Worried that you haven’t snapped straight back into shape post-baby?
Don’t stress – celebrity mothers may appear to effortlessly regain their stick-like figures just weeks after giving birth, but it takes the average woman a year to lose her baby weight. Not having a team of personal trainers and nutrition experts on call 24 hours a day may make everyday mums’ progress slower, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own secret strategies to help shed those pounds. Here is a selection of top tips from women who’ve been there, done it, and all without the aid of a fat-fighting posse.
- Breast-feeding – it seems too simple to be true, but many women swear that breast-feeding makes the pounds drop off.
- Walking – a 20-minute walk up a hill with a pushchair every day will make you shed a pound a week. Organise a walking group with friends - you will be so busy catching up you won't even be aware you're exercising!
- Aqua aerobics – a gentle and enjoyable, yet effective, form of exercise.
- Exercise regime – by incorporating your toddler, such as by balancing him on your knee and doing gentle leg lifts, you will be toning your body and keeping him entertained. For a more structured form of exercise, organisations such as Weight Watchers and Slimming World offer programmes for women who are breast-feeding, but ensure you check with your GP before trying these.
