Did you know that good nutrition while breastfeeding won’t only keep your baby healthy, but it’ll also help you lose weight too? That’s right, if you’re looking to shed those extra pregnancy pounds in a safe and healthy way that won’t have a detrimental effect on you and your baby, you can do so simply by eating right – and this starts with added more calories to your diet than you may expect.
The Dreaded “Extra 500 Calories”
What scares many new mums away from breastfeeding are the additional 500 or so calories that are recommended for breastfeeding mums to eat every day. But as research has shown, these additional 500 calories are quickly burned up and mums actually tend to burn a whole lot more as the day progresses, as long as those calories come from high quality and nutritious sources (i.e. vegetables and meats versus a packet of chips).
What Should Mums Be Eating?
The research is out, and almost everyone agrees that complex carbohydrates are the way to go. This means that mums should eat more:
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Vegetables: Capsicum, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, squash and beans
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Fruits: Peaches, plums, oranges, apples, berries, melons
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Whole grains: Whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, rye bread
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Calcium: Ensure you’re receiving 1000mg a day via low fat dairy or salmon, broccoli, tofu, kale, and sesame seeds
One important key factor for mums to keep in mind is that fat is an important part of their diet. Yes, you may be trying to “melt” your own fat, but the intake of healthy fats through nuts or fruits such as avocado will help you shed the weight and reduce cravings for other unhealthy fats.
Losing the Belly Weight
Most mums unnecessarily fret about losing the baby belly after her baby has entered the world. While the select few may “snap back” into shape after a baby, the vast majority of us will take the time it took to create our baby – if not more – to shed that baby weight.
Here are our tips on trimming up those tawdry kilos:
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When focusing on losing the extra baby weight, invest in breastfeeding clothing that will allow you to comfortably breastfeed your baby while concealing any extra pounds you may still be carrying. This will help you build the confidence you’ll need to focus on yourself and your own goals.
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Continue to eat nutritious, portioned, meals. Many mums find that one year after baby, they actually weigh less than they did pre-baby because of their new found care for their health and nutrition.
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Integrate exercise slowly. As much as you may want to start doing crunches to tighten that tummy, don’t begin exercising until you’ve been cleared by your doctor (typically 4-6 weeks after birth).
We know that wearing flattering clothes that have been designed with new mums in mind will go a long to restoring your body confidence. Here at Peachymama, we have breastfeeding tops and dresses that not only make feeding so much easier, but they are very much in the fashion groove as well.
Further Reading:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-breastfeeding-diet-myths
https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/how-long-before-my-belly-is-normal-again/