You just had a baby. Congratulations! You now have this tiny, wonderful little bundle of joy that will change your life forever. No more morning sickness, or cravings, or contractions, or eating for two. So now what? You no longer have the “I can eat whatever I want, I’m pregnant” excuse. You want your body back, but how? Achieving this goal requires creativity and discipline in several areas of your life. Here are some ways to help you along with your quest for your “hot mama” bod.

1. Breastfeed That Baby!

Breastfeed that beautiful baby of yours! I know, I sound like your O.B., midwife and nurses. But from a weight-loss standpoint, the average breastfeeding mother burns an extra 500 calories a day. This doesn’t mean you can continue to eat for two, but you can count on that calorie burning help when it comes to your goal. Just be for warned; when you do switch your baby to formula, be sure to cut your calorie intake or exercise more, or you will notice a bit of a weight backlash.

2. Exercise With Your Baby

Another way to rocket your way back to those skinny jeans is to exercise with your baby. You’re attached at the hip anyway, so why not use your little one to assist you in achieving your goal? There are many ways to do this. You can do it on your own by just going for a walk with baby in stroller or carrier, or by following along with a mommy and me exercise DVD. You can also do this in a group setting by joining stroller strides or a mommy and me group.

3. Eat Right

So you can breastfeed and do crunches until your heart’s content but if you don’t combine that with healthy eating, it will all be for not. The biggest mistake you can make is following the latest diet craze. Just eat fresh, homemade meals with a lot of variety and omit fast-foods, added sugars, and processed foods. I remember hearing this once: “Never eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”

4. Get Some Outside Help

If you’re being good and doing all of the above things, but you’d still like some outside help there are many options such as pills and stabilizing shorts.

There are obviously many ways to get rid of your pregnancy belly, but the important thing is to keep it simple and be persistent.