you’re doing great!