Traditional Chinese culture places great emphasis on "postpartum confinement," believing that women should consume large amounts of nourishing foods before and after childbirth. This leads new mothers to consume excessive calories. In addition, a lack of exercise after childbirth causes abdominal muscles to relax, resulting in excessive fat accumulation in the abdomen and affecting physical appearance.
I. Causes of postpartum obesity
1. Changes in physiological structure
Weight gain is an important and noticeable physiological change during pregnancy. In addition to the weight of the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid, the mother's body also undergoes some changes due to hormonal changes, such as: increased estrogen levels leading to increased fat in women; rising progesterone levels; and increased prolactin levels in preparation for breastfeeding.
Pregnant women typically gain 13-20 kilograms during pregnancy, of which 7 kilograms are fat cells. After giving birth and losing a significant amount of water, mothers still retain 7 kilograms of fat. If they do not lose weight properly, this fat will stay with them for life.
2. Changes in lifestyle habits
During pregnancy: Dr. Zhou Huizheng, a weight loss class instructor and attending physician in obstetrics and gynecology, said that many people fail repeatedly in their weight loss attempts, and the reason is that 70% of them are due to unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Pregnant women, wanting their unborn babies to receive sufficient nutrition for healthy growth, often follow the principle of "eating for two," abandoning previous dietary restrictions due to fear of weight gain and consuming as many "nutritious" foods as possible. However, some expectant mothers choose the wrong foods, consuming excessive calories and gaining weight for themselves, while the fetus may not receive the necessary nutrients. It's not uncommon for mothers to gain over 20 kilograms, only to have their babies born weighing only 2,000-3,000 grams, making their future pregnancy journey more difficult and challenging.
During the postpartum period: In order to achieve the purpose of postpartum recovery, the traditional way of postpartum recovery is to eat a lot of sesame oil chicken, peanut stewed pig's feet, and high-calorie offal. However, obstetrics experts say that modern people must correct their concept of eating too much oil during postpartum recovery. In the past, people lived in poverty and malnutrition was common. In addition, due to the lack of advanced medical technology, mothers lost a lot of blood during childbirth, which made them weak. Therefore, they used oily, alcoholic, and high-protein foods to replenish their bodies. However, these foods mainly provided calories, not nutrients.
II. Postpartum weight loss methods
It's not just young girls who worry about weight gain; new mothers also worry about postpartum weight gain. So how do you lose postpartum weight? First, you need to find the right method, because the correct weight loss method is very important. Today, the editor of Weiwei Health Network will introduce some postpartum weight loss methods to help new mothers quickly regain their figure.
Postpartum weight loss methods: Edema type
Features:
1. You can gain weight even if you don't eat much.
2. When you pat your waist and abdomen, you will hear a crisp "thump" sound. Your waist and abdomen will look like a swimming ring, which is most obvious when you are obese.
3. Even in hot weather, they rarely sweat.
4. Frequent swelling in the calves, ankles, and even the lower body, and a feeling of heaviness in the lower body.
The main reason for postpartum obesity caused by edema is spleen and stomach deficiency leading to poor water metabolism. Therefore, these mothers should pay more attention to their diet to lose weight. They should avoid raw and cold foods, drink more warm water to expel toxins accumulated in the body, eliminate lower body edema, and alleviate abdominal obesity.
For exercise, doing more leg raises can accelerate lower body metabolism, maintain blood circulation, and effectively solve the problem of edema. Yoga can also be a good option for postpartum weight loss.
Postpartum weight loss methods: disordered type
Features:
1. Sometimes I eat a lot and sometimes I have no appetite; I'm a picky eater.
2. Irregular bowel movements, sometimes diarrhea and sometimes constipation.
3. Sometimes the lower abdomen feels hard when gently pressed.
These postpartum women often exhibit these characteristics primarily due to gastrointestinal disorders. Weight loss for these women should begin with regulating their digestive system, consuming easily digestible foods that promote detoxification. They can eat more yogurt, green vegetables, and whole grains. It's crucial to eat regular, measured meals and avoid overeating. Regular, appropriate exercise can also help regulate the digestive system.
