If you have been trying to get back into your skinny jeans post delivery but been having a hard time doing so, there may be a few things you are doing wrong. You should be aware that giving birth is traumatic on the body and need to give your body time to heal.

The first mistake anyone trying to lose weight makes is usually by setting their expectations too high. What this means is that there is this stigma that once you are on a ‘diet’ you should start magically dropping pounds. This often does not occur.

This is a common pitfall for people who are trying to loss weight. When you set your goals unrealistically high and you do not meet them, you are more likely to give up your weight loss attempt. You may find that lowering the amount of calories when you set high expectations is successful at first; you may find yourself overeating easily at any slight temptation.

The bottom line is when you set high expectations that are often unrealistic you are just setting yourself up for failure. If you really want to thin out of your maternity wear you have to set realistic goals for your weight loss. In addition to setting your own goals, make sure you consult your personal doctor to ensure you are proceeding in a healthy manner.

Arrange your goals so that that are in small increments of fat loss. Be realistic and aim to lose only 10 percent of your overall body fat as a starter goal. This is an achieveable goal and you can work toward it easier than you would if you were considering a larger number of body fat loss.

Losing between 1-2 pounds on a weekly time table should help you reach your goal steadily. This also helps you put your weight loss schedule in perspective. For instance, if you need to lose 30 pounds you should allow yourself around 3 months to do so. Exercising more and eating less (ideally both simultaneously) will speed up this process. You can aim to loss between 500-1000 calories on a daily basis.

Always celebrate your small successes. Instead of waiting to lose all of your desired weight, celebrate each time you lose 5 pounds. This will keep you feeling motivated when you know you have reached a milestone.

Keep a fitness and health journal. This will help you track your exercise and eating habits. You can watch as your food lists get shorter and your work outs get longer. When you drop weight steadily you are more likely to retire your overweight clothes permanently behind the old portable space heater in your closet.