If you choose to breastfeed it may be a bit more difficult to lose weight because you have to eat more food in order to be sure your milk is full of healthy nutrients for your baby. However, this will not affect the ability of your muscles to regain muscle tone and for you to appear more fit.
If you had a normal uncomplicated vaginal birth you can start stretching the day after the baby was born. Keep things simple and non-stressful such as leg stretches, tricep stretches, and Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. If however, you have had a cesarean section then it is best to wait until you have stopped bleeding and your gynecologist has released you for postnatal exercises.
If you are breastfeeding there are a few things to keep in mind. The first thing is that your breasts should always be well supported. The breast tissue is held up by one single tendon and once it becomes stretched the breasts will sag and no amount of plastic surgery can change that. Some women find they need to wear two bras to be supported adequately.
Your infant will appreciate it if you breastfeed him/her before you exercise so the buildup of lactic acid from exercise will not enter the milk. You’ll find that your breasts don’t feel full and you are more comfortable in your supportive bra. If you can’t feed your baby before your workout, consider pumping milk which will help the breasts to feel less full as well as decrease the lactic acid your baby will drink post-exercise.
An important aspect to any exercise routine is to stick to it. To make the most of your postnatal fitness, create a routine that you can live with and establish a schedule to help you maintain regular workouts. Try to find a way to work out at least three times a week for 30 minutes each time. If you want to lose your weight more quickly you will need to exercise more often but never exercise to the point of exhaustion. If your body is telling you that it is tired then stop exercising immediately.
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