Losing the baby belly...as easy as one, two, three?

Your dream is just like that scene from the Wizard of Oz.

"Just click those ruby red slippers three times, and you'll be able to wish that baby belly fat away," says the good witch of the North. And sure enough, that sagging belly (that seems to rapidly descend northwards with each day passing since the birth of your baby more than eight months ago) just...magically...disappears!

Well, it's time to snap out of that dream and face reality.

Because while you might be feeling proud about every weight gain of your baby, and loving every pudgy, baby roll on their thighs, you're probably feeling the exact opposite about yourself. And, unfortunately, there is no magic cure for getting your pre-baby body or belly back. It's all about consistency over time - in what you eat, in gaining muscle strength, and it also comes down to how often you exercise, how hard you work, how long the workout lasts for, and what sort of exercise it is that you're doing.

Confused? Don't be. Here's top 5 tips to get you started to SUSTAINABLE baby belly fat loss:

1. Don't read women's magazines with stories about celebrities who are the shape of Chupa Chups with gravity-defying boobs within weeks of giving birth. Let's fact it: they're rich and pampered - can afford a series of full-time trainers and nutritionists - and what on earth are they REALLY doing to their bodies...you can bet they can't sustain it! Push it far from your mind!
2. Cut out or reduce the amount of refined carbohydrates you eat, as they are the single biggest reason for adding fat around your waistline. Choose vegetables every time over pies, pastries and cakes. I know the latter seem more appealing...but will they get you the body your want???
3. It's time to get some huff and puff going. Walk with the pram, run, swim - anything that increases your aerobic fitness at least three times a week. Your body needs this regular workout to increase your metabolic rate and burn more kilojoules. Start slowly and vary the intensity of your workouts.
4. Add some weights to your routine. Being more toned will help you burn fat even while you are feeding your baby, or sitting at your desk or watching TV. Start with your own body weight. Do push-ups, lunges, squats - anything that recruits the larger muscle groups at once. Do them in the middle of your cardio routine or when you return home after your walk.
5. Remember the energy equation: if you eat more than you use, you will gain weight. Fat intake has more kilojoules than other nutrients. So if you reduce your fat intake, but not necessarily the food portions, you reduce total kilojoules (energy).