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MUM in DOHA: Losing weight after having a baby Words by Lynsey Riach Photos by Jessie Palanca
I feel it’s time to bring my body back so I’ve been reminding myself of that old analogy that because it took nine months to put the baby weight on, therefore it will take nine months to get it off. And as friends and family keep reminding me, I have a powerful fat burning tool at my disposal – breastfeeding. Or do I? Eat mindfully As a breastfeeding mother twice over, I know that although nursing burns a stack of calories (approximately 850 per day), it also leaves a busy mama ravenous! I’ve fallen into the trap of eating extra cake because, well, I can, but what if I didn’t finish that extra slice of red velvet? For me, my motivation depends greatly on my scale of tiredness and if it’s off the chart then I’ll probably swerve away from the fresh fruit salad and reach for a baked-to-perfection cinnamon swirl. And we can thank science for this. Hungry and sleep-deprived, we tend to satisfy our cravings with simple carbohydrates to make up for the lack of sleep. Basically, we end up reaching for the cookies. Fit in exercise I’ve found that being a busy Mum to two under two often leaves me very little time to look after myself so building some motivation to hit it hard in the gym
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isn’t really that appealing to me right now (pass the cookies), but surely some time out of motherhood to gain some much-needed headspace and release those endorphins may actually give me added energy and build stamina? Let’s be honest, we mothers need to be fit to deal with the demands of young children, not forgetting the fact we lift them up copious times a day (did you say mom arms?!). Instead, I’ve been trying to work in exercise when I can, so I try to walk wherever I can. I do yoga with my baby on my mat and I’ll lift him for some body weight exercises such as squats. Carrying around a six-kilogram baby all day sure has its body benefits! Love your body But with all this currently going on, I feel conflicted with how we view mothers’ bodies today. There just seems to be so much pressure (thank you, social media) for new mums to bounce back before they’re even discharged from hospital. And as this is my second baby, I have crazy comparisons going on from what I looked like and weighed after the birth of my first boy to drive myself completely nuts with. So why do we paint ourselves as strong women able to work, play, housekeep, and mother, but yet we find flaws in our own stretch-marked skin? You would think by now we could thank our bodies and be amazed at what they can achieve (birth, baby and beyond). Be kind to yourself So when it comes to losing the baby weight, I stand firm on this point - don’t pressure yourself! Yes, you want to look and feel good, but it’s incredibly important that you do take care of yourself in order to take care of your baby, and that often means taking it slow on any kind of diet and exercise regime.
And if you’re currently caring for a baby you’ll know that in the grand scheme of things, it’s just not up there on your list of priorities. The concern for me has come to mind that I don’t want to “let myself go” or “never lose the baby weight” so I suppose my goal to is just to keep a close eye on my weight, what I eat, and how I feel. I just don’t let it get too out of whack but on those tired days, I’ll listen to my body if it wants those cookies! Focus on what’s important These beautiful babes of ours are little for such a short amount of time. Reward yourself, don’t push yourself, and remember to be kind to you. You’ve achieved a magnificent feat in growing, delivering, feeding, and caring for a baby. Until next time – thank your body for all it has done for you! n