Doing It Well?

Jennifer Lopez gained over 50 pounds before giving birth to twins in late February. Yet somehow, three weeks later, the new mom was close to her pre-pregnancy size when she made her first public appearance.

What? How is this possible? And more importantly, is this at all safe?

According to Dr. David Katz the pressure for celebrity moms to lose their baby weight too quickly causes them to forego health and safety. Rapid weight loss dries up breast milk’s nutrients. Baby weight should be shed safely with diet and exercise at about one pound per week.

In Lopez’s case, she was losing at a rate of about 10 pounds per week by exercising three hours every morning and limiting herself to a 1400 calorie diet. She also reportedly hired a small army of personal trainers and nutritionists. We're sure there must have been a night nurse and a few nannies in there—no sleep deprived new mom we know could hit the gym that hard!

So what can you do if you’re just a normal woman without expendable funds for trainers, dieticians, and plastic surgeons? For one, breastfeeding can help expend 500 calories a day, according to Dr. Katz. More ideas on how to lose your baby weight, such as starting a new mom walking group, can be found in this article by Suzanne McKeon.

What’s important is that you do find some time for yourself, as mysterious as that sounds, and focus on getting yourself back in shape the right way. Share your tips and tricks for shedding those post-baby pounds!