New mom tips for loosing weight

The journey through pregnancy to delivery puts your body through transformations that you probably watched with mixed emotions. While it is thrilling to see the signs of new life kicking below the surface, at the same time you probably have been scheming all along on how you’ll eventually lose that extra weight. If you’re not sure how to begin, here are a few tips on things you can do to work back to your pre-pregnancy body (or even better).

1. Go For a Walk

Your body has been through a lot, it is very normal to stay away from serious exercise for up to 6 weeks or longer if you had a Cesarean section. Once you feel rested enough to begin an exercise program, begin simply by taking a walk around the block. You don’t have to go far, it is reported that pushing a stroller 1 to 2 miles actually burns about 150 calories.

2. Get strong, lift weights

As a new mother you know very well that you don’t have to go to the gym to lift weights. You’re doing it all the time every day! Use your new baby’s weight by holding the baby to your chest while you do lunges. You can also get a great workout by holding the baby above your chest and slowly pressing her toward the ceiling several times.

3. Increase lean muscle, take protein

One of the best ways to lose weight is to build lean muscle. When you create lean muscle, your body burns large amounts of calories. Calories are constantly burned to maintain that lean muscle as well. This is a great benefit because you can basically increase your metabolism simply by increasing the lean muscle in your body. Protein is the essential requirement in this process. Whey Protein in particular is an excellent source to help your body create lean muscle. It is actually a product of the process of making milk (something you should know about by now!) and is an all-natural way to boost your daily protein diet. It is safe, inexpensive, and very effective. The second most abundant component in whey protein is alpha-lactalbumin, which is one of the primary whey proteins in human breast milk.

4. Breastfeeding

Although breastfeeding requires that you add 500 calories to your diet, just by breastfeeding you actually burn 600 to 800 calories a day. So just by feeding your baby you can actually lose weight. Some lucky women will actually lose all of their baby fat by breastfeeding alone!

5. Watch calories, avoid fat

You will have to be disciplined and stay away from empty calories found in soda and chips. Healthy nutrient-rich foods like fresh fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy, and whole grains will definitely help you to lose weight and feel great. Experts discourage dieting right after giving birth, you need to think about the repairing process that your body is experiencing at this stage. Eat small, frequent meals, don’t skip meals, and be sure to distribute calories throughout the day. This will ensure that you won’t overeat and will best metabolize the calories in your diet.

Taking care of your teeth

Prevention is certainly better than cure, and that definitely applies when it comes to oral hygiene. Visits to the dentist can prove very expensive if you have a lot of problems but there are plenty of things that you can do to ensure that you need only pay the minimum for any corrective dental work.

It's always wise to see your dentist and/or oral hygienist every six months. They are the experts at spotting signs of any problems from incorrect brushing technique to serious ailments.

Avoiding acidic drinks is always recommended as they can damage the enamel on your teeth. Some health drinks are promoted as giving a large proportion of your five a day fruit and vegetables, but the acids contained in them can damage your teeth, so if you like such drink then drink them though a straw.

Avoid grinding your teeth. Some people grind their teeth while sleeping and although it can’t be stopped the damage done can be minimized by getting specialist gum shields for night-time wear from your dentist.

In addition to avoiding grinding your teeth you should always clean your teeth, not only regularly, but ensure that you also use the best technique and learn how to floss properly. Getting to remove plaque and bits of food that get stuck between the teeth is very important to maintain the best dental care.

Smoking is another major culprit when it comes to teeth discoloration and encouraging gum disease. If you can give up smoking and switch to chewing sugar free gum instead, it would do wonders for your teeth.

Aside from smoking, it is best to avoid drinks that discolor and stain your teeth – herbal teas are one of the main culprits although red wine, regular tea and coffee are also just as bad when it comes to causing teeth discoloration. As with acidic drinks it may be better to drink these teeth stainer through a straw, although that may prove a trifle embarrassing in public!

After drinking sugary or acidic drinks such as fruit juice, wait at least 20 minutes before brushing your teeth to avoid potential damage to your tooth enamel.

Opting for professional teeth whitening if you can afford it rather than home kits is a much better option. That is because dentists produce a fitted mouth guard molded to your teeth and they also ensure the right amount of whitening gel is applied to your teeth.