By Chris Read

In pregnancy, weight gain is a natural and healthy process which picks up steadily during the period of pregnancy. But soon after the nine month period is over women panic to get rid of the excess weight they have gathered around various parts of the body. Women, take note - just as you gained those extra pounds slowly it is important that you also lose it gradually. Opting for quick weight loss programs will only cause your body more discomfort and harm.

Here are a few effective tips which will see you through the worst days of post pregnancy period.

# Breast feeding helps:

The best way to shed some of the extra weight in your body is by breastfeeding your baby. A good amount of calories are used up while the body produces milk for the baby. Due to the increased caloric need for feeding, the body stores up extra fat during pregnancy. So once you start breastfeeding the baby, stored fat will burn up more quickly.

# Exercise really works:

There is no other method of weight loss which is as effective and healthy as exercise . It will get rid of those extra pounds, help you fight depression and will keep you healthy unlike dieting .
But before you begin working out, consult a doctor to find out when you can start your work out sessions. Usually doctors advice six weeks rest if you had a vaginal birth and eight weeks gap if it was a cesarean birth. Initially you can join a yoga class or stick to walking or swimming and slowly tread on to other strenuous exercises. Work out a program chart for your self and adhere to it. The company of your friend in these programs will provide enough motivation. Keep good music during your exercise. It helps perform better. So get ready for a ten minute exercise session and make it to thirty minutes after a while. If you experience short breath or dizziness during this period, stop immediately.

You can:

? Work out at home

? Join yoga classes, another form of good exercise for the mind and the body

? Resort to Kegel crunches contracting your muscles as if trying to stop the flow of urine. Hold it in this position for three seconds and release slowly.

? While breast feeding and exercising, don't let your calories fall below the 1800 range.

# Eat healthy:

Junk food, desserts, cheese and other dairy products are the main fat carriers.

Avoid them to help your self. Instead try out pastas, salads without rich dressings, fruits, cereals and beans. Try to stay out of red meat as it is highly fattening. Drink plenty of water but not juices and soda which will add empty calories .

The two things you should stay out of are: opting for fatty food and going for a crash diet program. It will make you fat and unhealthy.

# Pamper yourself:

Be good to your self. You have just come out of the difficult pregnancy period. So take time to care about your health. You are an extremely busy and important person now. You are a Mother. Allow yourself to be in shape and get comfortable with your body, don't do it for the rest of the world.



Chris Read is an associated editor to the website www.hateweight.com "The Weight Loss Portal". Hateweight is committed to provide visitors with complete information on weight loss, obesity, healthy recipes, obesity diseases, latest news, personal views, articles and online community board on weight loss related topics. Your feedback & comments will be highly appreciated at chrisread001@gmail.com