Getting Serious About That Extra Weight
Losing the extra weight that you may still have after giving birth to your baby requires that you get serious about your diet and exercise habits. No matter what you hear, you cannot buy weight loss in a pill or a powder. Do not go on a quick weight loss diet or take diet pills or powder. It’s too bad, but they just don't work.
So what can you do?
You will have a hard time losing weight unless you get some exercise, but activity isn't the only thing you need to work on. There are two things you will need to do to lose the weight:
- Eat fewer calories than you do now.
- Increase your activity with exercise.
To Lose Weight You Really Need to Move
- Exercise makes all the difference in the weight loss, plus it makes you feel good.
- Sit-ups and other floor exercises are good for toning certain muscles. But, that is not the kind of exercise you need for losing weight; you really need to be in motion to burn calories.
- Walking is terrific. Walking just 20 to 30 minutes or more a day will really make a difference.
- Or dance for 20 minutes. Dancing is just as beneficial as walking.
- If you want to be even more active, you can ride a bike, swim, run or play ball. All of these activities will burn even more calories than walking or dancing.
Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you have a health problem or just had a baby, you will probably have to start slowly and build up.
Eat a low-fat, balanced diet that you can live with and enjoy
- Stop eating when you feel full.
- Watch the snacks. Learn to love fruits, crunchy vegetables and air-popped popcorn.
- Get off colas. Soft drinks are all sugar. Try sparkling water with no sugar added. Mix it with juice for a fruit soda.
- Cut way down on the FAT in your food. Start reading labels, looking for fat. Learn to cook with less fat.
- Watch out for gravy, margarine, butter, oil, lard and mayonnaise.
- Avoid bacon and sausage.
- Stay away from hot dogs, pizza and greasy burgers and fries.
- You lose more weight if you eat more than just once or twice a day. So eat breakfast, lunch and supper. And if you get hungry between meals, have a low-calorie snack. Losing weight does not mean going hungry.
- Write down what you eat every day. You may be surprised.
- No special foods, products or vitamins burn fat. Save your money.
- Buy fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken and turkey instead.
- Need more ideas on how YOU can eat better? Ask to talk with the dietitian.
This page last updated on 3/10/08.