Tam says in addition to a healthy diet, the best way to lose weight is with regular exercise. She recommends hitting the pavement to kick-start your fitness routine and bond with your baby at the same time.
"Walking or running with the stroller can be a great way to spend time with the baby and get in some physical activity," she says. "I also find that practices like yoga and qi gong, in addition to cardio and weight training exercises, are a great way to achieve both stress reduction and increase the metabolism for greater fat-burning potential."
For at-home exercise options check out Toronto company FITMOM Canada's Postnatal Workout DVD which features strength-training and cardio exercises, or streaming online videos from Vancouver-based MY Yoga Online. For mom and baby fitness classes check out your local community centre or fitness studio, or consult fit4two and Mommy and Baby Fitness, to see if they hold classes in your area.
De-stress for success
For women who have had difficulty shedding weight, even years after pregnancy, Tam says the "stress hormone" cortisol may be a factor in holding onto those extra mid-section pounds.
"When we are stressed, our body makes more cortisol to provide us with the extra energy for fight or flight," she explains. "When we need to fight or flight, our body chooses to store back-up energy by depositing extra fat. So, abdominal weight gain can be affected by the amount of stress we are under and the amount of cortisol produced by the body."
To address this, Tam says stress management must become a key part of the weight loss strategy, particularly to tackle those stubborn last few pounds around the abdomen. She recommends exercise, including exercises that specifically target the abdominal area, as not just a great way to burn fat, but a great way to lower stress at the same time.
Additionally, a consultation with a naturopathic doctor can help you identify if there are any other underlying reasons for holding onto that extra weight.
"A naturopath will be able to provide is a full assessment of a person's health and determine if there are any other health factors that may be interfering with a person's ability to maintain a healthy weight," she says. "For example, thyroid and ovarian disorders (like hypothyroidism and polycystic ovarian syndrome) can cause weight gain in women, and make it really difficult for them to lose that weight. Naturopaths are able to address these conditions using natural and safe treatments concurrently with the weight loss program."
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