By Monica Bearden, RD and Shara Aaron, MS, RD, Authors of the Baby Fat Diet: A busy mom’s guide to losing weight and looking fabulous

Losing the baby fat and staying in shape is not easy, but with a little help and support you can be successful. 

By the way, we are also dietitians, who through experience and counseling other moms have picked up some great tips that we want to share with you.  Every week we post the current news, new products and helpful advice to help you stay healthy and lose the weight. We also want to hear your stories and advice.

Gain the right amount for your baby's sake

Not only does gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy lead to better health outcomes (e.g. less chance of C-section, reduced risk of gestational diabetes, healthier birth weight of the baby, etc) and a higher likelihood that you'll get back in your skinny jeans, but new research suggests that it's important to your child's future weight, too. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania on over 10,000 women showed that gaining more than the recommended amounts during pregnancy (25-35 pounds for normal wt, 15-25 pounds if overweight) can increase the child's chances of becoming overweight in the future.

They followed the children until the age of 7 and found that for every 2 pounds over the recommended guidelines that the mom gained, the odds of the child becoming overweight increased by 3%. The scientists speculate that excess weight during pregnancy can trigger certain physical processes like high blood sugar levels causing overproduction of insulin in the baby while in the womb. To gain within the guidelines, remember that you don't need to eat for two -- just have about 300-400 calories more than you normally eat during the second and third trimesters. This is equal to a PB&J or a yogurt and a banana. With your doctor's okay, either continue or start exercising -- walking is a great option for beginners or even those who are already fit. Pregnancy is the perfect time to focus on eating right and exercising -- it will keep you and your baby on the long term road to good health.

Monica Bearden, RD is a registered dietitian and weight loss expert, helping countless women lose weight.  She teaches groups of pregnant women how to gain the weight in a healthy way and then helps women to lose the baby fat.  After years  of helping people lose weight and keep it off as well as writing numerous  health and wellness articles, Monica Bearden now brings you tried and true  tips for losing the baby fat.  She is also co-owner of NutCom, LLC a nutrition communications company and is a certified fitness instructor.
 

Shara Aaron, MS, RD is a registered dietitian with years of healthy eating and weight loss communication experience.  Starting as a nutrition and health editor for Family Circle magazine and now the nutrition columnist and member of the advisory board for American Baby Magazine, Shara teaches moms how to eat healthfully and feed their families.  Shara has also written for www.Kaboose.com, Parents Magazine and Family Circle and is co-owner of NutCom, LLC, a nutrition communications company.

User Rating: / 2
PoorBest