Weight gain during pregnancy is cute isn't it? There's that little
bundle of joy all snug inside of Mom's belly, and even if Mom has blown
up to the size of a house, it's really all about the baby. After baby's
arrival, however, the baby weight that was so cute just a month ago is
suddenly your worst enemy. Many women struggle to return to
pre-pregnancy weight after baby makes his or her appearance, and if Mom
and Dad want more babies... well, let's just say for some, it means a
new-ahem--larger wardrobe. For good. Adios skinny jeans...
I
am acutely aware that this reality is painful for some of you. Even
reading the paragraph above might sting. I am not here to make light of a
tender situation. I am here to get you to think about a solution.
Perhaps you already have. Has it worked? Does it require more than you
are prepared to give? What does it change? Your body? Your mind? Your
behaviors? I want to help you by offering 3 shortcuts that will get you
started. I'm not promising the body of your dreams in the next 3 weeks. I
don't have pills. I'm not a personal trainer. I don't have a Master's
Degree in nutritional counseling or psychology. But I do have hope. I have hope for you mamas who are desperately trying to get that baby weight off so you feel like yourself again. I know.
I've
been there. And let me give you a bit of encouragement: you are an
awesome mama. Taking care of your minis is priority #1. Yay for you! But
the reality is that when you are taking care of yourself, you can take
care of your minis better. More energetically. With more patience. With greater attention to their needs. So let's get started...
1. Increase your protein.
Many women struggle with weight loss because they don't understand the
necessity of protein and the role it plays in their bodies. There is
mounting evidence that eating a high protein diet (roughly 90 grams
distributed evenly throughout the day) contributes to long-term weight
loss and overall health. Consider the following research-based ideas:
• High protein diets offer a high satiety value, so it helps us feel fuller longer and helps reduce cravings.
• High protein diets help us retain muscle as we lose weight.
• Higher protein diets support a higher metabolic rate, so more calories are burned throughout the day.
*Little hint: the kind of protein you consume does
matter. But we can talk about that later. For now, just focus on
increasing yours by consuming all-natural protein with as little
processing as possible.
2. Add weight training to your exercise regimen.
Aren't exercising at all? Start with weight training. In contrast to
cardio training, weight training increases your metabolic rate 24 hours a
day. Translation: you will burn more calories at rest than someone who
only does cardio training exercise. The result? Greater and faster
weight loss after baby, or anytime. Added bonus: Definition!
3. Clean up your diet. Aren't eating whole, organic meats, fruits, and veggies? I could write a book on this without special training,
but I'll leave you with this one thought: who do you think the
chemicals, pesticides, fungicides, hormones, and GMOs benefit? You, the
consumer? Think again. Get clean, people. And miraculously, you will
lose the headaches, anxiety, and yes, baby weight that led you here in the first place.
