My Journey Back after Baby #2.

Here is my quick disclaimer before we get started: I am a certified ACSM Personal Trainer and work as a Wellness Instructor at a local retirement community. I am not a registered dietitian or a doctor and everything I write about is what has worked for me, my family and my clients. Although I attempt to do the most accurate research on anything I promote or on any of the changes I've made in my family's life, I'm always open to learning more! 

As I stated before, pregnancy isn't good to me... or maybe I'm not good to it. I don't know, I think there's a little bit of both. If you've seen me pregnant, you've seen me grumpy and hangry. As a fitness professional, I'd like to think that I did what your supposed to... gain the correct amount of weight, eat the healthiest foods, and prepare in the most proper of ways. I did just the opposite and I ended up here:

Both times.

While I don't mind sharing how much weight I gained in each pregnancy, I walk the fine line of being encouraging or DIScouraging, so we'll skip the whole number thing altogether. Because when it comes to weight, numbers aren't everything. 

So after baby number two, I knew the drill, knew (and constantly reminded myself) that it was going to take some time and I'm still doing that because I'm only 6 months out. I have no magic formula (because there is no magic formula) to weight loss. No shakes, detox diets, pills or a single workout can ever replace hard work, lifestyle changes and discipline. Although I don't have any easy answers for you, I did make some choices that make weight loss stick after babies.

COMMIT TO BREASTFEED. I nursed the first little one until he self weaned at 17 months and Baby Girl and I are going strong at 6 months exclusively breastfed. To new (or soon to be new Mommas), nursing is hard work but GOOD work. I can talk about all the benefits of breastfeeding to baby and Momma, but girl, you know if your nursing, you're burning anywhere from 200-500 (or more) calories per day depending on your supply? Now, be smart and supplement your diet based on the extra calories burned, for good guidelines, look HERE.  Also, nursing releases two main hormones, oxytocin and prolactin which establish milk supply, help to shrink your uterus back to it's original size and also help baby bond to momma. More info on that HERE and HERE. It's a no brainer, if you can...do. Some women have issues with mastitis, thrush, low supply etc. and it's hard to stay committed, so no judgement if you've chosen a different path, but pushing through the hard times with nursing has paid off 1000 fold for me. 

FIND YOUR SECURITY. This shouldn't be listed as number two, but as number one, "A", first and foremost, above all else... you get the picture. My hope comes from Jesus. The author of my faith and my life and in whom I put my trust. For many years, I struggled with having to BE something and until recently I always struggled with trying to make sure everyone else was what I thought they were supposed to be. I have finally come into my own in realizing that everyone else is not my concern (one of the major "way we do life" focus shifts of the past few months). While this doesn't mean, we don't care for others, it means we try to stop making others feel (or even believe) the way we do. The only thing I can do is live very presently and securely in my faith and love others with the great big love that comes from God. Everything else, right/wrong, good/bad, yes/no is in His hands. And it's from this secure place that I've found the strength to find grace and love for my own physical body. Whether I'm ripped (or not) it really makes no difference in the kingdom of God... and that takes the pressure off and gets my motives in line for why I do what I do and why exactly I want to be as healthy as possible. 

BE CONSISTENT. With food, with working out, with a routine. Don't give up after only a month, or two, or even three! I preach about lifestyle changes NOT a diet or workout to get you "there". As we age, it gets harder to lose the weight and harder to get back to where we used to be. If it was a piece of cake losing the weight after Baby #1, but for Baby #3 the weight just won't budge, there's a reason. "If you never had problems losing or maintaining your weight in your 20s or even in your early 30s, you may not be ready for what happens next,” warns Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “Your metabolism slows by 5 percent each decade. Compared to age 25, you’ll burn about 100 fewer calories a day at 35 and 200 fewer at 45. Do nothing, and you could gain eight to 12 pounds a year." (source) Just remember, what used to work, may not now and it's time to kick it up a notch.

EAT REAL FOOD. The "trend" you see on Pinterest and in the media is all about "clean eating", while this term has grown in popularity, it really isn't a new concept at all. Basically, a good rule of thumb is "stop buying so many boxes and bags". Boxes of cereal, boxes of crackers, boxes of granola bars, bags of chips etc. Many boxes and bags contain processed foods, lots of unknown strange sounding ingredients, high in fat content and preservatives that can mess with weight loss and so many other aspects of your health. Cooking Light wrote a small overview of the "clean eating" principles that I think is really good. Read it HERE. I'm not a stickler just yet about it all (we're still evolving), my Little Dude still loves his cereal in the morning, I've got him down to organic cheerios and I buy those Annie's Homegrown Bunnies (and call them Goldfish). So it's not all or nothing, but it is taking baby steps to a healthier diet. Start making small choices and pretty soon, you'll see a big difference.

Anything else that really worked for you after babies?