Once you deliver your baby, get home, and get into a routine, the next thing on your mind may be losing the baby weight. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get back to your pre-pregnancy fitness level. Your body goes through a lot of changes and challenges during pregnancy and childbirth. After giving birth there is a time of transition as the hormones in your body slowly get back to normal and you try to adjust to your new life as a mom. Losing the baby weight and getting back to your previous level of fitness can help you feel better physically and mentally. The best way to lose the baby weight is to focus on your nutrition and incorporate weightlifting into your routine. You may be surprised to read that weightlifting (instead of cardio) is the top recommendation for post-pregnancy weight loss. The reality is that weightlifting can help you lose the baby weight and keep it off.
Weightlifting builds muscle
It should not come as a surprise to read that weightlifting builds muscle. What some people find surprising is that the process of building muscle can help you with long term weight loss. As you build muscle through weightlifting, your metabolism increases. An increased metabolism means that you burn more calories throughout the day – even when you are not exercising. Having more muscles makes it possible for you to burn more calories without needing to spend hours upon hours in the gym. A consistent weightlifting routine will improve your metabolism and make long term weight loss much easier.
A quality weightlifting routine can prevent plateaus
One of the most frustrating things about trying to lose weight through cardio workouts is that you frequently experience plateaus. The only way to prevent a plateau in a cardio-focused workout routine is to continuously increase the intensity and time you spend doing cardio. The reason for this is because your body adapts to the increased cardio and responds by burning fewer calories for the same amount of cardio. This response is designed to keep you alive in situations where there is not enough food available. Unfortunately, this response can keep you from losing weight in a situation where you do have access to food. A quality weightlifting routine can help you avoid this type of plateau because it can be adjusted continuously to keep your body from adapting. For example, all of the programs through MAPS Fitness are designed to keep your body guessing and prevent adaptation. All types of cardio elicit the same basic response from your body. Weightlifting is different – each move works your body in a unique way. If you are intentional about changing up your weightlifting routine regularly, you can avoid the issue of plateauing completely.
It can be difficult to put aside long-held beliefs about how to lose weight. Choosing a cardio-based workout plan to get rid of the baby weight will ultimately leave you frustrated and without the desired results. Start the process of shedding the baby weight with a high-quality weightlifting program. The right program can help you lose the baby weight and transform your body.
