Getting the Facts to Lose Weight after giving Birth

By Teresa Brown in Pregnancy on July 16th, 2008

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by Teresa Brown

Diet and cardio are the two “staples” that Moms start with when trying to lose pregnancy weight fast. They are the staples that women trust when they need to lose weight. But the times are changing and there is more to the general consensus about one of these staples that meets the eye.

The first attack on losing the baby fat begins with going on a trendy diet or maybe signing up at the gym or spending hours on the treadmill at home. This all seems logical and gets us in the habit of eating right and exercising regularly. However, you find that you are not getting the results you were expecting and are a bit frustrated. Well, here are some reasons why you are unable to lose the pregnancy weight.

1. Cardio is good but to not that good.

Cardiologists love cardio because it is the exercise that is best for strengthening our heart and keeping it healthy. It also builds up your muscles endurance. Even though cardio burns calories, its overall effect, when done too much in tandem with a diet can result in losing your muscle mass. Therefore, you will get slim but have no muscle tone.

As they say, “all things in moderation” and this should be applied to your cardio workouts as well. Your cardio training should be broken up into intervals and done at high intensity. This will encourage your heart rate and metabolism to stay in the fat burning zone. This is a more effective way to utilize your cardio to trim your tummy and get you into your skinny jeans.

2. Using weights to get toned go together like Bonnie and Clyde.

We are quick to notice a woman with a lean, toned body but fail to connect that she got that “look” by strength training with weights and not from running 6 times a week. Weights come in different shapes and sizes but the ones suited for your purpose are free weights. Strength training with weights stimulates the muscle fibers to re-build your muscle’s density. A dense muscle is a strong, toned muscle. However, not all strength training is the same and you need resistance strength training to lose your tummy.

Compared to other forms of strength training such as power lifting or bodybuilding, resistance training does not make your muscles bulky but it does increase your muscle and bone density. Rest assured that using weights as part of your workout will not bulk up your muscle unless you are willing to undergo the intense diet and exercise regime of people who want to big muscles.

Rest easy Mom, you won’t be able to get bulky using free weights or an exercise ball to trim your tummy. When you work your muscles using some form of resistance, you will get a lean, toned body and have more energy to see you through your busy day. You will look and feel great.

3. Weight training is Practical.

Who wouldn’t want the option of being able to workout at home? Resistance training enables you to this luxury because a typical workout can be as simple as using an exercise ball to do crunches or dumbbells to do lunges. As along as you are using an external form of resistance, you are burning the calories and working your muscles. You should learn how to execute each exercise before you begin any form of training.

Not having to go to the gym is a great incentive for the busy Mom to commit to her workout regiment. Another bonus of a resistance workout is that it only takes between 15 to 20 minutes to complete and there is not expensive equipment needed. You save money and time.

Focusing on only one form of training to lose pregnancy weight fast is like putting all your eggs in one basket. Combining your cardio and resistance training will certainly speed up your goal to get back into pre-baby shape and then some. You need to diversify your workouts to get the body you want and be the better off for doing it.

About the Author:

Teresa Brown is passionate about health, wellness and life-long learning for self-improvement. Visit here for more information on how you can lose your tummy and lose the pregnancy weight with an excellent lifestyle program.