Postpartum Weight Loss- “How much should I exercise?”

To Sara: “I want to lose about 15 lbs.  I’ve already lost 20, but I can’t seem to budge the last 15.  I currently do some form of cardio–walking, jogging 5 times per week for 40 min..  How much more should I exercise to lose the last 15?”

From Sara: “Congrats on your initial weight loss!  Take that in first and be happy about your accomplishment of losing 20 lbs..  That’s really great!  It sounds like you are doing plenty of cardio.  I suggest 1. Mixing up your routine.  Implement short bursts of a quick paced jog (approx. 2-5 min.) followed by 10-15 min. of walking and repeat 2-3 times.  Or introduce hills or stairs into your workout.  Variety in your routine will help burn more calories and challenge your muscles for greater muscle tone. 2. Look at your diet.  Keep a journal for a week and notice if there are things you could change.  Could you cut out more sugar?  Cut down on your portions?  Small changes in your diet can result in significant weight loss results.