Category: Pregnancy Tips

Happy Birthday Matti! My Bikini Body One Year Postpartum

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One year ago today I gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Matilyn. Along with this beautiful child came 40 extra pounds which I was all to aware of as the weeks past. Being a former Bikini competitor I was determined to get my body back. So, I began lifting again and documented my progress after four months in my previous post “Losing the Baby Weight 4 Months PostPartum“.  Well, 8 months later I have put together my best personal physique yet. So, ladies if you have recently had a child and feel like you will never get your body back, never say never!! Let me be your motivation. Contact me if you need any advice!

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Losing the Baby Weight: 4 Months Postpartum

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For most women its not being pregnant that causes stress in terms of weight gain. Rather, its once you come home with the baby and your once large and firm belly has turned into unsightly excess fat and skin.  In fact, I had many people tell me that I would never get my pre-baby body back. However, for me this was nothing more than encouragement!!

So, from day one while I was unable to exercise I was determined to make some progress on my weight-loss. I decided to start with my nutrition. While I could not lower my calorie intake because of breastfeeding, I could eat clean and supplement. That is exactly what I did using the Advocare 24 Day Challenge. One month postpartum, I had gone from 192 pounds to 166.5 (Pictures Below)

It was at this time that my doctor cleared me for light exercise. I decided to continue my Advocare supplements (spark, omegas & catalyst) and incorporate walking into my routine. So, each day I began to walk 1 to 3 miles around the neighborhood with the baby. After another month I was down to 160.5. Please with my progress and feeling like I had regained my strength, I decided to add weight training to my routine. For the next month I worked my way from body weight to light weights a few days a week. I managed to lose an additional 5 pounds and my body began to feel more firm.

My fourth month I really pushed my self. I was finally back to my normal amount of weights in the gym and even added light cardio. At this point I was lifting 5 days a week, eating clean taking my supplements (spark, omega 3s, catalyst and muscle gain whey protein). At the end of month 4 I have lost a total of 42 pounds. My weight is 5 pounds lower than pre-pregnancy. The entire time I continued to breastfeed as my milk supply was not impacted by my weight-loss.

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I now weigh 150 pounds. Below are my photos from 12/11/14. So, if you are a mother and are interesting in getting your pre-baby body back or better, get started with the 24 Day Challenge! If you need additional guidance on workouts or meal planning contact me. I have heard every excuse you can think of. However, even if you dont have access to a gym, you can achieve your goal. I am have a full time job and I am a new mother. So, if I can find the time to eat right and workout you can too!!

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There is no time like the present!!!!!!!!!

STATS
Pre Baby Weight:155
Pregnancy Weight: 192
1 Month PostPartum: 166.5
2 Months PostPartum: 160.5
3 Months PostPartum: 155.5
4 Months PostPartum: 150
Total Weightloss: 42 Pounds

RESOURCES
My Advocare Site
The 24 Day Challenge

37 Weeks Pregnant Update

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photo  Baby Matilyn is just about 37 weeks and is the size of a winter melon! Pretty sure I have never eaten one of those but it sounds interesting:-)

Here is what Matilyn has been up to this past week:

                • Measures about 20 inches
                • Weighs about 6 pounds
                • Gaining a 1/2 ounce each day

Here is whats been happening with me this past week.

                • Maternity Clothes – I have a two pairs of maternity pants and one dress.  Otherwise I am wearing my workout gear and dresses that stretch.
                • Weight Gain – I have gained 30 pounds so far OMG!
                • Stretch Marks – None so far.  Just a few spider veins.
                • Symptoms – My right hand keeps going numb which I am told is due to all of the extra blood. Can’t wait for that to go away.
                • Sleep – I use my body pillow by boppy and I sleep all night n problems.
                • Food Cravings – Fruit! I can not get enough fruit!!
                • Belly Button – Still in!
                • Workouts – I am still doing 2 to 3 TRX workouts a week.
                • Movement – All the time.  It looks like a alien is trying to escape:-)
                • Mood – Happy.
                • New Baby Items – This week some of our clients gave me onesies and bath gear.  Super cute! I also bought a mattress pad and risers for the arms reach co-sleeper.

Only a few weeks left!!

Pregnancy Weight Gain: What to Expect

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How much weight should I gain during my pregnancy?

According to BabyCenter, it depends on how much you weighed before you conceived and how appropriate that weight is for your height. The relationship between your height and weight is expressed in a number called a “body mass index,” or BMI. You can calculate your BMI here.

The guidelines for pregnancy weight gain are issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), most recently in May 2009. Here are the most current recommendations:

  • If your pre-pregnancy weight was in the healthy range for your height (a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9), you should gain between 25 and 35 pounds, gaining 1 to 5 pounds in the first trimester and about 1 pound per week for the rest of your pregnancy for the optimal growth of your baby.
  • If you were underweight for your height at conception (a BMI below 18.5), you should gain 28 to 40 pounds.
  • If you were overweight for your height (a BMI of 25 to 29.9), you should gain 15 to 25 pounds. If you were obese (a BMI of 30 or higher), you should gain between 11 and 20 pounds.
  • If you’re having twins, you should gain 37 to 54 pounds if you started at a healthy weight, 31 to 50 pounds if you were overweight, and 25 to 42 pounds if you were obese.

Use the BabyCenter pregnancy weight gain estimator to find out how much you should gain (based on your height and pre-pregnancy weight) and to see how the pounds are distributed.

Pregnancy Weight Tracker

See your target weight range for pregnancy and whether your weight gain is on track.

How can I stay within the recommended amount?

Eat a healthy diet while you’re pregnant and ask your doctor or midwife to help you set up anexercise program that’s right for you. Eating for twodoesn’t mean eating twice as much as you usually do. In fact, you don’t need any extra calories in your first trimester. According to the IOM, you need only 340 extra calories a day in your second trimester, and 450 extra calories daily in your third trimester.

How can I deal with my anxiety about how my body is changing?

If you’ve struggled with controlling your weight in the past, or even if you’ve never dieted in your life, you may have a hard time accepting that it’s okay to gain weight now. It’s normal to feel anxious as the numbers on the scale edge up. Try to keep in mind, however, that some weight gain is important for a healthy pregnancy and that those extra pounds will eventually come off after you’ve had the baby.

If weight gain is making you feel blue, you’re not alone. Find out how other moms-to-be are coping with putting on the pregnancy pounds.

 

Beat The Pregnancy Cravings

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1.) Water: A lot of times, we are dehydrated and don’t know it. Especially as mamas-to-be, we need to be chugging water like it’s our job anyway. Sometimes hunger and cravings are really just thirst in disguise, so drink up, wait a few minutes, and see if you kicked your craving for now.

2.) Go for a walk: Sitting in the kitchen staring at the refrigerator thinking about how badly you want that fudge brownie ice cream is not going to make standing strong any easier. Get outside, go for a walk, remove yourself from the situation and the temptation. Hopefully in no time you will forget you even wanted a snack.

 3.) Don’t keep it in the house: If I have candy and junk in my pantry, I am going to eat it. Fact of life. My willpower isn’t great, so I save myself the trouble and just don’t buy the stuff. I am way too lazy to go to the store when a craving hits, so as long as it isn’t in my house, I am generally safe.

4.) Eat something else: If you truly are hungry, try eating something healthy to see if it makes your cravings go away. It may just hit the spot! Try a chocolate meal replacement shake!

5.) Give in…just a little: I don’t believe in deprivation, and see nothing wrong with giving in to your cravings in moderation if you can handle having unhealthy things in your house without going overboard. Sometimes just a bite of chocolate or a scoop of ice cream will satisfy! Checkout my yummy dessert recipes for a healthy option!