In this article we'll look at nutrition in general for weight loss and weight management. Some aspects may need to be modified when we consider individual phases of motherhood in later chapters, but the main principles as discussed here will still be appropriate.

Nutrition For Weight Loss

In general, nutrition for weight loss or weight management is the same as nutrition for good health. In essence this means:

These principles apply generally throughout the stages of motherhood, from planning a pregnancy to after delivery.

Food Volume And Weight Loss

Despite the hype about different types of diets for weight loss, the issue basically boils down to volume of food consumed in terms of total energy(calories or kilojoules).

Which can be expressed as:

Volume = Energy density (kcals/g) x Portion size (g)

There are many different ways in which volume can be decreased, some of which are associated with the type or amount of foods eaten, and others with the management of hunger.

New mothers and mothers-to-be do need to eat more than most other women. But for many women in modern Australia, the problem comes with eating not just enough more, but eating too much more. It may be quite unnecessary to drastically increase food intake during pregnancy particularly for those who are already overweight. More important is a varied diet and an adequate volume of food for the long-term benefits of both mother and child. Here we consider the main factors accepted scientifically as influencing food volume and quality.

Increasing Dietary Fibre

Fibre is mostly the stringy part of foods, like the bits of an orange that hold it together, or the bran on the outside of a grain. There are different types of fibre, but for our purpose here we'll consider them all together and make the assumption that most high fibre, low energy dense foods, such as fruits and vegetables, come from plants. However fibre also exists in some manufactured foods, such as bread, pasta and cereals.

Through increasing your fibre intake you'll decrease your fat intake, and thus have a double effect on your excess body weight. A simple formula is to eat at least three different fruits and four different vegetables a day, and to increase your intake of pasta, breads (without spreads) and cereals.

David Billy knows the importance of a healthy body. For meal plans that will help you lose excess pounds, see: 24/7 Fat Loss. Another good weight loss program to try is: 5-Tips-To Lose Stomach Fat.