Getting in Shape After the Baby is Born
Sunday, December 17th, 2006“Your body will never be the same after you give birth.” “You’ll always be a few pounds heavier than you were before having a baby.” “Your stomach muscles will never be flat again after the baby is born.” Have you heard comments or comments like these? Maybe you’ve been the one making them. Is there any truth to these statements? Does your body really change after giving birth and if so, how much will it change, and can you control the change?
On top of all the rumors and advice you may hear we are inundated with celebrities and superstars who give birth and within weeks are back wearing a size two. These put unrealistic ideas in our head that we can do the same. Keep in mind that these people have a little team of experts working for them. Everything from a personal chef, to a personal trainer who comes to their house, to a personal nanny to care for the children while they’re working out for hours on end at the gym. Not to mention the countless surgeries they undergo to look their best. If you have these types of resources available to you, I applaud you. If you’re like the rest of us, you’ll have to come up with a more realistic plan.
Let me start by saying that the closer you stay to the recommended weight allowance for pregnancy the better off you will be. Add to the fact that if you’re overweight before becoming pregnant, it will make it more difficult to reach your goal weight when it comes time to lose the weight. In like manner, the more fit you are before pregnancy the easier your body will “bounce back”. Since this is an article related to your post pregnancy body, I wouldn’t beat myself up too much for damage that is already done. The key is to do something about it and begin right away.