How to Lose Weight Quickly After Pregnancy - Part 1

After child birth my body had changed so much that I could barely recognize it, so I spent months trying to learn how to lose weight quickly after pregnancy. Here are easy and effective tips that have helped me lose pregnancy weight (50 pounds in my first pregnancy and well over 34 pounds after my second child).

Ways to lose weight quickly after pregnancy

My story

The first time I was pregnant, I remember watching dazzling celebrity moms and feeling miserable because I thought I would never lose my pregnancy weight . After childbirth, it took me a couple of weeks to come to terms with the fact that there was no magic trick to lose the 50 pounds I had gained during my pregnancy, unless I put my head into it.

Going to a gym was impossible because I couldn't afford the time and the expense, and when I tried going on a diet, I was so tired and irritable by the end of the day that I could not cope, yet by the time I got back to work , I was back in my favorite size 2 business suit... here's how I did it.

Don't diet, eat smart

Caring for a newborn is exhausting, especially if you are a totally inexperienced mum in the first weeks, and dieting a few weeks after giving birth is unthinkable. You simply need food to function, and if you are breastfeeding, it is inconceivable to try one of the many senseless diets we often hear about, because your body and your baby need the nutrients you won't get unless you eat normally.

What really helped me lose weight quickly was cutting out the carbs, that is banishing sugars and substituting the bread and pasta, that were practically the staples of my diet, with vegetables and lean meat. An example? A simple tuna salad with cherry tomatoes, Parmesan flakes, and a teaspoon of olive oil as a dressing, replaced my usual plate of pasta with red sauce. I also started eating grilled chicken breast and baked vegetables instead of French fries and burgers and had a bowl of cereal in the morning for breakfast.

Click here for more information on how to lose weight quickly by eliminating carbs from your diet.

Beware of hidden calories

The most effective way to lose weight quickly is to get rid of the hidden calories in your drinks. I really started losing serious weight when I eliminated all the sodas and nectars from my diet. Wine and alcohol are another no no, not only because the alcohol is not advised when you are breastfeeding and while your body is recovering from the trauma of a pregnancy, but also because alcoholic drinks usually carry loads of calories with little nutrients.

Click here for more information on how to lose weight quickly by eliminating alcohol from your diet

Drink water

I found that the best way to lose weight and have a healthy looking skin was to drink plenty of water. I remember my yoga instructor telling me that I needed to be hydrated to function, but I never realized how important it is to drink plenty of water every day until I was trying to lose weight.

If you don't feel like drinking the famous 8 glasses of water, think of still water as a sort of miracle tonic. In the first weeks after childbirth drinking plenty of water will help you get rid of toxins and restart your metabolism.

Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling thirsty you are more irritable? Just like when you are hungry, when you are thirsty you are not able to focus on your task and you are likely to feel more irritable.

In addition studies show that water makes your metabolism burn calories 3% faster. In an article published by Reuters, research shows that even if there is a slight dehydration, the thirst mechanism may be mistaken for hunger and one may eat when the body is craving fluid. Experts suggest that an average person needs to take 8 eight ounce glasses a day but if you are trying to lose weight you should aim to increase your intake and go up to 12 glasses every day.

Click here for more information on how to lose weight quickly by drinking more water

In the second part of this article, I will discuss other tricks that have helped me lose weight quickly without even dieting.