Postpartum Belly Fat And Setting Reasonable Weight Loss Goals

Postpartum belly fat is something many mothers have left over from their pregnancies. This unwelcome bulge, plus fat in other areas of the body, can remain for years after the pregnancies are over.

Many new moms are interested mainly in getting rid of all their pregnancy fat. They become driven to regain their pre-baby figure, or become even thinner than they were in high school. A much healthier way to go is to focus on learning to gain energy and optimal health for the long run. Now is the perfect time to realign eating habits for long-term vitality, and to develop a varied exercise routine.

Don't those phrases sound ominous? "Realign eating habits" and "Develop a varied exercise routine." It sounds like an ad for an anti-vacation. If you do it right, it can and should be fun!

First, let's get some facts down on paper.
First thing: Traditionally, weight loss goals have been based on height-weight charts. These charts can be a script for disappointment. Not everyone at the same height is meant to weigh the same. Not all women who stand at 5-foot-4 will, or should, weigh the same. Some women are built like birds, all slim and slender; and some are built with a little more material. Many factors contribute to a person's weight, and some are not controllable. Some of the factors that we can't control are genetics, metabolism, and number of existing fat cells.

Don't get married to those height-weight charts. Give yourself a chance.
Second thing: Weight loss goals must be movable. Be aware of picking an unreasonable "dream" goal weight out of the air. Studies have shown that many women who lose a good deal of weight are still disappointed if they don't reach the goal weight they wrote down before starting a weight loss program. Be ready to reassess and change your goal weight as you start getting rid of your postpartum belly fat.
Third thing: After you've had a child, it may not be possible to wear the same size jeans that you may have worn in high school. Before the age of 18, you weren't done growing and developing yet. Your pelvis and other structures that determine your healthy adult shape may not have been at their adult size yet.
It's OK. This is a good thing. You're now a proud Mommy.

Now let's talk about those eating and exercise habits.
Many people view "dieting" as restricting themselves to rice cakes and lettuce leaves, and never eating anything delicious or decadent again. It doesn't have to be this way at all.
If you've got a sweet tooth, that craving can be sated by eating lots of fresh fruits. Tart apples, fresh seedless grapes, and tangy berries can do the trick nicely. As a bonus, natural foods such as fruits are self-limiting, so they can really fill you up on a lot less calories than sweets. Sweets, being so high in sugar, cause a spike in your blood sugar level. This spike eventually crashes, leaving you jittery and hungrier than before. Stick to fresh fruits for your sweet cravings.

Watch portion sizes in your meals. Restaurants habitually serve enormous portions, and we've grown accustomed to seeing a lot of food on our plate. These servings are often twice as large as a healthy serving. A healthy serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. If you're eating out, get into the habit of dividing everything on your plate in half, and taking one half home for another meal.

Something else to be aware of is drinking your calories. Instant breakfasts, rich gourmet coffees and regular sodas taste good and go down easily, but they can really pack in the calories. With these calories you get no fiber and very few benefits. Plain water is the best beverage you can have.

As a special treat, or on a special occasion, you can certainly have some of those decadent foods that you've always loved. You'll need to limit them, of course, but they're not off your menu forever. By saving them up, you'll probably find that you enjoy and appreciate these foods more than you did before.
To get rid of any kind of fat including postpartum belly fat as quickly as possible, you need to exercise. Regular exercise also carries a long list of other health benefits, so exercise is a great habit to get into for the long term.

Many people believe that they have to join a gym and pump iron every day for hours. This isn't the case. What you need to do is to engage in several different activities. This carries many benefits. For one, you won't get bored if you have something different to do, and this will help you stick with exercising. For another, doing different activities will cause "muscle confusion." You need to work different muscle groups for maximum benefit.

What if you've never been a sporty type? It's not about being the best, it's about benefitting yourself. Try swimming laps one day, samba dancing to a DVD on another day, and riding a bike around the neighborhood another day. Mix it up. If it's not fun, it's more than likely that you won't stick with it. The only way to get those long-term benefits is to stick with it.

Enjoy your journey, and remember to be gentle with yourself as you work to reduce your postpartum belly fat. What's important is that you're consistent, you do your best and you're willing to learn from any mistakes you might make.