Tips TO LOSE WEIGHT AFTER A CESAREAN SECTION

Attempting to lose weight after C-section is not always easy. C-sections, which stand for Cesarean Sections are considered major surgeries and take weeks, if not months to recover from. Not to mention that a woman has a job of being a new mom after a C-section, which means very little sleep and very little time to concentrate on weight loss.

Step 1

Breastfeed your baby. According to a study done by University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and U.S. Army researchers and published in the April 2003 Journal of the American Dietetic Association, women who breast-fed their babies lost more weight than women who did not. That's because your body uses extra calories to create and store breast milk. Most women are able to breast-feed their babies shortly after a C-section. Even if you can't physically lift your babies, you can pump your milk, alone or with assistance.

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Step 2

Begin a light exercise program. Wait until six weeks after surgery to being exercising, the University of Iowa recommends, as this is the minimum amount of time your body needs to heal from surgery. Start slowly by taking daily walks. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, walking is a safe, suitable exercise for women who have recently had a cesarean section.

Step 3

Never let your calories dip below 1,200. If you eat fewer than 1,200 calories, your body will respond as if you are starving and will begin to slow your metabolism to conserve energy. Your body needs adequate amounts of calories and the nutrients from an abundant supply of food to repair itself and to maintain its milk supply. Eat several small meals per day that consist mainly of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, according to the Mayo Clinic. More frequent, smaller meals help keep blood sugar stable and prevent overeating.

Step 4

Strengthen your abdominal muscles. Begin by taking deep breaths and expanding your abdominal cavity. Hold this expansion for a few seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat up to ten times to begin rebuilding abdominal strength. Once your doctor clears you for exercise, try pelvic tilts, kegel exercises and light crunches to build your abdominal muscles.

Step 5

Use your support system for help with meals. Wholesome, home cooked meals from family and friends are generally better than fast food and processed convenience foods. If possible, prepare healthy meals before the birth and freeze them.

Step 6

Monitor how much weight you're losing. Avoid losing more than 1 to 2 lbs. per week to help keep up your milk supply and to avoid passing toxins released from body fat to your baby. It took nine months to gain your baby weight, so give yourself adequate time to get back to your pre-baby body.