A lot of people have asked me how I lost my baby weight so quickly, after both kids…Pretty simple method, mostly, I just ate sensibly, and moved my body every single day…
But, there are a few tricks that I learned along the way. I hope they prove useful in shedding those post baby pounds and getting you back into your skinny jeans by the time your little one is 6 months old.
1. Lose as much weight as possible while you are breastfeeding.
After you give birth and start breastfeeding your body is in a revved up metabolic state. Every ounce of breast milk your body produces burns 20 calories automatically. Add some moderately intense cardio to the mix and your guaranteed to lose 2 to 3 pounds a week.
2. Limit the butter (ghee), oil, sugar, and nuts. Instead, load up on fruits, veggies, seeds, beans and lentils, and eat in moderate portions…
A lot of our elders tell us that “ghee gives strength,” thus the importance of eating ghee or equivalent fats after delivery. According to the theory our bodies are tired and drained after delivery and ghee helps us regain the necessary strength to properly care of our little ones. This may have been true in the days before Amazon Fresh, when mothers foraged for food to nourish their young. Now I’m not so sure…. Our bodies have an amazing ability to heal themselves naturally. As long as we rest and nourish ourselves with healthy foods, we will recover, without compromising the quality of our breast milk… and many times faster than with foods that weigh us down.
3. Skip the liquid calories and drink a lot of water.
This is a good tip for life. Cut out the sodas and limit the fruit juices. They contribute high levels of calories that do nothing to satiate our bodies. Diet sodas fill our bodies with unnatural substances and promote hunger. Instead, try and eat whole fruit and vegetables… or blend them into a filling, fiber packed smoothie.
4. Try not to snack in-between meals. Drink a cup of green tea instead.
The whole theory of eating 6 small meals a day is a good one only if we are disciplined not to just eat junk all day. Usually this doesn’t happen. It’s better to eat 3 satisfying meals a day. Usually I will do a large freshly blended smoothie for breakfast, a large heathy salad for lunch, and cooked starchy and non starchy vegetables with some gluten free grains for dinner.
5. Say “no thanks” to dessert while you are trying to shed the pounds.
This is a hard one…. I’m not sure why, but most of us crave something sweet, specifically at night. Try, for 5 days, not to eat a sweet treat. Leave the kitchen and distract yourself with a good movie, book, or play with your kids. By the 6th day you probably won’t crave it anymore… and if you do, stick to a few small squares of high-quality rich dark chocolate, or a few dates. It’s will satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your weight loss goals.
6. Do some moderately high intensity cardio as many days of the week as possible.
Interval training is a great way to drop those extra pounds fast. An example on the treadmill would be alternating 0.1 mile slow jog/fast walk followed by 0.1 mile sprint for 2 to 3 miles without a break. There is something about the interval training that burns off the fat much faster then steady pace exercising, or exercising to hard for too long – but make sure it’s something you like to do, don’t torture yourself with grueling workouts that leave you feeling exhausted and in pain. Follow the cardio with ab work for 5 minutes and light 5 pound arm exercises.
On days I don’t feel like running, I opt instead for a 45 minute yoga routine. Go to a class, or pop in a video, and relax through the poses. Some yoga poses are very good for your abs (plank, boat pose). Yoga also helps center and calm the mind and body on days we are felling a little run-down or overwhelmed.
Find any type of workout routine that works best for you. The key is to get your body moving every single day, wither it’s high intensity burst training or lower intensity cardio or even yoga. Weight training is great if you have the time…time is the one thing that is hard to find these days so keep it short and do it as often as possible. Once you’re back at your ideal weight, start a longer course of strength training if you feel it appropriate.
7. Just because you’re a mom now, don’t give up on yourself.
As a mom, we are willing to give up a lot for our children including time, sleep, and even a few personal grooming habits. Many moms give up a positive self image as well, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can lose weight, feel great, live your life and still enjoy your family at the same time. Without a doubt!
8. Finally, find a little inspiration to get you going… and don’t get discouraged if you don’t lose weight fast enough… if you keep at it the pounds will come off.
