Day 94 - Shed those pounds

Today's Tip - Lose that extra baby weight by making small, manageable lifestyle changes

One of the big things my wife wanted to do after she had our baby was to get back to her original weight. That can be extremely tough, since you can't really go back to the lifestyle you had pre-baby. There's more sitting and holding the baby. You're more likely to be worn out and not feel like exercising. Maybe you're eating easier, higher fat meals because you have less time to cook.

It seems that the best way to get rid of those extra pounds is to do a few little things to make the weight loss manageable rather than getting discouraged that you can't spend an hour or two at the gym three times a week.

Here are some quick tips to help you get back to looking svelte:

• Cut back on calories. Drink one less soda. Say no to one dessert. Go for a salad instead of a burger. Make some healthier tweaks to your diet without completely changing the way you eat


• Park farther away whenever you can


• Take the baby out for a walk. He'll love being outside and you'll burn calories pushing that cute baby weight around


• Eat breakfast. Eating smaller meals more often helps your metabolism


• Take the stairs instead of the elevator


• Breastfeed. It burns up to 500 calories


• Switch to whole wheats


• Join an exercise class you can do with your baby like Mommy and Me Yoga


• I watch the baby twice a week so my wife can play soccer. If you've got a spouse who'll help you, you're already ahead of the game.
• Eat more fruits and veggies
• Buy a cheap pedometer and walk an extra 1,000 steps a day

Pick a few small things you can do and stick to them. As your lifestyle changes, add a few more once they become second nature. Before you know it, you'll have lost a few pounds, and you'll probably be healthier too.

Parenting, Health, Pregnancy, Weight , Loss