Battle Of The Bulge

The one thing that all new mothers have in common is their weight loss battle post delivery. Child brings you stories and tips from real moms who successfully shed those clingy kilos.

- Shubhreet Kaur

PREGNANCY is a wonderful time to get pampered. You become the centre of everyone’s world, and with good reason. It’s also a free pass for most of us to eat what we want and not bother about weight. But once the baby is here, the focus shifts to this new tiny life and you ignore your own needs in the process. Here, three moms share how they managed time for themselves and took charge of their mind and body while struggling with their babies. Read on to know how you can do it too.

THE FIGHTER

Divya Passi Bakshi, mom to Danika, 5, Pune

Bakshi found out that she was pregnant just a few months after her honeymoon. “The ‘eat for two’ theory was in full action and being in Delhi then, I enjoyed all cuisines the city had to offer,” she recalls. Even after Danika arrived in December when the winter was in full swing, Bakshi was fed marathon meals comprising methi/aloo paranthas with malai and butter, not to mention her grandmother’s favourite food for nursing moms—panjiri—loaded with sugar and nuts. All this resulted in this new mom, who used to be active and sporty, gaining 22 kgs. “I was very depressed. My husband was quite supportive but I felt I lost myself!” she says.

the turnaround moment:

Six months passed by with the baby like a roller coaster ride and Bakshi could do nothing about her post-baby fat. When she discovered one day that she could barely wear anything decent for a party that she had to attend, she decided it was time to sign up for a gym membership.

the right move: With a new motivation to focus on herself, Bakshi embarked on a journey to bring herself back on track. She started following a low-carb diet where rice and maida products were a complete no-no. But any number of wholewheat