Vanessa Minnillo, who won over Nick Lachey’s heart after his messy divorce from Jessica Simpson, shared a family photo recently which displayed a very round, very full belly (I refuse to use the term “baby bump”, because ew). And she’s not even due until September, which makes me wonder just how big that belly’s going to get.

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While it’s usually difficult to get back into shape after having a baby (unless you’re Heidi Klum), Minnillo had a pretty good jumping off point, so there’s no doubt she’ll be back to fighting weight in no time. For those of us who don’t have celebrity trainers, however, it’s not always so easy, or so quick. Here are ten tips for losing that weight and staying healthy after your baby is born, courtesy of Health-Mind-Body.

1. First of all, give yourself some time. The most important thing to be concerned about is the baby. Your body also needs some rest after nine months of sharing a body. Give it two or three months at the least before you think seriously about starting your weight-loss regimen.

2. Start slowly. The only way to stick with an Exercise plan is to ease into it. Women who dive head first into exercise may get discouraged by aches and pains.

3. Don’t have unrealistic expectations. It takes time to get up enough energy to do a full workout and to lose the weight. Avoid discouragement by having small goals.

4. Do something that you love to do. You may have to work back up to it but that’s okay. If you love jogging, start out walking until you are ready to jog. Exercise for the sake of exercise will not keep you going.

5. Exercise at least three days a week to begin with. Twenty to thirty minutes three days a week will help you lose weight and keep your heart and lungs in shape. Leave a day of rest in between each workout so your body can recover.

6. Eat a healthy diet. Part of the weight-loss equation is eating the right foods. Avoid processed foods, even healthy sounding ones in the frozen food aisle. If you are breastfeeding it is important to choose carefully. Fresh fruits, whole grains, plenty of vegetables and lean meats are good for a start. Keep it wholesome for you and your baby.

7. Don’t neglect working out at home. You don’t need a fancy gym to get the exercise that you need. Pop in a video or walk around the neighborhood. The important thing is to keep moving and burn those calories.

8. Integrate your baby into the exercise. You have a built-in workout partner. Place him in a stroller and get moving. Strap on a baby harness and hit the mall.

9. Make it a family affair. Get the whole family moving for their Health. Do you have older children? Take a hiking day trip on the weekend.

10. Integrate weight training. When you are ready, lifting weights will burn more calories than just aerobic activity alone. Buy a pair of dumbbells and perform a workout at home. FIRM has great DVD workouts that combine aerobics with weights for faster results.