Postpartum Weight-Loss: Walk it off!

If you have just had a baby, you may be feeling uncomfortably bloated and ready for your body to be back to normal.  I completely understand and I want to share with you one of the most effective ways to get on the right track toward a healthy postpartum recovery: walk, walk, walk.

Each time I had a baby (and there have been four), I was able to start walking off baby weight within a week.  Pounds dropped quickly because I would immediately start to sweat out excess water weight, hormones and fluids that I no longer needed now that I wasn’t pregnant.

Here are five reasons why walking is a great way to kick-start your postpartum weight-loss:

1.  It is so easy to start and stop.  All you need is a sturdy pair of shoes and a path and off you go!  Once your body starts to tell you it is time to stop, you slow down, do some light stretching and kick back until you’re feeling up to it again.

2.  You can usually involve your new baby and, if you’ve got them, other kids.  Why not make your walk fun for the whole family?  Older kids can ride bikes or walk with you while you push your new bundle of joy in his/her stroller.

3.  If the weather is nasty, there’s usually a mall or indoor shopping center. Take advantage of all that square footage.  Check with your local mall to see if they open early for “mall-walkers”.  I have seen all manner of human beings peddling around interior mall perimeters to lose weight and get healthy.

4.  Walking can help get you into the habit of taking care of yourself at a time when it seems impossible to do.  As moms, sometimes we put ourselves on the shelf and forget we’re there!  In order to be good caregivers, we have to take care of ourselves.  Right after having a baby, taking care of our health is especially important.  When life is turned upside down and we’re figuring out what our new little baby needs, it is essential that we squeeze in whatever small amount of “take-care-of-me” time that we can.  A 10 or 20 or 30 minute walk a day may be all we need to keep our own fitness and health a priority until things have settled down enough to actually start exercising again (granted your physician has cleared you for exercise).

5.  You’re not alone.  Remember that handful or more of other ladies walking the halls of the hospital maternity unit all desperate for their labors to progress?  If you have just had a baby, chances are good that other women near you are doing the newborn thing, too!  Many of them are also interested in restoring their bodies, increasing their energy and connecting with other new moms.  If you think you would enjoy a group effort more than walking by yourself, connect with one of these groups and reap the benefits of group motivation and community.

One I like that offers classes in many locations is Baby Boot Camp.  Some classes are more advanced and you may need to wait until your body and your physician say that you are ready.  If you’re not into a formal gathering put up your own ad on Craig’s List or at your local rec center or YMCA and see if any other new moms are interested in joining you for daily/weekly walks.

Whatever you decide to do you can know that walking is an excellent, effective and safe first step toward postpartum weight-loss.  And, if you’ve just had a baby this fall, get out and enjoy the fall colors and fresh air!  Just don’t forget to bundle your baby and listen to your doctor and your own body so you don’t overdo it.  Happy walking!

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