Maternity .net » fitness

The Truth about Celebs’ Post-Baby Bodies

dena — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:30:34 +0000

Have you noticed the new “trend” of famous new mom’s flaunting their flat stomachs just weeks and months after giving birth? iVillage calls attention to a gorgeous Kourtney Kardashian in a red bikini on the cover of Life & Style Weekly, with not a stretch mark or love handle in sight (although the post-pregnancy bosom is most definitely there)!

Before that there was bikini-clad Kendra Wilkinson, who graced the cover of OK! in February, just eight weeks after giving birth to her son. And last May, Elisabeth Hasselbeck posed for the cover of Fitness, with baby Taylor only 6 months old. And famous octo-mom Nadya Suleman posed for the cover of Star in January one year after giving birth to her crew.
Pregnancy and weight loss are two topics that are sure to sell magazines, but as iVillage puts it, “There are so many things sadistically wrong with our post-baby celebrity body obsession.” You can probably figure out what the problems are yourself, but here’s what iVillage has to say about it:

The magazines are misleading

Kardashian’s cover reads “How I lost 33 pounds! My super-fast weight loss, flat stomach in days, new secret slim-down shake.” Just whip up your own slim-down shake, curl up with their magazine, and your pregnancy weight will disappear too! (We won’t mention the fact that you don’t have a private trainer, personal nutritionist, full-time nanny or cosmetic surgeon like she does.)

Some celebrity moms are lying too…

Octomom’s bikini cover reads, “No nips, no tucks, no lipo.” While it is technically possible that she dropped 150-ish pounds without surgery, you can’t get rid of that much stretched out skin with exercise alone.

Photoshop works miracles!

We all know that magazines retouch all their photos. Bye-bye stretch marks and love handles! Take a look at this altered cover image of Kardashian for evidence of how far digital “shaping” goes. Thankfully, she objected to it!

(photo credit and story here)

Not the role models we need!

You know what your priority should be after you have a baby? Your baby. Not weight loss, calorie intake, or how you look in a bikini. The newborn period is so short, and before you know it this sweet, tiny little creature will be… well, not newborns anymore. Take time to bond with your baby and take care of yourself, too. That means eating hearty, healthy meals, getting enough sleep, and ignoring the pressure to looking perfect again.

Now here’s a photo we can all be comfortable with… Halle Berry, post baby, out shopping as happy as can be (note: not exercising!) and feeling comfortable in her own skin. She looks great, and that baby belly– well that’s pretty much what any normal postpartum mom looks like! It’s an old picture, but I’m liking it! ( photo source)

Your pregnancy diet can decrease baby’s risk of obesity

dena — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:11:44 +0000

What pregnancy eating style do you think would contribute toward obesity in children? A high fat diet? Too many extra calories? Junk food? Well, none of those are good for your growing baby, but here’s some surprising news: Women who eat too little during pregnancy increase the risk of obesity in their children! Go figure!

Researchers have discovered eating too few calories while pregnant changes the way that a baby’s fat cells behave once they are born. It causes excessive levels of inflammation which can damage the body’s ability to metabolise food, which leaves the youngsters at risk of putting on excessive weight.

The study is headed by Dr Helen Budge, who reminds us that what a mother eats while pregnant can have a large impact on the health of their baby in later life. Instead of viewing obesity as entirely the fault of the individual, pregnant women must realize that genetic and environmental factors play a huge part. “What is particularly interesting is that we are not just talking about babies that have been malnourished while in the womb but those that are born within normal weight ranges,” says Dr. Budge.

Over-eating is similarly harmful too. So what is the advice? A healthy, balanced diet, of course!

Staying fit and energetic, throughout pregnancy

dena — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:00:07 +0000

When you are feeling nauseous or lethargic or just huge as a hippo, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But as the Pregnancy Zone reminds us, “Regular exercise is the best way to build your bones, muscles, and to boost your energy levels to keep yourself healthy.”

You can get various benefits even from mild to moderate fitness routines. Check with your doctor to make sure your planned activities are safe in your personal condition.

Helpful guidelines for exercising during pregnancy:

Staying consistent:

Regular exercising is the best way, but not occasionally. It is better to exercise three days a week. Maintain your fitness routine in the mild-moderate range.

Choose easy steps to practice:

Don’t do the activities that need jumping motions or sudden changes in the direction as they can strain your joints and injure you.

Observe your back carefully:

Avoid exercising on your back after the first trimester of your pregnancy. Avoid motionless standing for longer periods. Both these activities can diminish the amount of blood flow to the uterus.

Don’t do too much:

You must be aware that you have very less oxygen available for exercising. Stop doing the exercises if you become fatigued and don’t attempt to exercise to that extent of exhaustion.

Maintain your balance:

Don’t try to do the activities that cause a rapid loss of balance or mild shock to your abdomen.

Consume a healthy diet:

Ensure that the diet you consume causes you to gain 25-35 pounds during the nine months period. Most of you need 300 calories additionally per each day. If you exercise regularly, then probably you need to consume more. Consume the diet that is rich in carbohydrates, because a pregnant woman uses up this fuel source more quickly during exercise than a normal woman.

Drink more and more water:

Drinking plenty of water is very essential to keep yourself hydrated and to prevent from overheating.

Wear comfortable clothing:

Make sure that while exercising, you are comfortable in your clothes and the clothes should be easy to remove. Wear a supportive bra that fits properly to support the breasts.

Try to keep cool as possible as you can:

Don’t become overheated, particularly in the first trimester of your pregnancy. Overheating during the first trimester causes to develop birth defects. Take lots of fluids before and during the workout session.

Avoid risky activities:

Pregnant women should avoid the activities like climbing, snowboarding, horseback riding, waterskiing, and scuba diving. During diving activities, your oxygen intake will be compromised and puts pressure on yours and your baby’s organs.

Limitations and warning signs of exercise during pregnancy:

Though moderate exercise is safe, it is not suitable for all pregnant women. Pregnant women with any of the following conditions should avoid exercise during pregnancy. They include:

Premature rupture of membranes
Pregnancy induced hypertension
High blood pressure
Vaginal bleeding
Early contractions
Heart disease

If you suddenly notice any of the below mentioned conditions, stop immediately doing the exercises and consult your doctor:

Heavy discharge or vaginal bleeding
Rapid heartbeat – The heartbeat of a pregnant woman should not exceed 140 beats per minute
Fainting or dizziness
Beginning of pain anywhere in your body
Increased and pronounced shortness of breath

Walking is the best exercise during pregnancy. Those who are at a risk of above mentioned conditions can do walking for at least 30 minutes in a day.

Post-Pregnancy: A no-fuss plan to get back into shape

dena — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:58:52 +0000

Congratulations! You have a new baby! Between taking care of your bundle of joy, keeping your house passably clean, perhaps taking care of other kids (and don’t forget the husband!) and various other duties, you barely find time to shower at the end of the day. So how is one expected to cook healthy, balanced meals and find time to exercise as well??

Nutritional therapist Kate Cook and postnatal fitness instructor Lucy Wyndham-Read have written a new book called An Unfit Mother: How to get your Health, Shape and Sanity back after childbirth. “New mothers need a no-fuss plan to take control, without beating themselves up about slip-ups along the way.” Sounds good, doesn’t it?

So how do you prevent yourself from feeling knackered (they’re British chicks. They use funny words)? Here are a few helpful tips, courtesy of Keep the Doctor Away:

Get motivated! Start making really small changes rather than trying to tackle a huge health program. You can easily feel overwhelmed at this time, and are much more likely to stick to the small changes and get bigger results.

Eat right! Don’t fall into the trap of snacking on junk because you don’t have time to prepare food. Instead, snack on “superfoods” such as nuts and seeds. They’re “full of zinc, a great food to balance the blood sugar and to ward off the blues.”

Forget the gym; exercise at home! You can tone your body with simple exercises such as this one: Start knitting the abdominals back to their pre-pregnancy state by simply pulling your belly button in tight towards your spine and holding for up to 10 seconds, then release. Do this several times a day. Not only does it tone your deepest abdominal muscle, but it will also help strengthen your lower back and improve your posture. You can start right now, as you read this!