Recently, both Ady An and Guo Bitong made public appearances postpartum, both looking remarkably fit as new moms.Netizens remarked that women who regain their figures postpartum are disciplined individuals.
Many female celebrities pay close attention to one key aspect of postpartum weight loss: while they exercise dietary restraint, they ensure proper nutritional balance. They understand that health has no shortcuts—postpartum recovery prioritizes "replenishment" before "reduction."
Today we discuss postpartum weight loss: how to regain a great figure.
I. Debunking Claims About Postpartum Belts/Binding Bands Burning Fat
These products are marketed with claims like: preventing organ prolapse, aiding uterine contraction, detoxification, postpartum weight loss...
In reality, most of these claims lack formal scientific backing. They're largely commercial concepts paired with pseudo-scientific marketing hype applied to these belts/bands.
Preventing organ prolapse?
Experts clarify: The correct term is "organ descent." After childbirth, our organs naturally return to their original positions over time, so there's no need for excessive concern.
Helping uterine contraction?
Wearing a belly wrap might create an illusion of skin tightening, but since it's an external compression device, it inevitably affects blood circulation. Experts say unimpeded blood flow is essential for uterine contraction and recovery—do you still believe it?
Helping detoxification?
It should actually be called expelling lochia.Many purchase postpartum girdles before or during pregnancy. Some merchants repackage this as "detoxification," warning of dangers from incomplete lochia expulsion.
Experts state that this "toxin" naturally expels within four to six weeks postpartum, following the law of gravity. The girdle's compression offers no acceleration.
Accelerate postpartum body recovery?
At its core, it's just a waist cincher. Tightly wrapping your waist makes your waistline appear smaller in seconds—immediate results. But this isn't weight loss or body restoration; it's merely concealing flesh with elastic fabric.
II. How to Recover Your Figure Postpartum
There are no shortcuts to postpartum weight loss. It requires healthy eating, consistent exercise, and immense patience.
Childbirth itself is a significant drain on a woman's health. Therefore, how you recover postpartum will impact your long-term well-being.
We must adopt healthy methods to regain our figures.
Breastfeeding aids in returning to pre-pregnancy weight
A mother's milk production, along with the protein, fat, and lactose content in breast milk, is largely unaffected by her diet. Therefore, new mothers can moderately reduce their food intake.
A mother who exclusively breastfeeds for six months, or partially breastfeeds after six months, typically burns an additional 2000 to 2100 calories per day on average.
This energy expenditure varies individually, primarily depending on milk production, postpartum weight loss, and changes in physical activity.
Why some mothers gain weight during breastfeeding
Many mothers gain excessive weight during pregnancy, exceeding the weight gain required for pregnancy. Even with breastfeeding after delivery, they often struggle to return to their pre-pregnancy weight.
Beyond excessive pregnancy weight gain affecting postpartum weight loss, some mothers continue to consume large amounts of food and avoid exercise during breastfeeding. Consequently, their weight not only fails to decrease but continues to increase.
While breastfeeding burns calories and aids weight loss, weight gain persists if caloric intake exceeds expenditure.
Obesity is unhealthy. Restoring health requires balanced nutrition and appropriate dietary adjustments. Here's how to proceed:
1. Start with dietary habits
After pregnancy, you may have adjusted eating habits to meet fetal needs.
Postpartum, proper nutrition remains crucial—especially for exclusive breastfeeding.
During breastfeeding, there's no need to overeat. You can moderately limit portion sizes while ensuring balanced nutrition.
2. Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Choose high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. They provide essential nutrients while keeping you fuller longer.
3.Eat smaller, more frequent meals
You may need to replace three large meals with several smaller ones throughout the day.
Limit high-sugar and high-fat foods, but avoid excessive restriction. Don't starve yourself. Consume vegetables and fruits freely, but pair them with adequate protein to prevent malnutrition from dieting.
4. Avoid food temptations
Stock your home only with healthy options.If sweets, pastries, chocolate, or braised pork constantly tempt you, keep them out of sight.
5. Eat only when genuinely hungry
If you feel anxious, tense, or simply think it's mealtime, distract yourself with other activities—like taking the baby for a walk or chatting with friends.