Get Your Pre-Pregnancy Body Back

Congratulations! You've made it through 9 months of pregnancy and had your beautiful baby. Now it's time to get your body back in shape. But where to start? For most new mommies, getting back into shape is no easy task – especially after gaining 30+ pounds during pregnancy. It is natural to be envious of TV and movie stars, as they grace the red carpet looking svelte and slim post-partum. Yet, for most moms, the weight doesn't just melt away and getting your pre-pregnancy body back is an uphill battle.

Diet & Exercise are Often Enough

If you just had your baby, now is not quite the time to begin a workout regimen. Instead, focus on bonding with your baby and doing light abdominal and pelvic floor strengthening. Once your doctor gives you the "all clear" at your 6-week post-partum checkup, you can begin getting your body back in shape.

Forget what you've heard about the weight melting off if you breastfeed. For many moms, that just doesn't happen without some hard work. Also, try not to compare yourself to your friends, your family members, or movie stars who all claim to have been back in their pre-pregnancy clothes by 6 weeks.

Instead, focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle for you and your baby. Eating healthy is important, especially if you are breastfeeding. Even if you are not breastfeeding, your baby will one day pick up your same eating habits, so adopting a healthy diet is important. Instead of trying extreme weight loss plans or supplements, focus on eating more vegetables and whole grains. Remember, eating more whole grains does not mean eating more whole grain breads. It means eating the "whole" grain, such as brown rice, barley, and quinoa. Also, aim to add more protein to your diet in the form of fresh fish, chicken, lean meat and beans.

Once you have your diet in check, aim for adding 30 minutes of exercise to your routine several times a week. If you can, consider joining a gym so you can take a variety of fun fitness classes, such as yoga, zumba, and spin class. Be sure to add weight training in at least 2x a week to help you build strong muscles. Contrary to popular belief, women will not get bulky simply by weight training. Concentrate on strengthening your core and your back, so you can avoid back pain later as you lug around your 25-pound toddler!

What If That's Not Enough?

For many women, these changes are often enough to bring their bodies back after pregnancy. Yet, it is important to know that you may not quite look the same, even once you return to your pre-pregnancy weight. Pregnancy changes you in more ways than one, and some of these changes are forever.

For some women, no matter how much they diet and exercise, the weight just simply won't come off. Or they're left with excess skin hanging on their abdomen, despite doing crunches and abdominal work. When this happens, it may be time to consider plastic surgery. There are numerous options available for women who are looking to tone and firm their abdomen: most popularly liposuction and/or a tummy tuck. These mommy makeovers may also come with breast augmentation, especially if your breast tissue has lost volume or now sags after breast-feeding.

These procedures are body contouring procedures, not weight loss procedures and so they should be considered as a last step to achieving your goals. If you plan to become pregnant in the future or if you are not finished breastfeeding your baby, then a mommy makeover is not for you just yet. You should be at your goal weight for at least 6 months, have stopped breastfeeding for at least 6 months, and have completed childbearing before you decide to proceed with a mommy makeover.

Contact Our Pasadena Plastic Surgeons

If you have questions about a mommy makeover, breast augmentation, or liposuction, we can help. There is a reason so many Pasadena women choose Dr. Kevin Ruhge to perform their plastic surgeries. His personalized approach to plastic surgery means that his clients can contact him 24/7 after a surgical procedure. We invite you to meet with Dr. Ruhge for a private consultation at our office in Pasadena by calling 626.397.9095, or by scheduling an appointment online.