How Moms Can Manage Their Weight for Better Health and Well-being

Motherhood is transformative—not just emotionally, but physically. Aside from endearing signs like stretch marks, Parents Magazine reveals that your postpartum body may be a bit heavier due to your nutrition and activity levels going down during pregnancy. You may also lack sleep and become stressed as you navigate parenthood, further contributing to weight gain. If left unaddressed, this could lead to health consequences—such as diabetes, obesity, and fatigue. This is why weight management is vital for moms.

After all, our post “Top 25 Tips for Becoming a Better Mom to Your Young Children” notes the importance of self-care—including caring for your physical and mental well-being. When you’re healthy and full of energy, you can better care for yourself and your family.

Want to try managing your weight for better health and well-being? These tips tips to lose weight may help:

Track your meals to help with weight management

It can be tempting to sneak bites of your kids’ snacks or finish their leftovers after meals. Unfortunately, doing so too often—especially when it involves kid favorites like deep-fried and sugary goods—can contribute to weight gain.

To avoid going overboard, you can be more mindful of what you consume by tracking your meals with a journal or mobile app. For example, if you’ve been eating high-calorie foods lately, you can try incorporating more veggies and whole grains into your next meals. To remember to log your meals, place your food journal near your dining table, or set an alarm on your phone.

Incorporate physical activity into your daily tasks

Finding time to lift weights when you’re wrapped up in looking after the kids, going to work, and doing housework. So, instead of dedicating time just to working out, try incorporating more movement into your routine.

WebMD’s post on household chores reveals that you can burn up to 166 calories when vacuuming thanks to the back-and-forth arm movements it requires, while dishwashing is more involved and can burn up to 300 calories at a time. To upgrade these tasks, why not do squats when keeping clean pots under the sink or arm raises when storing plates in the cupboards? These clever strategies can make it easier to incorporate exercise into your life as a mom.

Get medical weight loss support if needed

Weight loss might still be challenging despite being mindful of your meals and incorporating exercise into your routine. Your genes, hormones, and struggles with managing your appetite can prevent you from seeing results. In these cases, you can ask your doctor for weight loss medication.

Two medicines you may be prescribed are liraglutide (Saxenda) and semaglutide (Wegovy). Here’s what you need to know about Saxenda vs Wegovy: the first requires daily injections, while the other is taken weekly. As a busy mom, it might be easier for you to remember taking Wegovy on a hectic schedule. Wegovy may also result in 20% more weight loss. Still, your healthcare provider’s prescription will depend on your medical history, insurance, and preference, so be sure to talk things over with them to find the most beneficial option for your needs.

Find a support group for weight management for moms

Weight management can be physically and emotionally challenging. Sticking to healthy eating and consistent exercising can be difficult, and not seeing results immediately can be frustrating. Having a support system on your journey to weight management and better health can make all the difference.

A study published in the Personal Relationships journal revealed that moms tend to disclose their struggles with others with whom they identified, as they want to maintain their positive self-presentation and avoid judgment from others. If you feel the same way, try searching for moms with similar experiences. Online groups like “Weight Loss Support Group for Busy Moms” and “Healthy Mommy Recipes, Exercises, Support & Plans” on Facebook can help you find like-minded moms who can give you advice, tips, and much-needed emotional support amid efforts for weight management.

Maintaining a healthy weight can be key to staying healthy for yourself and your family. Try these tips to improve your well-being as a mom today!

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!