Maintaining a flat tummy after giving birth a struggle

BULAWAYO — We have all heard stories of new mothers who regain their pre-pregnancy bodies within weeks of giving birth. Although this is possible, it does not happen that way for most mothers. The post-baby belly bulge is sometimes a result of just leftover pregnancy weight. Some mothers have often wished to return to their former weight as soon as they have given birth but this has proved a very difficult task for many.

Taking into consideration the nine months that one takes to have a child, fitness trainers have pointed out that mothers should consider that one’s body may change shape after pregnancy and  it may be difficult for one to return to her exact pre-pregnancy weight or shape.  Ricky Tembo a fitness trainer said it is important for women who would like to have flat tummies to use the gym and exercise so as to have a flat stomach as compared to taking pills and slimming diets that have serious side effects.

“Natural weights, jogging and aerobics and some tummy exercises are very important for one to lose weight and have a flat tummy. Slimming mixtures might work but the problem is some of them have serious side effects and one is not guaranteed that they will have a flat stomach for long, said Tembo. Patience is the key in losing weight and regaining their flat stomach. It can take long to tighten up again. The speed and degree of this tightening up depends on a few factors,including: What shape and size you were before you conceived your baby.

Breastfeeding may help, especially in the early months after giving birth. If you breastfeed, you will burn extra calories to make milk. You may lose your pregnancy weight more quickly than mums who bottle-feed their babies. Eating healthily, combined with gentle exercise, will help you to get in shape.  Also make time for breakfast. Fitness trainer Campos Kapini also said it was important for women exercise so as to lose weight and have flat stomachs as compared to wearing slimming belts that resulted in one suffering from internal bleeding.

“The slimming belt does not work it only hurts the skin and results in it changing colour. for one to have a flat stomach it’s all about hard work, that is why we have instructors.

“The exercises that assist one in getting a flat stomach involve working the whole body, it combines jogging and sprinting on the same spot,” said Kapini.

Users of these slimming belts say that they have not lost any weight and they just started to look slim than before due to tightening of the muscles. The type of exercise one does is also very important. Light aerobic exercise (just after one gives birth), building up to more intense aerobic exercise later on, will help one to burn fat and have a flat stomach. – Theoppy Ncube

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