While motherhood can be incredibly rewarding mentally and emotionally, pregnancy takes a toll on a woman’s body. The human body can add a lot of weight during pregnancy, plus you’re dealing with a new routine and learning to care for a newborn. It can feel overwhelming, and many women struggle to lose the extra weight they added during those months. Why is weight loss so challenging after the birth of a baby?
It’s More Than Just Fat
For most of us, weight gain and increased fatty tissue seem like the same thing. That’s not the case, though, and particularly not after pregnancy. Your body will add weight in several ways, including additional breast tissue, additional blood, an enlarged uterus, and, of course, additional stores of fat.
So, one reason that weight loss is challenging is that losing weight after childbirth is not just about burning fat. It’s also a waiting game. Extra blood volume will eventually return to normal, as will your expanded uterus. It just takes time. Of course, there’s more to it than that, particularly when it comes to stubborn baby weight.
You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep
One thing that most new parents can agree on is that having a newborn is not conducive to a good sleep schedule. That’s bad news for your weight loss efforts, though. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t burn calories effectively. Loss of sleep will also impact your energy levels, making it harder for you to get up and do anything, including exercise.
The good news here is that newborns eventually adjust and begin sleeping through the night. However, all babies are different, so you might find that it takes up to nine months for that to happen.
You’re Not Hydrating Enough
Dehydration is one of the least noticed yet most important conditions to affect the human body. If you’re dehydrated, your body won’t burn calories effectively. You can also misinterpret it as hunger, which can lead to snacking and taking in even more calories than what you need.
How much water should you be drinking? It varies based on your body size and composition, but shoot for somewhere between two and four liters per day. Once you start hydrating properly, you’ll notice that your energy levels increase and your body begins to burn more energy.
You Need Time to Recover
Don’t expect to go from giving birth to having your pre-pregnancy body. It takes time and care to recover and heal. The body doesn’t instantly rebound from pregnancy. However, the right care can accelerate your healing and recovery processes. IV therapy can help with hydration, but it also delivers fat-busting vitamins and minerals right to your blood where they’re needed most.
At XCellR8, we can help you reclaim the body you thought was lost to pregnancy. We offer a wide range of clinically proven weight loss solutions, from body contouring with red light therapy to cutting-edge IV therapy solutions. It is possible to lose weight and feel great after giving birth, and we can help you achieve that.
