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[L582]Losing Weight Before Pregnancy

by Lauren B. Wallace, Lau

Many women are quick to jump on the scale just a few days after they have given birth. This often leads to shock and disappointment. Many women expect to drop all of the excess weight as soon as they have given birth; however, the truth is, losing those extra pounds takes time and effort. Of course there are those select few women who barely gain any additional weight during their pregnancy and they look great the day after giving birth. However, if you are not one of those women, there are several steps that you can take in order to shed those unwanted pounds quicker.

First of all, it is important to drink a lot of water. Try to eliminate your sodas and very sweet fruit juices and replace them with about ten glasses of water per day. Second, be sure to snack healthier. Many women during their pregnancy have rich appetites and they often don't refuse their needs; therefore, following birth, try to snack on healthier alternatives, such as nuts, raisins, and wheat snacks. Another way to shed unwanted pounds after pregnancy is to eat only lean meats and whole grain foods such as: whole grain pasta, whole grain bread, and whole grain crackers.

Furthermore, as soon as you feel that you are ready, you can begin a light exercise regimen. This does not have to be anything strenuous. You can simply start out by taking a ten minute walk each day. You can increase the time amount as soon as you feel that you are ready. And lastly, breastfeeding aids in shedding excess pounds. Breastfeeding uses up your fat stores and it help you burn about five hundred calories daily. All of these tips will help you shed some of those unwanted post pregnancy pounds.

Your first step is to figure out how many calories you are burning each day. There are a few formulas that have come out over the years that estimate how many calories you burn per day based on your sex, age, weight, height and physical activity. When using these formulas, keep in mind that the number you get gives you an estimate not a number that never changes day to day. It will fluctuate.

Safe weight loss is considered 1-2 pounds per week. While it is possible to lose more, it is extremely unhealthy to do so. So how many calories do you actually have to cut out of your diet? One pound of body fat equals about 3500 calories. If you want to lose one pound in a week, you need to cut 3500 calories out of your diet per week. While this might sound like a lot, per day it comes out to a 500 calorie deficit.

Your next step is to ask yourself how you want to get rid of any unwanted weight. You can cut 500 calories out of your diet per day, or increase the amount of calories you burn by 500 calories per day. A combination of these two methods is the best way to go.

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Both Lauren B. Wallace & Ken Bendor are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Lauren B. Wallace has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dieting, Supplements and Wellness. Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition. Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies for. Lauren B. Wallace's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.

Ken Bendor has sinced written about articles on various topics from Strength Training, Nutrition and Pregnancy Problems. . Ken Bendor's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.