Ever wondered how Hollywood mothers get so thin quickly
after pregnancy? Whilst you, a mere mortal is struggling to lose your baby
weight 2 years post pregnancy? Well, the major difference that motivates them
to lose weight is the fact that their ‘looks’ is their source of income and if
they look a mess they lose business opportunities. Another is that they are
constantly scrutinized by the tabloids, media, tv industry and even us, the
Public. I mean who remembers the negative comments Ashwarya Rai Bachchnan, a
woman once revered as ‘one of the most beautiful women in the world’got when
she failed to lose her Post baby fat.
As much as doctors will say women should focus on taking
care of themselves and their babies in the first few post partum months, these
celebrities know they need to do what it takes to lose the excess weight.
Take our beloved Halle Berry who gained 35 pounds (about
15kg) after pregnancy. Her strategy for weight loss was to work out until she
was 7 ½ months pregnant in order not to put on much weight in the first place.
About 4 weeks after child birth, she started exercising with some cardio and
stretching 5 times a week. She switched her cardio every week in other not to
get bored with working out. She also ate small meals every few hours, avoided
sodium rich foods which cause bloating, as well as stayed away from fried foods
as this affects her blood sugar levels (she has Type II Diabetes), ate home
made soups made with vegetables and beans, so were filling and ate a lot of
leafy greens such as Spinach and Kale.
Another Strategy is that used by Gwyneth Paltrow and Debra
Messing who breast fed their babies to
lose pregnancy weight. Yes, you heard right! Women burn as much as 500 calories
a day producing breast milk whilst breast feeding.
Nicole Sullivan from Kings and Queens of comedy lost her
pregnancy weight and even weighed less than she was before she got pregnant by
sticking to a 1100 calorie diet whilst allowing herself one cheat day a week
during which she was allowed to have Pizza. She also exercised by walking her
dog or lifting her baby.
Our dearest Heidi Klum, was after all not a demi goddess, as
she lost 30 lbs in 6 months after pregnancy by motivating herself to exercise
with photographs of her nude body ever week to keep track of the way her body
was changing…..she also breastfed.
Catherine Zeta Jones lost 50 pounds post pregnancy with the
aid of Atkins diet by eating more low carb foods and high protein food…i.e. Lots
of proteins and vegetables
Gabrielle Reece, a volleyball player and sports and fitness
model lost 34 pounds in 5 months by going back to being naturally active doing
Pilates, swimming, circuit training and following a diet of weight loss aiding
foods such as oats, brown rice, salads and healthy proteins. And whenever she
had sugar cravings, she would have some dark chocolate.
So, whats my advise?
The one thing that sticks out from all the information above
is to lose your Post pregnancy weight, there is no magic. You need exercise as
well as a good diet plan. So, treat exercise like an appointment and schedule
it as part of your day, otherwise it will not happen. Since it’s too early to
do any rigorous form of exercise, opt for easy cardio exercises such as walking
or biking. Aim for at least 1 hour, 5 times a week to get optimal results. To
sculpt your body, follow it with Pilates or Yoga or even Stretches at least 3
times a day for about 30 to 45 minutes.
Also, aim to eat right, by selecting a diet plan that will
work for you….something you will stick to, find nutritious but will lead to
weight loss!
No comments:
Post a Comment