Congratulations, you are a mother. You will hear those words and many variations on them for at least a few months after the birth of your first child and a slightly shorter period for every child born thereafter. You will get all kinds of information about everything about your baby and how to care for him but what you will not get is viable information about losing your pregnancy weight. You might get a few snarky remarks that you need to do so. You might get a few comments from well meaning friends and family but what you need is something that is not only achievable but realistic. Here is some of that information and the gentle reminder that now is not the time for anything drastic.

It is very important that you wait until your doctor gives you the go ahead for any type of exercise. Pregnancy is not some magical thing that just happens to you- it is a traumatic process that knocks your entire system completely out of whack. Give your body a bit of a break and let everything get back on its regular schedule. If you are nursing, it is important that you keep your calorie count high enough to continue to produce milk but that does not mean you cannot start scaling back. Bonus: breast feeding mothers shed more weight and more quickly because of the act of making milk to feed the little one.

Losing weight is a simple matter of calories in vs. calories out as well as adequate sleep. It is also a matter of getting enough sleep. All of these things are simple in theory but not in practice especially if you have a crying baby to deal with as well. Even when your baby starts sleeping through the night, you are probably still not as well rested as you could be. Again, this is not the time to start a very intensive workout program- at least until you get stronger. Let your body snap back and then start whipping it into shape.

Start by making simple changes which will not only help you lose weight but will also help you keep from gaining weight when your baby gets to the toddler stage. That is a tempting period when many mothers start eating all of the foods from their little one's plate. Good eating habits now will allow you to set a great example for your child.

Breakfast is one of the best tools that you can use to lose weight. A morning meal that has both a lean protein and a complex carbohydrate will not only rev up your metabolism for the whole day but will also help you feel fuller for longer as well. You will be less likely to groggily grab for the caffeine or whatever sugar laden snack you can find if you are fueled right from the start.

Start by making small changes one at a time until they are second nature. Take your baby for walks for exercise when the weather is pleasant and then start working toward adding more exercise as he sleeps longer and longer. Losing weight will come, but give yourself some time and be kind to yourself.

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