I beg to differ with those who think that fatness comes with the pregnancy package. People ask me how I managed to go back to my pre-pregnancy body weight in just 6 months. I tell them that it is not as difficult as it might seem. All one needs to do is eat healthy and exercise. I feel so happy every time I wear an old pair of pants - there was a time when I thought that I would never fit into them again!
From the day I learned I was expecting I tried to eat as healthy as I could. My daily meals included milk, eggs, wheat bread, rice, freshwater fish, chicken and lots of fruits and vegetables. I avoided fast food and fizzy drinks. I ate more than I used to because I needed to gain weight for my baby but I did not overeat. A lot of women tend to think that one needs to eat for two people when pregnant. Such a misleading idea! I am not a health professional but I can tell you from my personal experience that it is so not true. All a pregnant woman needs to consume is an additional 200-300 extra calories. Your obstetrician will probably tell you the same - mine did. One can easily get these extra 200-300 calories by drinking a cup of milk and eating one or two slices of wheat bread! To keep fatness at bay, I also walked a lot. I always love to walk so even a day before my daughter was born I walked around downtown Minneapolis with my husband. I cannot stress enough the benefits of walking.
After my baby was born, I continued to eat healthy and even seven months after giving birth, I watch what I eat. I mostly eat home-cooked food because in that way I know what is getting into my stomach. Yes, I do eat restaurant food but not every day. I love pizza so I have it once in two weeks or so. I like Subway's sandwiches so I have them once or twice in every couple of weeks. So yes, if you love to eat, eat but just do not overeat. I am not the kind of person who will starve herself to lose weight, so I eat not-so-healthy foods as well but I watch my portions. I also make sure that I do not eat these foods rich in fat, sodium and bad cholesterol frequently.
I love to walk! With a small baby I cannot walk as much as I used to but I do a lot of housework. Housework helps me keep my house clean and burn calories at the same time. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I will take every possible opportunity to go out for a short walk with my baby. Even today, hubby, baby and I went out for a walk after hubby returned from work. Walking always refreshes my mind and body. So, those of you who are struggling with extra pounds gained during pregnancy, watch what you eat and do some exercise at least thrice a week or so. If you do not get the time to hop on the treadmill, consider walking or doing housework like me! And last but not least, say no to sweet foodstuff, fast food and fizzy drinks. These three types of food are the killers - they make the largest contributions (negative contributions) to making a person overweight.
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