Immediately after pregnancy, all our time, care and attention will be on our new arrival. Our body has achieved something amazing, and after a recovery period it is natural to want to return to a certain level of fitness. Perhaps you weren’t particularly fit before your pregnancy and now you feel motivated to become healthier. Whatever your reasons, there are a few tried-and-tested ways to feel fit and healthy again after pregnancy.
Eat Clean
During pregnancy, we are often a slave to our cravings. Our body might call out for sugar and salty snacks. We may eat twice as much as we normally would and retain weight for a long time afterwards so that we can breastfeed effectively. Pregnancy is not a time to deprive yourself in any way. But afterwards we may want to return to healthier habits. Try not to limit your food intake as this can quickly lead to binging. In extreme cases it can also slow our metabolism and cause us to retain weight as our body enters “starvation mode”. This happens far earlier than you may expect and long before we would see visible signs. Try instead to keep your food intake high, but ensure that the food is clean and wholesome. Many experts advocate eating double the amount of vegetables that most of us do currently! Green, leafy vegetables like cabbage and kale in particular are full of iron and goodness. Nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit also pack a nutritional punch. Combine a clean, plentiful diet with excellent hydration and you will look and feel wonderful.
Don’t Lose Your Identity
Becoming a mother is a wonderful feeling and will become a major part of our identity. But that is not to say that we have to become an entirely different person. Many new mothers can feel anxiety or depression if they feel like they no longer have time to themselves or have become “invisible”. Ensure that you are taking the time out to pamper yourself. This might mean spending quality time with loved ones or even sprucing up your appearance. We all want to feel attractive and a drastic change to our body can sometimes affect our self-esteem.
Many people have body issues that make them feel extremely self-conscious. They either talk to a professional, or learn more at http://www.roxyplasticsurgery.com/. It may be just as valuable to consider seeking some therapy or communicating with your loved ones. Take decisive steps each day towards feeling more comfortable and positive.
Set Goals
Setting goals early in our return to fitness can help us to stay on track and motivated. By seeing how far you’ve come, even if only in small steps, you are encouraged to continue. Be patient with yourself and try not to compare your progress to others. It is not relevant and can even be discouraging. Little by little, you will achieve your fitness goals and feel more ready than ever to take on the challenge of family life!