Postpartum Belly Fat - 6 Tricks And Tips To Get Rid Of It

Every new mom needs help to start offloading that postpartum belly fat. Losing weight is rarely easy, and right after giving birth can be the hardest time of all to try shedding the pounds and toning up those flabby abs. There are many little things you can do to speed up your progress and keep you motivated. Six of the most effective techniques are right here.

Motivational Tip 1 - Set a goal weight.


This sounds simple, but many, many dieters don't do this fundamental step. If you want to get somewhere, you have to know where you're going. Don't say "I want to look like I did in high school." Do some research. Ask your doctor at one of your post-childbirth visits. What is the best weight for your height and body type? Pick a number. You can always change it, up or down, later on.

If that number seems a long way off, break the project up into easy steps. For example, set a weight-loss goal for Month 1. Eight to ten pounds should be a reasonable amount to try to lose in a month. Then, when you've passed your first month, assess your progress and make a new goal for Month 2, and so on. Any project is much easier when broken up into smaller pieces.

Motivational Tip 2 - Create a visual record of your progress.


We've all done it. We say, and we believe, that we're trying to lose weight - but we slip up. We're celebrating the new birth, and there's a party. It's your birthday - and there's champagne and a cake. The holidays bring on big dinners, creamy eggnog and lots of sweets. Even with a little sip or nibble here and there, the calories can add up fast.

To visually see how you're doing with the weight loss, make a graph. Some simple graph paper will do nicely. Be sure you're consistent in weighing yourself: wear the same clothes and weigh yourself at the same time every day. You can weigh more at one time of day than at other times in the same day. Make a mark on the graph, and join up all the marks to see your progress. As the dots go down, it'll be a huge boost to your motivation.

Motivational Tip 3 - Take a break from the junk food.


Nothing packs as many worthless, fat-riddled empty calories as junk food. Just one meal per week of a burger, sugary drink and fries can deliver the same number of calories as three healthy meals. A junk food meal like this can slow down your weight loss almost to a full stop, because it represents an extra day's worth of calories per week. If you're serious, just cut out the drive-throughs entirely for a while. As a bonus, you'll immediately feel much better without all that salt and grease in your system!

Motivational Tip 4 - Keep a food diary.


Yes, write down every single thing that passes your lips. It's easy to justify eating the crumbs the kids left in the bottom of the cookie bag, because it's not "really" a cookie - but, whatever shape the crumbs are in, they carry calories. Lots of people nibble like this and then are puzzled when they don't lose weight.

Write down absolutely everything you eat or drink, plus the exact calorie count if possible, if you're really dedicated to getting rid of the postpartum belly fat. Also, note down how much you have eaten, and what time of day you ate it. Your body burns calories at different rates at different times of the day.

Motivational Tip 5 - Move.


Once you're healed and the doctor gives you a green light - get moving. Take a walk around the neighborhood. Take some laps in the town pool. Run around the local high school track. Just get moving! At least three times a week, and for at least twenty minutes each time, get your heart rate up. Then add in some weight training a few times a week. This will burn off the calories and tone muscles, plus help you build fat-burning muscle.

Motivational Tip 6 - Eat foods that have only one ingredient.


This means avoid processed foods, sugary sauces, creamy salad dressings - you get the idea. Eat eggs, beef, chicken, rice, milk, fresh fruits. The fewer ingredients your food has, the better the body can deal with it, giving you more energy and vitality. Here's a bonus tidbit: Break up your meals into six smaller meals per day, not three big ones, and don't go to bed on a full stomach.

Losing that postpartum belly fat does take work, but it pays off big dividends in the end. Use these simple steps consistently and you'll reach your goal.

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