The following is a guest post from my wife, Alice. She has recently started a blog all about what she is learning in her life as a new mom. You can check out her blog, BellytoBellyButton.com here.
Confession: when I was pregnant I gained 50 pounds. Yep, that’s 5-0. I looked like a giant watermelon. So, needless to say, after my son was born, I was pretty anxious to start losing weight. However, I also had all the demands of a typical new mom- breastfeeding, waking up several times a night with the baby, and just adjusting to my hectic new life with a newborn. Add to that the fact that I’m not a naturally disciplined person (at all), and the fact that I have a ridiculous sweet tooth, and it seems pretty amazing that I lost all 50 pounds (plus a few) in 9 months.
So- how did I do it? I wish I could say that I was as disciplined as my husband is- that I exercised every day, cut out all the junk food, and worked really, really hard. But in reality, I was more halfhearted in my efforts. Not that I didn’t want to lose the weight- I did- I’m just not a natural fitness guru. There are some things that I’m willing to do to lose weight, and others I’m not. So here’s what I did (and am still doing to lose a little more):
-Keep a food log. This really, really helped me. I think that if I had done this when I was pregnant, I would have gained much less weight. I was in some serious denial about what I had been eating. When you write down what you’re eating, and honestly calculate how many calories it is, it’s much easier to eat healthy. It’s just too embarrassing to write down “6 chocolate chip cookies- 600 calories”, even if you’re the only one who sees it.
-Count calories. This is part of keeping a food log, but it’s worth saying. I did some research, and figured out how many calories I needed to be eating to lose weight healthily. For me, my goal is 1,800 calories a day.
-Drink water almost exclusively. I sometimes have a small glass of juice with breakfast, as well as the occasional glass of 1% milk with dessert. I’ll also have a Coke on occasion when we’re eating out- if I haven’t had too many calories already that day. Other than that, I drink water all the time.
-Eat almost everything in moderation. I couldn’t stick to a plan that called for cutting out my favorite foods. For instance, I have to have something sweet every day (to be more honest, after every meal). So, I eat things like 100 calorie packs of cookies, fudgsicles, and granola bars. I also eat regular desserts in moderation (like cookies and ice cream)- I’m just honest about what I’ve eaten, and write it in my food log.
-Breastfeed. We all know the health benefits for babies, but it’s great for moms, too. It takes about 500 calories a day to make breast milk. That’s more calories that you can be eating every day (which makes losing weight much easier). You do need to be careful that you’re getting enough calories, which means that you’ll lose weight more slowly, but it’s much easier to stick with a plan that calls for eating more, anyway.
-Lift, carry, and chase after a baby. Maybe I shouldn’t admit this on a fitness site, but I hate exercise- that is, a formal routine of exercise. I really hate to run, we don’t have a gym membership, and I just haven’t been able to bring myself to do a regimented exercise plan at home. I try to go walking when the weather is nice. Lifting, carrying, and playing with a baby can also be great exercise.
I think a big part of the battle is figuring out what you can live with, and what you can’t. If you’re a person who’s disciplined enough to go running or work out every day, that’s great- stick with it. If you love salads, make them a regular part of your diet. If you love chocolate, don’t swear that you’ll never eat it again. You’ll only feel like a failure when you go on a binge later.
Finally, be realistic. You probably won’t have time to work out every day, even if you want to, and that’s okay. You probably won’t drop 5 pounds a week, and again- that’s okay. Also realize that it’s usually harder for us as women to lose weight. It’s just the way we’re made (yes, it stinks, but it’s true). Just work on being more conscious of your health, and make small changes. You’ll see a difference over time, and will make positive steps towards becoming more healthy.
