Your beautiful baby is finally sitting up but your pride and happiness is dimmed by the fact that you’re still carrying so much tummy weight, and strangers ask when you are due. You’re finally ready to do something about it. But what? Weight loss advice for new moms abounds.
Here we debunk the top 10 worst bits of advice you’re likely to receive.
1. Fat Makes You Fat
No, it doesn’t. Saturated fats from deep-fried foods may be unhealthy, but good fats, like those found in nuts, avocados, and fish rich in Omega-3s, are great for your health.
2. Stop Snacking to Lose Weight
Frequent snacking on fruit, yogurt and nuts is one of the best ways to keep your energy stable throughout the day.
3. Watch what you eat during the week, but take the weekends off
Weekend indulgences are enough to kill your momentum and undo all the hard work you’ve done.
4. Skip breakfast to save up calories for later
You should eat a high-protein breakfast every day to keep you feeling full and prevent overeating at lunch and dinner.
5. Artificial sweeteners are a great substitute for sugar
Yuck. Artificial sweeteners have been linked to weight gain, probably because they keep you wired to craving that sweet taste. Plus, eating unpronounceable chemicals isn’t good for you.
6. Use fat-free and sugar-free labels as your best guide
No way. Half the fat means twice the sugar, and sugar-free means twice the chemicals. All that manipulation of your food actually reduces that food’s ability to fill you up.
7. When doing dairy, only choose skim.”
See #6. Allowing yourself high-quality dairy products, such as full-fat plain organic yogurt, has been shown to have health benefits.
8. Eat the exact same thing for lunch
Eating the same foods over and over is not only boring, but can also lead to deficiencies.
9. You must eat vegan
Not necessary, unless you belong to PETA. Eating lean, grass-fed meat is a great way to get the protein, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids your body needs. Just limit the portions and eat other healthy protein sources.
10. Rely on frozen diet meals
Don’t rely on frozen meals because they’re low on nutrients and don’t keep you full long enough – not to mention the fact that they’re usually highly processed. Round out your diet meal with a side salad and lean protein.
Are you Considering a Mommy Makeover?
Losing baby weight is no easy task. It requires commitment and hard work. Dieting alone can’t get rid of the excess fat.
Often, new mothers will opt to have plastic surgery to help them regain their confidence and body shape. At Royal Centre for Plastic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Dickie, has helped many new mothers lose their baby weight and can answer any questions you might have about the procedure.
If you’re more focused on getting results and not playing with your diet, contact us and we’ll discuss with you the types of procedures included in a mommy makeover, and whether or not you’re a good candidate.