| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 |
---|---|---|---|
 | 8-12 weeks | 8 a 26 weeks | Up to close out |
Weight control | Initiating weight loss (up to 2Â kg/month while breastfeeding) when needed. | Achieving further weight loss to goal when needed/weight maintenance. | Maintaining weight (additional weight loss if needed). |
Goal: return to pre-pregnancy weight and, for those overweight or obese prior to pregnancy, loss of at least an additional 5Â % of body weight. | |||
Healthy eating | Developing healthy eating. | Overcoming difficulties to sustain healthy eating. | Maintaining healthy eating. |
Active life style | Developing an active lifestyle. | Developing an active lifestyle. | Maintaining/enhancing an active lifestyle. |
Goal: breaking up extended bouts of sitting with ambulatory activity; reducing sedentary behavior (defined as <5000 steps/day). | Goal: increasing physical activity to at least 150Â min of moderate or vigorous physical activity/week, or 7500 steps/day. |