The average weight gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds. If she was overweight before she got pregnant, she may have gained more. We are all familiar with the phrase “eating for two” and it is sometimes the case once you realize how much weight you have gained after having your baby. Regardless of how many pounds you gain, you definitely want to find a way to lose belly fat after baby.

The good news is that the fat around the belly (visceral fat) may be one of the first fats to burn compared to other areas of the body. The fat around our stomach reacts better in terms of physical activity. As you lose weight, you will most likely notice the reduction in your belly before any other area. Let’s take a look at the best way to start.

Your way of eating is the key

80% of your weight loss will be determined by your diet. The term diet does not refer to the fad diets you may find. The term is understood as a lifestyle change. For example, some people become vegetarians or raw vegans. Others simply choose to eat healthier. Those are examples of eating for life and not short term.

One diet I’ve been reading about is said to make losing fat almost effortless. It’s called the paleo diet or caveman diet. This way of eating avoids cereals, processed foods (bread, pastries, pasta, etc.) and refined sugar. Foods eaten on this diet include lean meat, fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts. I suggest doing a lot more research on this diet, but in my opinion, it is probably one of the best in terms of weight loss.

Do the exercises that burn fat the best

Women tend to enjoy cardiovascular exercise much more than weight lifting. While cardio can help you lose weight, it backfires if you get addicted to cardio and never strength train. Too much cardio can cause our bodies to draw energy from our muscles. However, we should build more muscle as it is much more effective in burning fat. A pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat.

You can combine cardio and weights for a full body workout. This is better known as interval training or circuit training. It is an efficient fat burning workout that takes no more than 45 minutes per session.