By Tara Gitau for MumsVillage

 

MY SECOND BIGGEST CONCERN WHILE I  WAS PREGNANT (THE PRIMARY CONCERN WAS THAT I HAD A HEALTHY BABY) WAS LOSING THE DREADED WEIGHT AFTERWARDS.

While pregnant I watched the figure on the scale go up and I wondered, “Would it ever come back down again?” Exactly 8 months post-partum (after a c-section), I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight and I feel FANTASTIC! Here’s what worked for me:

1. STAY AWAY / LIMIT JUNK FOOD

While pregnant:  It is so easy to let yourself have that one packet of chips, or bar of chocolate thinking “I’m eating for two.” Fight that urge as hard as you can and avoid those aunties who are trying to overfeed you on mandazis. Trust me, snack on fruits and nuts.

Post-partum:  This was hard for me. My craving for sugar and chocolate went into overdrive while I was breastfeeding…and I did give into it. However, I limited my consumption- I permitted myself one large chocolate chip cookie a week. As the weeks went on the cravings subsided and I didn’t punish myself. What I found helped with my sugar cravings was porridge – I would alternate between Uji Afya and Wimbi Afya and it really did help.

2. DRINK LOTS OF WATER.

After the baby I drank water like I was getting paid!  Every day I had 4 litres of water for six months post-partum. I carried water in my handbag and took a litre to bed. Water helped me detoxify and I don’t know the science but I imagine that the water helped turn my fat deposits into milk for baby.

Read more here!

3. MODERATE EXERCISE

While pregnant:  I kept up my regular exercise routine until I was 4 months pregnant, after which I switched to walking 3 km three times a week. I tried pre-natal yoga at six months and found it fun and relaxing. When I hit 8 months I quit walking – the baby pressed heavily on my bladder. After 8 months I was too tired to do anything but lay on the couch, so I would do stretches at home – while watching a movie!