Doctor’s Lies about “After Baby Belly”

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post baby belly fatI’m going to tell you everything you need to know about losing your “After Baby Belly”. But, before we get started I must give you this WARNING: Some of what I’m going to say here is going to be controversial. In fact, I am going to directly oppose what your doctor is telling you.

FACT: Your doctor was trained to keep you and your baby healthy through pregnancy and delivery. FACT: Your doctor has your best interest at heart, but was NOT trained to teach you weight loss. FACT: Your doctor does not know the best and fastest ways for you to get rid of your “After Baby Belly”.

That said, PLEASE LISTEN to your doctor is he/she has any concerns about you exercising post baby. You MUST wait until your doctor clears you for exercise. I am not telling you to disregard your docs medical advice. I just want you to understand that your doc is not a weight loss expert or a Baby Belly Fat Loss Expert.

So let’s just dive into the controversy, why beat around the bush?? Here are 6 things doctors tell their new mamas that are simply NOT TRUE:

Post Baby Belly Fat Myths

MYTH: “It took you 9 months to gain the weight, it will take you that long to lose it.”
TRUTH: if you exercise smart and eat clean 80-90% of the time you can lose your baby weight and After Baby Belly in less that 9 months. Exactly how long it will take you depends on how consistent you are with exercise and clean eating and how much weight you have to lose. If you gained 30 pounds during pregnancy you will likely lose it fast than someone who gained 50 pounds. This is the program our moms use to lose baby weight in much less than 9 months.

MYTH: “If you want to lose your baby belly, take up walking.”
TRUTH: Walking is a great way to start post partum exercise, as you can start it right away (with your doc’s okay.) So before you can do high intensity exercise, this is appropriate. However, it is not the key to losing baby weight quickly. And it is certainly not the key for losing your baby belly fat. In fact, you can lose all your baby weight through walking and still have a sizable After Baby Belly. Once you’re cleared for exercise you need to add High Intensity Interval Training (the best cardio for burning belly fat) and strength training (to build overall muscle mass and burn more fat around the clock.)

MYTH: “Do not cut calories while nursing.”
TRUTH: Nursing is not a free pass to eat however much you want to eat. Of course, you need to eat enough to sustain your energy and feed your baby. You do not want to be starving yourself or doing any hardcore dieting. But, if you are nursing exclusively, you need an additional 300-500 calories a day – that is one small meal or one larger snack. That is not a foodie free for all everyday until you stop nursing. Many moms who come to me are eating 500-1000 extra calories a day. Also, when you start to move into part time nursing, if you’re supplementing formula, cereal, baby food, you will need LESS food because you will be producing less milk. So, listen to your body, add extra calories in the form of protein and veggies (those will fuel and sustain you) if you’re hungry. Also, be sure you are always well hydrated. Dehydration will decrease your supply as much, if not more, than lack of calories.

get rid of baby bellyMYTH: “Try crunches and ab exercises to work on losing your After Baby Belly.”
TRUTH: First of all, crunches are completely inappropriate postpartum, as they will INCREASE your belly pooch. Add to that, crunches are the least effective ab exercise out there. No one has ever gotten flat abs from crunches. I would bet my career on this. Ab exercises, in general, are not going to flatten your After Baby Belly. A clean diet and consistent full body fitness plan (with strength training and HIIT) will give you best and fastest flat belly.

MYTH: “Switch to low fat and ‘diet’ foods/drinks lo lose baby weight and baby belly fat.”
TRUTH: Fat is not your enemy. Low fat diets tend to be high carb/high sugar – exactly what will cause you to GAIN belly fat. So lay off the carbs and sugar and eat healthy forms of fat. “Diet” foods are a whole separate nightmare. Many diet foods have artificial sweeteners that have fewer calories but come with many risks, including interfering with metabolic/thyroid/hormone function. Messing with any of these functions will certainly inhibit weight loss, especially belly fat loss. Volume Eating is a much more functional way of eating that will promote weight loss and focus on burning fat off your After Baby Belly.

MYTH: “You’re body has been through a lot and it might not go back to the way it was before pregnancy.”
TRUTH: This is simply untrue. Yes, your body has been through a lot. But, if you take the right steps, you CAN lose your baby belly and get your body back. It is really up to you and what steps you commit to. If you are determined and CONSISTENT in your efforts, it will happen. Not overnight, but it will happen. But it is all about consistent effort over time.

As a result of this kind of misinformation, we see moms make a lot of mistakes when it comes to losing baby weight. They do things that make it take way longer than necessary. Do you want to get your body back slowly or quickly? Obviously, quick is better, right?! Are you assuming that quick will be way more painful? Nope it’s not. Not at all if you are smart about it. Watch this video to see if you’re making any of these mistakes. I’m willing to bet you’re making at least one.

So, now you know better. You can make some quick changes RIGHT AWAY – TODAY to take control of your body. Additionally, we want to arm you with a few other really important tools. Here are the top 5 tips we give moms to lose baby belly fat:

Now, I hope you can see where the truth lies after each of the statements above. Sadly, these myths are still very much used by medical professionals. If you have used any of our recommended methods to lose your After Baby Belly, please share below to inspire and motivate other Mamas. If you are struggling to lose your After Baby Belly, let us know below so we can help you. It IS possible to get your body back and get lose your baby belly!

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5 Comments

Shawna Kaminski on October 11, 2011 at 9:15 pm.

Sara, you’re right on with all your tips! I did these things and got my body back after my two children. Sadly many women lose hope but you’re providing hope and practical steps to losing the baby belly.

Reply

Sara Dean on October 11, 2011 at 9:51 pm.

Shawna, You are such an amazing testament to what the right kind of nutrition and exercise can do to keep your body in incredible shape after a few kids and heading into your forties!

Reply

Jennifer on October 17, 2011 at 2:24 am.

I’ve watched the video several times, and I’m sure you go straight from 3 to 5. I’m dying to know what tip #4 is!!!

Reply

Sara Dean on October 17, 2011 at 3:36 pm.

Jennifer, Ohmygosh! Thanks for pointing that out! The missing tip is REDUCE GRAINS! I discuss it in the top video – so be sure to watch that one!

Reply

Olabisi Usidame on January 5, 2013 at 6:39 am.

Hi Sara! I got to tell you,you are right about the clean eating and hydrating properly. My LO is 4 and half months,and my belly just an inch larger than my pre-baby size. Thumbs up,Sara. Your articles are wow.

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