It can be really hard to lose weight after having a baby. With midnight feedings, eight loads of laundry a day, and even more diaper changes, eating healthy and exercising are probably the last things on your mind. Here are five ways to start getting rid of those extra pounds you put on during pregnancy. Remember: It took you nine months to put that weight on, so don't expect it to come off overnight. By Baby's first birthday, you'll be back to your previous svelte self if you use these simple tips.
Breast is Best
Breastfeeding has been proven over and over again to help you lose weight after having baby, not to mention all the great health benefits your baby gets. Breast truly is the best. To spare you all the science, think of it this way: Your baby will literally be sucking the fat out of you each and every time he or she nurses. Nursing burns up to 500 calories a day, so it's like exercising while you're sitting still. All that fat comes off of you and onto your baby, where it looks much cuter in the form of dimpled cheeks and chubby legs!
Take Your Baby Outside
When your doctor gives you the all clear to start exercising again (usually at around 6-8 weeks after you give birth), put your baby in the stroller or strap on a baby carrier and take a walk around the neighborhood.
Your baby will benefit from the fresh air and sensory stimulation, and you’ll be melting fat fast as you lug yourself and baby up some hills! Your baby keeps getting bigger, so your body will keep being challenged by his or her ever increasing weight. Also, look into a Mommy walking group in your area; a great one I found is Seemommyrun.com. Do this most days during the week, and you’ll see results in no time!
Snack the Weight Away
When you have a baby, it can be hard to eat healthy. You find yourself cramming whatever is easy into your face, whether that be leftover Chinese food from the fridge or the remains of the macaroni 
and cheese your kid didn’t finish. Make it's easy to eat healthy by making sure to keep your fridge and pantry stocked with easy snacks that you can easily grab on the go. Try roasted almonds, low-fat cheese, whole grain crackers, and air popped popcorn. To get your daily fruits and veggies, make sure you have some around that you enjoy and that are easy to eat out of hand. Slice some apples and keep them in the fridge. Buy platters of cut up veggies from the grocery store (or cut up your own) and enjoy them with a healthy dip like hummus or salsa.
Get Some Rest
It’s hard to get much rest when you’re waking up to a crying baby every few hours all night, but it’s important to try and get as much rest as you can. When you’re tired, your body wants more calories so you’ll have energy to stay awake, so you overeat. Try to take naps as often as you can or when the baby naps, and take up a soothing bedtime ritual, such as drinking herbal tea and leafing through a magazine, to help you relax and make the most of the sleeping time you do have.
Find a Community
Losing weight can be a struggle, and it helps to have a place where you can go and meet other people who are in the same boat. Try Weight Watchers, where you can go to meetings and get tips from instructors and people just like yourself on how to fight the daily battles that come with losing weight, like how to keep your hands off of the ice cream! Weight Watchers also has some great coupons, including 25% off on your first month of Monthly Pass. They even have a fun magazine with great advice on staying healthy and eating right, featuring celebrities who've lost weight with the program. Weight Watchers is so much more than someone telling you what to eat and when. It’s a community of people who can help you keep the weight off for life.
How have you lost weight after having a baby? Do you have any tricks that worked for you? A favorite healthy snack or exercise that you enjoyed? Please share!
