Weight loss after pregnancy: Getting rid of pregnancy weight

During pregnancy, you not only gain weight steadily due to the additional weight of the baby and placenta. Your body also retains water and forms small fat deposits . From an evolutionary perspective, this is particularly intelligent.

The water is needed to keep your circulatory system and your baby's stable, and to produce amniotic fluid. The fat reserves are primarily for the period after pregnancy and childbirth. After delivery, you'll need plenty of energy for breastfeeding and caring for your child .

During pregnancy, your body stores energy reserves for the first few months after birth. These reserves manifest as small pockets of fat that you'd like to get rid of as quickly as possible after delivery. But it's not that simple. New mothers don't have it easy. Sleep deprivation , hormonal fluctuations , and cravings are common. No wonder that the most frequent reasons for slow weight loss after childbirth are often the following:

When the baby is awake, you're incredibly busy – and once it starts crawling, you'll only get the bare minimum done. When it finally sleeps, you'll have a mountain of tasks you wish you'd finished yesterday. You also need time with your partner. As a result, sleep is often in short supply, sometimes for years. But insufficient sleep is directly linked to weight gain : those who don't get enough sleep don't lose weight. So try ignoring the housework more often and taking a nap yourself when the baby is asleep. With your eyes closed, you won't see the piles of laundry and dust bunnies anyway.

You only function well when you feel good yourself. Regular exercise and sport increase your well-being and can even be combined with having a baby: jogging with a stroller, yoga and strength training with a baby – all possible.

Pressure means stress. This triggers the release of the stress hormone cortisol and, consequently, insulin, leading to reduced calorie expenditure and cravings . That doesn't exactly align with your desire to lose weight, does it? So, for the sake of your figure, the first thing you need to do is reduce the pressure. Your body has changed over nine months, and you should give it at least that much time to recover after pregnancy.

Perhaps you're one of those parents who eats whatever their kids leave behind. Don't get us wrong, we're against food waste too – but we think you're more than just your little one's leftover eater and deserve your own food . Instead, learn to better judge portion sizes and throw away anything that isn't worth keeping. Soggy fries, cold pasta, or half-eaten cheese sandwiches provide nothing but unnecessary calories and won't help you lose weight after pregnancy.

A common excuse, but not a particularly good one: Healthy food takes just as long to cook as unhealthy food. There are numerous great recipes that require few ingredients and can be prepared quickly. For overnight oats, for example, you only need five minutes the night before – in the morning, you stir it once and have a filling and nutritious breakfast.

There are several measures that serve as an important foundation for losing weight after pregnancy. These are:

Many mothers believe the entire burden rests on their shoulders. Accept help. You don't have to fold the laundry immediately, clean the apartment while your baby sleeps, or attend every get-together with friends. Slow down your daily routine and find mental peace. Stress promotes cravings .

Sleep as much as you can. Your body needs rest. This also means letting Dad take care of the baby for a few hours, sending Grandma for a walk, or enjoying a nap with the baby so Mom can relax. Lack of sleep is considered a major factor in unwanted weight gain .

You should absolutely not follow a strict weight-loss program while breastfeeding. Your body has a reason for building up (fat) reserves: this ensures you have enough energy for the demanding task of caring for your baby. Furthermore, your body needs sufficient nutrients, which are often lacking in crash diets. The rule here is: eating healthily is better than eating less .

We have put together an example of a daily nutrition plan for you that will support you in losing weight in a healthy way.

Start your day with plenty of energy. Oatmeal with fresh berries is a great choice. The berries give you energy, and the porridge keeps you full for several hours. The high protein content will also help you resist the temptation to reach for chocolate between meals.

A day with a baby often leaves little time for yourself . That's why it's so easy to simply replace your lunch with a protein shake for weight loss¹ . It provides a complete meal , is quick to prepare , and can even be eaten on the go. It's important not to diet or lose weight while breastfeeding without feeling hungry: If you need more energy, you can easily jazz up the shake and decorate it with delicious toppings. Process recipes !

Want to have an afternoon snack with your child? Go for vegetables and nuts. Vegetables contain important vitamins and nutrients and support your immune system. Nuts are important for brain function, among other things, and they also contain healthy fats.

End the day with a light dinner. Vegetable sticks with some fresh quark, a delicious chickpea salad , or fresh protein bread with cream cheese and cucumbers are just a few examples of what you could include in your diet.

This is actually the root of all the problems: since having a child, you've slipped way down your own list of priorities. The baby, your partner, the household, your job – everything seems much more important than your own well-being. That's why you don't make time for exercise, healthy eating, or relaxation . You continue to wear your maternity clothes, which may conceal the parts and extra pounds you're unhappy with, but which you also don't feel good in.

Kathie is in her mid-30s and busy around the clock with her full-time job and three children. Despite this, after years of trying, she finally managed to lose the weight she gained during her pregnancy . Her secret: SHEKO and a little exercise . Within just a few months, she lost a significant amount of weight – without sacrificing enjoyment , as she says herself.

To lose weight after pregnancy, you can replace up to two meals a day with SHEKO1 and thus better control your calorie intake . In addition, you should adjust your diet plan . Fill with healthy foods.

As a complete meal replacement, SHEKO provides all the nutrients you need to get from food, such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and plenty of protein . The latter, in particular, ensures that you feel full quickly and provides you with long-lasting energy – all with only 200 kcal per serving.