Average Weight For Women

For many years, researchers have noted that people who live around the Mediterranean and stick closely to the traditional Mediterranean Diet have had lower incidences of Western world disease such as heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. A study into chronic disease prevention through the University of Florence has shown that this healthy diet has even more health benefits than originally thought.
A study from the University of Florence.
Researchers at the University of Florence, Italy, tracked over 1.Over an approximate period of eighteen years their were five million people participating. Interestingly, one of the items studied and graded was the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the cuisine they used most often. Data was compiled from 12 international studies.
The study findings were published in the British Medical Journal Sept, 2008.
Disease prevention findings.
The research has shown that following the principles of the Mediterranean Diet relatively strictly has a significant impact on reducing chronic and serious diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and heart disease.
Adhering closely to the traditional Mediterranean Diet saw a 6% decrease in cancer levels, 13% decrease in both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and a 9% reduction incardiovascular disease. Researchers noted that: A Mediterranean diet eating programme has been found clinically relevant it seems for public health and is encouraged to help prevent major chronic diseases.”
What is the Mediterranean diet?
Fresh fruits, grains, fish, vegetables, nuts and extra virgin olive oil are the base platform that make up the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean Diet plan is based on a low consumption of dairy, meat, and alcohol. Mediterranean food is rich in natural antioxidants andmonounsaturated fats, as found in olive oil, canola oil, and flax seed oil.
Conclusion.
Significant reduction in Parkinson’s, cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s can be achieved by following a traditional Mediterranean diet. That tapas plate just keeps looking better and better. The Mediterranean diet is now also used in many circles for weight management due to its healthy supply of the required or necesssary properties to ensure healthy weight loss when consumed in moderate amounts. Unlike the many weight loss diets in the market place, this traditional diet means the person dieting does not have to go without essential elements from the food pyramid, allowing dieting in a healthy manner.

The Seven Basic Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in Body Building

Introduction

As we move forward into the 21st century, more and more men and women are involving themselves in body building. In order to be successful at body building, a person needs to coordinate an ambitious exercise routine with an appropriate diet regimen. In the end, body building success depends as much upon what you do with your body in a gym as it does with what you put into your body at home.

Certain diet routines and plans have proven to be beneficial directly to the goals of body builders. One regimen that contains the elements of health eating that are essential for a dedicated body builder is found in the Mediterranean diet.

The Mediterranean diet is a perfect choice for an ardent body builder for seven basic reasons.

??Body Building and Fruits and Vegetables

Nutrition experts believe that a typical diet should include at least five servings of fruits and vegetables during the course of a given day. A body builder needs to more than double this amount of fruits and vegetables. In this regard, the Mediterranean diet is ideal. In the Mediterranean diet, a person typically consumes upwards to over ten generous servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

In body building, it is recommended that the fruits and vegetables included within the diet be taken in raw. (Steamed vegetables are acceptable. However, over steaming can result in a loss of some of the nutrients that naturally are contained in fruits and vegetables.)

??Body Building and Raw Foods

Various raw foods, including fruits and vegetables, are also rich in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants “clean up” oxidants that can form in the body. Oxidants are the negative byproduct of oxygen burnt within the body for energy. Anti-oxidants assist a body builder on many fronts, including lessening muscle atrophy which can be a significant problem in a body builder as he or she ages.

??Benefits of Protein for the Body Builder

Protein is the essential ingredient necessary to build body mass — which is the ultimate goal of the body building in training. Through the Mediterranean diet, a person interested in pursuing a healthy course of body building can take in protein through lean meats and whole grains.

??Embracing a Diet Low in Saturated Fat

Saturated fats are destructive to any reasonable body building routine. Obviously, one of the ultimate goals of body building is to eliminate unnecessary and unwanted fat from the body.

While working out is a surefire way of eliminating fat, it is also important for a body builder to elect a dieting course that is low in saturated fat. The Mediterranean diet fits this bill perfectly. Although a person utilizing the Mediterranean diet will be taking in calories from fat — primarily from olive oil which is used effusively in the diet regimen — the that is being ingested is not saturated.

??Satisfying the Energy Demands of the Active Body Builder

A person following the Mediterranean diet draws in calories and “energy food” from three primary sources:

– carbohydrates

– protein

– unsaturated fat

The key benefit to the Mediterranean diet is rooted in the fact that it is balanced and draws energy in appropriate proportions from these three dietary sources. Because the diet is balanced by definition, your body does not end up operating “out of whack.” Through the Mediterranean diet you are able to obtain the extra energy boosts necessary for body building without causing your overall caloric and energy levels to end up out of balance.

??Body Building and Moderate Portion Sizes

The key to establishing a beneficial diet to advance body building goals is eating in moderation at each meal. In addition, a body builder should elect to eat smaller meals throughout the day. Rather than the standard three square meals a day, a body builder is best served by eating six smaller, evenly spaced out meals throughout the day.

??Diet Balance is Always the Key

In the end, the reason that the Mediterranean diet is so beneficial to body builders is precisely the same reason that it is a perfect plan for healthy eating for “average folk.” The Mediterranean diet is a solid plan because it consists of healthy food items eaten in balanced, appropriate proportions throughout the course of the day.

Four Points to Remember Regarding the History of the Mediterranean Diet

Introduction

Over the course of the past decade, more and more people in different parts of the world have become aware of the Mediterranean diet regimen. Because the Mediterranean diet has been gaining attention internationally in recent years, many men and women have concluded that the Mediterranean diet is a newly developed dietary program.

In reality, the Mediterranean diet is of ancient origin. The Mediterranean diet scheme has been followed by people who live in the region of the Mediterranean Sea for over two thousand years.

??The Birth of the Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet in the substantial form that it is in today really had its origins well over two thousand years ago. The Mediterranean diet coalesced in about the Fourth Century BC. During this time period, the people of the Roman Republic and of other nation-states located in and around the Mediterranean region began subsisting upon low fat fish, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The principle ingredient in all cooked food was olive oil. As a consequence, the diet common to people in this region 2,500 years ago was very similar to the Mediterranean diet regimen of the 21st century.

??The Early Spread of the Mediterranean Diet

Throughout the period of the Roman Empire and Roman Republic, the Mediterranean diet spread throughout the regions that were under Roman rule — representing the first time that the Mediterranean diet garnered “international” attention.

As the Roman Empire expanded, so did the breadth of the Mediterranean diet. Throughout the Empire, people of all nationalities began to adopt the dining practices of the Mediterranean region.

??Recognition of the Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in the 20th Century

The Mediterranean diet attracted the attention of men and women in different countries around the world in the 20th century beginning in 1945. At that time, a medical doctor by the name of Ancel Keys began encouraging his own patients to follow the Mediterranean diet. Although located in the United States, the practices of Dr. Keys caught the interest of other medical professionals and nutritionists in different countries around the world.

Throughout the 20th century and on into the 21st century, researchers began to realize that the Mediterranean diet had significant health benefits, including the reduction of the risks of certain diseases including cancer, cardiovascular and heart disease, hypertension and some other ailments.

??The Mediterranean Diet: The 21st Century and Beyond

With more and more men and women becoming concerned about the impact their diet has on health and longevity, a growing number of people are finding themselves attracted to the Mediterranean diet regimen. As more benefits are found to be associated with the Mediterranean diet program, even a larger number of people are expected to flock to the regimen in the coming decade.

A weight loss diet is often considered as an essential means of shedding your extra kilos. In case you happen to be obese and are looking for a suitable solution to loosing your excessive fat, you need to look forward to a suitable weight loss diet. Weight loss diets are supposed to be effective as they are natural and can be implemented from home with ease. At the same time, weight loss diets also involve the need for you to research well before taking in any dietary caution. Well, let us now study some of the important reasons on how weight loss diets can actually help you shed your excessive fat with ease.
It Is A Natural Process
The biggest advantage of using a weight loss diet plan is that it is completely natural and free from any harmful side effects. As compared to the usual “over the counter” medications, the weight loss diet plan is supposed to be an effective means of shedding your excessive kilos with ease. A healthy weight loss diet ensures that you regularize your metabolism the natural way and avoid the intake of harmful medications for doing the same.
Healthy Weight Loss Diet Is A Fast Acting Formula
Most people are of the belief that a fast weight loss diet is non-existent in nature. Well, this is not true. If you wish to achieve rapid weight loss, then there is a fast weight loss diet as well. You can simply opt for it and achieve your weighty goals at warps speed. Through the means of valid antioxidants and dietary fiber, not only can you achieve your weight related goals with ease, you can also manage to maintain a healthy skin tone as well. Likewise, as compared to most fat reducing pills, a weight loss diet plan is supposed to work at a faster pace.
Diet For Weight Loss Is Permanent
In case you are overweight and you are looking for a permanent solution for your weighty goals, you need to try and adopt a suitable diet for weight loss. While a vegetarian formula is supposed to be the fastest acting formula for shedding those extra pounds, you need to first turn vegetarian in order to adopt it. Vegetarian weight loss diet is therefore considered to be a permanent solution to your weight loss goals and it can be followed with ease. On the other hand, if you use fat loss pills and related “over the counter” medicines to achieve weight loss, the chances are that you may achieve short term results and loose out on your long terms goals. Hence, it pays to stick to a diet solution program.
Weight Loss Diet Program Is Affordable
The biggest advantage of using a weight loss diet program over any other means of loosing weight is that, it is affordable in nature. While dieting pills are considered to be expensive, weight loss diets are considerably less expensive and easy to manage. Moreover, they are permanent solution to your weight related goals. Hence, if you wish to reduce your weight and maintain the lost weight for ever, it is always advisable that you choose to remain with a rapid weight loss diet.
It Does Not Involve Any Professional Assistance
As compared to the traditional methods, which include making use of a gym and taking pills to reduce weight, a rapid weight loss diet does not involve the need for professional coaching. It does not include the need for a trained nutritionist or a personal coach as well. You can simply achieve your goals through the means of a well written manual.

Very Real Dangers Of Dieting and the Yo-Yo Diet Effect
We all need to pursue a healthy lifestyle and of course a healthy lifestyle includes a healthy diet. That may be stating the obvious but people adjust their diet for many different reasons and those reasons do not always relate to health.
We all know that diets can be unhealthy. Indeed, taken to the extreme they can be downright dangerous. Even if you engage in what you may regards as a healthy diet the danger still remains that you can be off a diet and on a diet. This syndrome is known as “yo-yo dieting”.
Following one unsuccessful diet after another leads to, at the very least, a loss of self-esteem and a feeling of failure. These negative emotions can develop into a depressive emotional state. This is partly due to the change in eating habits but moreover it is to do with the continued experience of failure due not achieving eight loss goals.
The Cycle of “Lose it Gain It”
Fad diets are of no use whatsoever. Weight lost is very soon regained and the never-ending circle of the dieter’s treadmill begins all over. Most people who go on a specific diet fail to realise that the most important thing is not a diet change but a lifestyle change. They need to change their whole outlook to life in general and to food in particular. A life style change is the only way to pursue a healthy dieting regime. This is the sole way of eliminating fad, yo-yo dieting from your life once and for all. A healthy lifestyle-eating plan will eliminate the fad diet and set you at liberty to follow the healthy diet.
People seem to jump in and out of diets at a whim and the concept of healthy dieting is ignored totally. Even people who are not overweight go on diets for some unknown reason. When one person loses a little weight on a diet everyone around that person wants to try the same diet. They will stick with this diet for a couple days or a week and then go back to normal eating and behaviours until the next diet comes around. Some people start a new diet every Monday only to be off the diet by Tuesday or Wednesday. The problem with this crazy way of eating is that there are some very real dangers of dieting and the different fad diets that become popular.
Frequent Weight Changes Due to Unhealthy Diet
A constant and dramatic change in body weight can, over a period of time effect the health of the bodies regular functions, the major body organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, are susceptible to these constant alterations to the metabolism. Constant and dramatic changes in body make up can adversely affect the function of the organs. Indeed, it is probably better to remain a little overweight but remain constant than to be forever losing and then gaining body fat. This is not a healthy diet.
The Danger of Malnutrition While Dieting
Obviously the body does not want to find itself malnourished. Yet this is exactly what most dieters are doing to themselves while they are dieting in an unhealthy manner. They seek inadvertently to cut out the very foods that the body needs to function effectively. To totally eliminate all fats from the diet is not sensible. In the same vein we need carbohydrates; the very thing that some diets seek to eradicate completely. Following a diet like this is not healthy dieting at all.
The Healthy Diet and Eating Disorders
Anorexia and bulimia are the Bain of modern society and the scourge dieters in the west. These two, avoidable and life threatening conditions are modern phenomena and are due to our unhealthy fascination with looks and the attraction of the cult of celebrity.
This psychological disorder will not be helped in any way by dieting but requires counselling and psychological intervention. Without help people with these dangerous dieting disorders can face serious health issues including death.
Dieting can be dangerous and needs to be taken seriously. Fad diets should be avoided and people with serious weight issues should seek medical help. Successful weight loss will only occur with serious commitment and life style changes.

Many people are confused about how low carb diets work. It doesn’t make sense to them that you can eat more fat and protein than is traditionally called for and still lose weight. A low carb diet plan greatly restricts the amount of carbohydrates you consume, as compared with a traditional North American diet, or even compared with a low fat diet. While our bodies would usually burn stored carbohydrates for energy, low carb eating forces the body to burn more stored fat instead. When this happens, your body produces chemicals called “ketones”. Ketones result when your kidneys convert fat to soluble waste. Getting your body to reach this point is one of the goals of a low carbohydrate diet.There is a scientific reason behind the development of this diet. Dr. Robert Atkins first introduced the concept of eating a low carbohydrate diet in the 1970s. He noticed that primitive people consumed a diet of mostly meat, vegetables and some fruit.

Because this diet was in existence for thousands of years before the development of agriculture, Atkins concluded that the reason most people had difficulty losing weight and keeping it off is that we are eating contrary to the way our digestive system is set up. In other words, our bodies do not support eating wheat, barley and other grains and sugars. In the 1990s the diet seemed to be rediscovered and became known as the Atkins New Diet Revolution. Since the reemergence of the Atkins diet, other low carb diets have been developed that are variations of it. The Zone Diet, the Stillman Diet, the Hollywood Diet, the Ketogenic Diet and the South Beach Diet are all based on the idea of eating fewer carbohydrates. They all advise eating more protein and limited carbs and inducing the body to burn its own fat. Low carb diet plans differ somewhat in the amount of carbohydrates they allow, but all advise cutting out all white or starchy foods. The most strict is the 20 gram per day carb limit of the initial stage of Atkins, plus some of the other diet plans. The 20 grams is generally derived from salads and non-starchy vegetables, plus the trace amounts of carbs in sauces, dressings and cheeses. In the first stages of a low carbohydrate diet, dieters are not allowed to have any milk, fruits, grains, cereals, pasta, breads or “high glycemic index” vegetables such as potatoes, peas, corn and carrots. The missing carbs are replaced with ample amounts of protein. This is a very low amount of carbohydrate when compared with the large amounts of pasta and grains advised by traditional low fat diet recommendations, so this diet has become quite controversial. Butter is also included, which is another reason for the controversy over low carbohydrate eating plans. The butter is recommended because fat slows down the absorption of carbohydrates into the body and helps to maintain an even blood sugar level. The whole idea behind Dr. Atkins original principal is that it we gain weight in our Western world because our blood sugar levels are allowed to go too high by eating too much high starch food. Control the carbohydrate levels and you control weight much more easily. Much research has shown this to be true. Of course opposing research has been done too, so the controversy continues to some extent, although it is generally acknowledged by all now that the high carb recommendations of the past were incorrect. The great difficulty of any severely restricted diet is that most people can end up regaining much of their lost weight because of difficulty adhering to the restrictions over the long-term. This can ultimately result in rebound weight gain and is the reason that the modified versions of Atkins diet have evolved. The Atkins diet itself though, does gradually increase the amount of carbohydrates you consume as you complete your weight loss, to avoid the extremes of losing then regaining weight. Is it right for you?

This menu is great for you to feel light all throughout the day while losing weight. You will lose a whole lot of weight while doing this diet plan. Also this diet plan will keep your energy levels high and stress level low. It has all the right nutrients which your body requires. Most diet plans make you feel irritable and hard to follow since you want to cope up with work pressures to try this diet plan. For breakfast have a slice of whole wheat bread this will give you the energy you require.

You can add a glass of orange juice with this. Breakfast is essential for you to lose weight also to give you the energy your fast paced day requires. In winters you can have boiled egg with your whole wheat slice. Mid morning snack could be a glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice. This will give you the energy while giving your body the minerals it requires. For lunch you should have a large bowl of salad with roasted vegetables or a baked potato.

You can add vegetable soup to the menu or a bean soup. Make sure you have a glass or two of water for lunch time. You add the lemon flavor to your salad or your soup. For mid afternoon snack you can have a cup of green tea since it is full of antioxidants and make you feel relaxed. If you do not want to have that you can have fresh nuts such as brazils, almonds, or walnuts. These will give you the power and energy to deal with all the day’s work. For dinner you can have fish or a huge salad bowl filled with all the green vegetables. Fish and chicken are ideal for dinner time meals. You can also sprinkle some ground sesame seeds or croutons to change the taste. You can also try a home made soup or a home cooked pasta.

I know you are making these fat loss mistakes because I did too! Based on my experience from losing over 80 pounds and finally keeping it off, here are some tips for avoiding these common dieting mistakes.

YOU ARE TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH TOO SOON

Trying to go from Sedentary Slob to Super Dieter on a Monday morning? Not so smart. It is a great way to ensure you will be back to the couch by mid-day Wednesday. You can’t expect to undo years worth of damage overnight.

If you typically eat three meals per day, start slowly by adding a snack – either in the morning or the afternoon, then work your way to six small meals every 2-3 hours. This approach to fat loss is called kaizen, a Japanese philosophy that focuses on continuous improvement throughout all aspects of life. Making a small change once a day or once a week leads to a constant state of improvement.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE QUICK FIX

I was convinced I had a Loch Ness Monster in my colon and that was making me fat! But the colon cleanser I purchased only left me with a very sore butt, some leafy-looking things in the toilet and not a single pound lost.

Now I was convinced that I needed a super-duper-ultra fat burner – one that would melt away the fat while I sat on my butt doing nothing!

After thousands of dollars and lots of false hope, I realized that the only way I was going to achieve the lean body that I desired was to come up with a solid nutrition and exercise plan, and to add supplements that were backed by solid science.

YOU ARE LETTING OTHERS KNOCK YOU OFF-TRACK

My family is full of enablers – they mean well, but they were not sensitive to the fact that I was serious about staying on track with my weight loss diet. “C’mon a little bit won’t hurt” or “you can diet tomorrow” was all it took to convince me to eat. Within 30 minutes I had eaten myself stupid and undone all of the positive progress that I had spent the past week achieving.

Let those around you know how important it is for you to lose weight and what it means to both you, and them, if you do not achieve your goals.

YOU ARE NOT GETTING BACK “ON THE WAGON” IMMEDIATELY AFTER FALLING OFF

I would usually fall off my diet toward the end of any given week. It was at that point that I rationalized that, since I was “off the wagon” I would wait until Monday to get started again!

This probably won’t come as a big shock, but science now has proven that weekends can wreak havoc on your waistline. That was the conclusion of Washington University researchers, who found that even people on strict diet and exercise programs lose weight more slowly than expected because they eat more on weekends.

The verdict: People don’t need a holiday to eat more; they tend to do it every weekend because human lifestyle patterns can be very different.

There were two key takeaways for me from this:

1.The best time to get back “on the wagon” was at your next meal – do not wait until you’ve done more damage. 2. Do not let the weekends be different than any other day – stick with your plan whether it is a Saturday or a Wednesday

YOU ARE TRYING TO BE PERFECT EVERY DAY

Life is not perfect – and your diet plan shouldn’t be either. You can’t expect yourself to follow your program to the letter every second of every day until you reach your goal. If you do, you will ultimately fail. That is why you need to apply the 90/10 rule to your nutrition and exercise.

The 90/10 rule is very simple – if you are following your weight loss diet plan 90% of the time, then you will not be hurt by the 10% of the time that you are not. Your weight loss diet should include a minimum of 5 meals per day, with 6 meals being ideal. Following the 90/10 rule with 6 meals a day (or 42 meals a week) means that you have 4 meals a week where you can go off your program without halting progress, as long as those meals are reasonable.

Same rules apply to exercise. Let’s say your schedule permits you to work out 4 days per week. So in a month, you have 16 workouts – and following the 90/10 rule, you can miss 1 or 2 workouts without derailing yourself. However, you should save your “skips” for times when you really need to skip – like a poor night’s sleep, illness, or hectic travel schedule.

YOU ARE NOT SETTING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

It took you your entire life to get to this point, and you expect to reverse all of the damage in 3 weeks? That is what a lot of diet products would like you to believe.

You absolutely MUST set goals, but they MUST be realistic. What is realistic? one to two pounds of fat per week is a reasonable goal. The more you have to lose, the higher you can set your expectation. But if you are approaching double-digits with your expectations, you are setting yourself up for failure.

There are hundreds of diet plans out there telling you the same, but they are not as easy to follow as they seem. But this diet plan will not make you starve, if you follow it exactly meaning no cheating, no adding your own food, it is guaranteed you will lose weight. Now how much weight you will lose is up to your body type. You can lose from a minimum of 2 pounds to a maximum of 7 to 10 pounds in a week.. Yes it works so here is your diet plan.

when you wake up you have two glasses of water or a cup of green tea whichever one you prefer but make sure you add lemon to the water and to the green tea. After ten to fifteen minutes you will prepare your breakfast. Now you can not skip breakfast. You will have a glass of low fat milk and bran flakes for cereal. If you truly hate this breakfast then the alternative could be an 1 large apple. But a fiber based breakfast is preferred. For mid morning snack before lunchtime you can have a glass of low fat milk again. Before you start your lunch you will have a glass of skim milk again, and start your lunch. You can not have any water during your lunch meal. remember your lunch has to be completed within 40 minutes and you can not leave out any food from the plan. On days 1, 4 and 7: (this is a seven day menu) for lunch you will have: one bowl of salad, no dressing you can add one teaspoon of vinegar and lemon juice. One slice of cottage cheese, one slice of brown bread, 1 apple or guava, followed by green tea. For mid evening snack you can have a glass of milk again or if you want you can have your favorite green tea For dinner you will have : 4 oz steak (chicken or fish) Baked potato One glass of milk 1 grapefruit 1 cup green tea.

For days 2 and 5 you will have breakfast remains the same for lunch you will have: corn on the cob, one glass of milk, 2 apples, and green tea. Mid evening: a protein bar Dinner: a glass of milk Vegetable soup without corn flour as much as you want make sure you do not add any salt to the soup. And green tea.

On days 3 and 6: for breakfast you will have an egg, but you are suppose to make the egg in the microwave without adding any salt, you can add pepper and little bit of olive oil if you want. Lunch: 1 grapefruit 1 glass of milk 1 cup of low fat yogurt Grilled chicken sandwich in brown bread (you can also have 6 inch subway without the mayo)

It’s an obvious truth that after giving birth most women’s bodies make considerable adjustments. Broad hormonal changes are common and mood swings are not unusual. But one thing that many women will focus on (sometimes too much) is losing that weight and body fat gained during pregnancy.

In order to do that safely and in a way that produces beneficial long-term results, take it slow and steady. Weight reduction and regaining muscle tone after birth takes time.

Hype in the media about rapid weight loss after pregnancy is common. Articles are written on celebrity moms that show them making miraculous changes after birth to regain those million dollar figures.

But such individuals usually have better than average metabolic systems in the first place. That’s part of what gives them an edge in that profession.

They also have very expensive consultants, trainers and money to burn on equipment. The average women could forego a lot of needless guilt by not trying to emulate their results. Instead, focus on what’s normal and average for most new moms.

It generally takes up to 6 months for a woman’s body to return to ‘normal’ after giving birth. Normal, here, just means the average metabolic rate and hormonal amounts that were experienced before conception. In some areas, and to some degree, those norms may never return. Motherhood often produces some permanent changes.

Calorie reduction should not be an overriding concern during a period of breast feeding. Apart from the still-required (though somewhat less) additional amount of energy, the added stress of worrying about weight is not something new mothers need. Night feeding and continual round-the-clock care for a year or more is difficult enough without unnecessary, self-imposed psychological burdens.

For the first few months, the focus should be very much on eating a healthy diet. A 2000 calorie diet that includes 50% carbohydrates, 30% proteins, 10% fat with adequate fiber is a good common sense starting point.

Notice the numbers don’t add up to 100%. Every diet should leave some leeway for enjoyment, increase or decrease of the other factors, etc. Going to extremes is the most common mistake most make when considering nutrition.

Moderate exercise is good, but here again the keyword is ‘moderate’. New mothers are busy enough without having to worry about whether they are getting that 5-mile run in every morning. The focus should be on gradually increasing stamina, tone and overall fitness. The goals should be mood-elevation and general health, not looking like a movie star.

After a few months, the program can be stepped up to desired levels in a graded way. The average gain during pregnancy is between 25-35 lbs and during birth about 12-14 of this is lost immediately. The other 12-21 pounds can be shed over 6-8 months without risk. Take it slow and steady and your results will persist over the long term.