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8 Amazing Ways to Reduce Belly Fat after Pregnancy
While almost every woman tries her best to get back in shape after pregnancy, losing belly fat proves the toughest nut to crack for most of them. Sometimes it happens that even if you've achieved your pre-pregnancy weight; you're still struggling hard to burn that little extra tummy fat. If that’s the case, here are some scientifically proven ways to help you reduce belly fat after pregnancy.
Breastfeed Your Baby:
Breastfeeding is known to be one of the most effective ways to reduce belly fat after pregnancy. According to lactation experts, breastfeeding can burn up to 600 calories per day, which helps women lose their weight after pregnancy without any extra effort. Moreover, breastfeeding also encourages the uterus to go back to its pre-pregnancy shape, making your tummy look flatter and smaller. However, if you consume more than you burn off, you'll likely gain weight, even if you breastfeed.
Also Read: Breastfeeding Lowers Your Breast Cancer Risk
Get an Abdominal Belt:
Wearing an abdominal belt is another old-fashioned yet effective way to tone your abdominal muscles, particularly if your baby is born via a cesarean section. Providing enough compression with a very firm binding, abdominal belts not only keep your belly from getting flabby post delivery but also help you minimize the risk of back pain and other posture-related issues. Alternatively, if you don't prefer to buy an abdominal belt, you can always try wrapping a Cotton Sari or Dupatta around your belly to achieve the same.
Drink Plenty of Lukewarm Water:
Start your day by drinking a glass of lukewarm water mixed with the fresh juice of half a lemon. Make sure to always do this ritual only on empty stomach. To improve the taste and effect of the mixture, you can also add a half tablespoon of honey to it. This home remedy will help you flush out toxins from your body, which leads to increased metabolic rate and burning more calories. For quick results, try to drink lukewarm water whenever you feel thirsty.
Chomp on Fresh Fruits:
According to scientific researches, intake of fresh fruits and veggies also contributes towards reducing tummy fat. Eating fresh fruits helps you maintain the right level of blood glucose in your post-pregnant body, which minimizes your chances of abdominal fat accumulation. However, if you’re going to include fresh fruits in your regular diet, it's highly recommended not to refrigerate them for a long time as it can reduce major antioxidants levels.
Drink Green Tea:
Drinking Green Tea on a daily basis also plays a vital role in reducing abdominal fat. Being a great detoxifier, Green Tea is fully capable of flushing out all the bad toxins from the body and thereby boosting up your metabolic rate. A good metabolism, as already mentioned above, further helps you speed up the process of burning stomach fat. So, what are you waiting for? Swap your caffeine content for Green Tea and conquer belly fat forever!
Eat the Right Foods:
Eating a proper and healthy diet containing low-fat foods will definitely help you cut belly fat with minimum effort. Fill your diet with a variety of low-calorie veggies, fruits, dairy products, and whole grains. Also, be careful with the consumption of carbohydrates as they raise your sugar levels and settle in fat friendly areas. Avoid processed/junk foods and say no to empty calories like chocolates, chips, soda, cookies, and candies.
Keep Stress at Bay:
Try to stay away from stress as it stimulates the production of Cortisol – a steroid hormone that causes irritability, tiredness, and weight gain. High levels of Cortisol in the blood increases your appetite for sugary and high-calorie foods, which ultimately leads to having a bigger tummy. To reduce your stress levels and feel better emotionally, sleep a minimum of 8-10 hours a day and also try some meditation.
Do Exercise:
Indulge in some physical activities to shed those extra pounds quickly. Low-impact exercises, like cycling, skipping, walking, and dancing, will definitely help you burn the unwanted fat from your belly. You can also try some abdominal exercises if your doctor has permitted you. However, if you had a complicated delivery, your must give your body enough time to heal before you jump into an exercise routine.