Does Pregnancy Make You Fat Forever?

By Bhadra Kamalasanan

Pregnancy makes every woman fat. There are a lot of reasons why women gain weight during pregnancy. For the most part, the body gaining weight during pregnancy is a good sign as it is preparing you as well as the baby for a period of healthy gestation and delivery.

It is not necessary that pregnancy weight will stick to a woman’s body even after she has delivered the baby. But it also depends on whether the woman performed activities at the time of pregnancy and thereafter or sat idle most of her time. Those women who are conscious about the increase in weight are usually recommended to do moderate exercises during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester and later reduce the intensity as she gets closer to her delivery day. Some women may also enroll in yoga classes to manage their weight as well as to be able to control the contractions when the labour arrives.

Does Pregnancy Make You Fat Forever?

The average weight gain that you develop depends on how much you had weighed before you got pregnant. The American Pregnancy Association says that a woman should weigh 15 to 47 lbs at the time of pregnancy. If you think you are gaining more weight, here is what you can do about it.

Get up and start moving
Most women after delivery tend to be extremely sleep deprived to even think about exercising. So, the next thing that comes to rescue is to avoid sitting at one place for too long. New mothers must try to move around the house whenever possible instead of seeking help. But, this must be limited to only a few rounds inside the house. Excessive walking around must be avoided as the body is not yet ready for serious exercise. It is going to take a couple of weeks for the body to recover.

Breastfeed
When you are breastfeeding, you tend to burn about 500 calories. This is the natural way your body tries to shrink itself to the pre-pregnancy figure. Since breastfeeding burns 600 to 800 calories per day, you can sit in one place and still lose weight without doing any activity. But, remember that as soon as you stop breastfeeding or begin supplementing, the calorie needs will plummet. You might start piling on weight during this time, and therefore, try to exercise and cut down on your calories.

Watch the calories as well as fat
Try to fill your diet with lots of nutrient-rich meals that contain lean protein, fresh fruits, whole grains as well as vegetables and lots of low-fat dairy. Try to avoid empty-calorie foods such as sodas and fat diets. Do not go on a diet soon after giving birth, instead lose weight in a healthy manner.

Take naps
If you don't get plenty of sleep, you tend to binge on high-calorie, high-sugar foods for energy. Try to take a nap whenever your body allows. This will help you to avoid ending up with a long-term sleep deficit. You will be able to keep your energy levels as well as the cravings under check.

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