TIPS TO HELP YOU GET BACK INTO SHAPE POST BABY

There is no secret in getting into shape.  Not one little secret.  It starts with decisions, big and little decisions that we make each day.

Here is what I believed to help me back bounce from pregnancy.

I have worked out hard for the past 5 years, up until I was pregnant.  I stopped working out as hard because obviously it just didn’t work out that way.  When they say you can work out just as hard when pregnant as you did before, they are definitely wrong.  I couldn’t work out as hard as I did.  I mean I guess that is just me though, maybe most are different.

BUT… I STILL worked out pregnant.  Not everyday.  On a good week it was about 4 days out of the week.

Let me tell you, it was very hard to get to the gym because it is not like I was toning up, or losing any weight.  It was the exact opposite.  But I still went because it made me feel SO much better and gave me more energy even when I thought I didn’t have any left that day.  Even if you go speed walk on the treadmill (which I did) and lift some weights that aren’t to heavy you feel so much better.

I ate my proteins and what I could of my veggies when I was pregnant, but I definitely didn’t cut any calories while I was pregnant.  I ate what sounded good, because that is really all you can do. I absolutely could not eat salads the entire time I was pregnant, and if I ate a green shake it had to have loads of fruit in it.  I was OBSESSED with turkey sandwiches.  That is all I ever wanted.  It was very hard eating meat, so what I did to get protein was protein shakes.  I was obsessed with the bottled Core Power chocolate shakes and would drink it over ice.  The last trimester I started eating a little salad and meat but not a ton.  I ate mostly cereal, protein shakes yogurt, string cheese and sometimes salmon, and of course a good ol’ turkey sandwich.  That is what I can remember I ate.  Obviously you should watch what you eat and not eat doughnuts everyday if you want to be healthy.  I craved fruit like no other, and ice, I know weird, but all I wanted was snow cones and plain ice.

After I had him I didn’t have much of an appetite until now.  You just don’t have a lot of an appetite when you are under the baby blues and not worrying about yourself whatsoever, but it is so important to take care of yourself too.  Luckily I have an awesome husband who made food for me.   I eat lean meats like fish, chicken, tilapia and turkey.  I will have some fruit, peanut butter and rice cakes (which I love), My Green Shakes, yogurt, eggs, and I drink whey protein with coconut milk. I just recently did a post about my recipe for the green shakes in that link.   Also, I love Protein Pancakes Recipe and eat those for breakfast.  I also did a post about that a couple years ago.  I have my weekends where I eat pizza and whatever else I crave that week, but 95% of the time I am eating healthy.

During the week I count my macronutrients and I am a nursing mom, so I don’t really count my calories, but I try to count my macronutrients.  You need at least 500 extra calories a day from what you were eating before pregnancy when you are nursing, but each mom is different.  I count them on the app Fitness Pal.  If you don’t have it you NEED it in your life right now.  Download it.  Mine is set for 2,000 calories a day and that is 40% carbs, 35% protein, and 25% fat.  Sometimes I eat more or less than that.  You shouldn’t cut yourself off if you are beyond starving while you are nursing.  You are burning so many calories when nursing.  You can set yours to how you would like because everyone is different, but I have mine like that because I am trying to lean out my muscle.  But I DID NOT do this while pregnant.  You shouldn’t cut yourself off like that when pregnant, but you shouldn’t eat like a pig either, even though I probably did sometimes haha 🙂  If you are pregnant you understand completely what I am saying.

Okay, so guys, food is your friend.  Good whole foods, lean meats, veggies, fruits, eggs, whole grains.  The good stuff! If you are hungry eat something good for your body!  That is how you will lose weight and that is how you will keep it off.  I have been doing this for so long and it works trust me.  I have never done a crazy diet and if I have apparently it never worked.

I didn’t start working out like a mad woman until now haha 🙂 I work out 6 days a week and do hard plyo work outs, and heavy lifting.  I am going to start doing my work out videos soon so I will keep you posted with that.

Another thing I believe that shrunk my tummy fast was nursing.  I believe that will shrink your uterus back to its normal size.  Obviously if you can’t nurse then don’t worry about it, it will go back!  All things take time.

All these things I have done have helped me get back into shape.  I haven’t done anything intense, like a crazy diet and cut calories.  Nursing moms need a lot of food, but I intake the healthy food and that has helped a ton.

You want to make sure you eat enough to have energy while taking care of a newborn and nursing.  I notice If I don’t eat or drink enough I feel very depleted.  Sometimes you get busy and forget, but I always have protein shakes I can grab if that happens, or yogurt, an apple whatever you can to make it easier for you to eat healthy.

I eat about 6 smaller snacks/meals a day.  I have always done this and it has kept my metabolism up, and kept me full during the day.  That way your  body doesn’t go into starvation mode, and eat everything in site.

It isn’t always easy, but you really get used to it, and it makes you feel really good when you are giving your body what it really needs!

Another tip I would suggest in getting yourself to the gym is to get cute work out clothes.  That seriously helps me!  It is even harder to get to the gym since I have had Oaks.  My body is starting to feel old haha.

It is about changing your lifestyle!  Not about crazy diets that aren’t realistic.  YOU CAN eat good food and still look good, and I am living proof.

When it comes to toning up and getting your body into shape, it all takes time.  I know sometimes it gets discouraging, but you have to keep going.  Toning up takes time and consistency.  That is what it is about.  You aren’t going to change in a weeks time.  Just get yourself there every day or at least 5 days a week and you will thank yourself in months from now, or even 30 days from now when you start seeing results.

Anyways I have so much opinion on this subject if you can’t tell.  Send me a message if you have any questions at all!

Side note- the moves above are some exercises I do at home if I am not able to make it to the gym that day.  Pelvic thrusts for your butt and legs, regular crunches, planks and of course stretching.

Let me know what post you want to see next! Work out video, recipes, make up?

OUTFIT DETAILS

BRA: VICTORA’S SECRET

PANTS: VICTORIA’S SECRET

JACKET: VICTORIAS SECRET

SHOES: NIKE

PHOTOS BY: ASHLEE BROOKE

Thanks for reading!