A lot of ladies want to know how they can get their bodies to "bounce back" quickly postpartum. Many mothers have contacted me concerned with when their pre-pregnancy bodies are coming back. One woman was wondering why after just 15 days her body wasn't back to the way she used to look.
1) You can't really compare yourself to anyone. Bodies come in all different shapes and sizes, and women are all different fitness levels pre-pregancy, while pregnant and postpartum.
2) It took your body 10 months to grow another human being! Give yourself time. It may take a year or more to get your pre-baby body back, but you have plenty of time to work on it! If your body isn't exactly the same, who cares?! You have an amazing baby(s) to show for it, now own it!
So what can you do to "drop the last 5-10 lbs" or lose the baby weight?
1) Don't buy into any quick-fix products, don't buy into "fat-loss" pills or powders, don't buy those ridiculous wraps or do any cleanses or diets, and don't stress over it. If you want a quick-fix, it will be exactly that. Quick results that just as quickly fade away and may even leave your metabolism damaged.
2) Do eat real, whole foods and drink LOTS of water consistently. Especially if you're breastfeeding, staying hydrated is so important. Plan ahead and prepare what you can for the healthy meals and snacks you want to be eating. Being a mom keeps you busy non-stop! Plan ahead.
3) Make sure you're eating ENOUGH real, whole foods! Healthy plant-based foods are also less calorie-dense. You'll need to eat a lot more of these! If you're not giving yourself enough food, your metabolism will slow down.
3) Stay active! Take walks with your baby, put them on a blanket at the park or in your living room while you workout and include them in your workout. Go to Baby and Me yoga, Stroller Strides classes, Baby and Me Swim classes (or whatever is offered in your area to keep you active!) If you prefer "me time" while you workout, do it during their nap or get a sitter a few times a week. Go to the gym before the baby wakes up or when they go to bed for the night. If you are unable to escape to the gym, there are tons of exercises you can do with no equipment. You can buy some resistance bands and/or a pair of dumbbell weights for your home and start lifting! There are lots of YouTube videos of yoga and in-home exercises. Hunt out what you like! Here are some of mine.
4) Make it happen. I hear moms say all the time, "I wish I had the energy to go to the gym, but I am just exhausted by the end of the day." If you are so beyond exhausted 7 days a week from the moment you wake until you go to bed, you may want to make a call to your doctor for a check-up. It's possible there could be an underlying condition that needs to be addressed with this level of constant exhaustion. Being active gives you energy to keep up with your little one(s). Don't believe me? Ask any active mom. Of course there will be days when yes, you are too exhausted to go, but overall just stay consistent. What's consistent? 3 or 4 days a week to keep those energy levels high!
5) Rest. You must allow your body to rest! I see all the time in the fitness industry: "No Days Off." Um, you need to rest, or there will be no growth. Your demands are high as a mom! Rest when you can. Take some time just to breathe deep breaths and for deep stretching. Listen to your body. If you are feeling under the weather, do not go to the gym. Let your body focus on fighting the illness rather than adding a demand to recover from sore muscles.
6) Trust the process. Results will come. If you can't push through a plateau, or are interested in online training, email me and I'll help you out with a customized training program. Take care of your beautiful postpartum body, and enjoy every second of motherhood while your little one is still little! At now 9 months postpartum, it's been proven to me that it really does pass by so quickly!
xx,
Laura
Photo: 8 months pregnant to 6 months postpartum