How To Lose The Baby Weight

This is a sponsored post by Salad Power, but like always all opinions and ideas are my own.

Before I got pregnant with my son I was proud to say that I was in the best shape of my life. I was running between 10-15 miles a week and lifting weights and had finally achieved abs! During my pregnancy I still worked out 3-4 days a week. I ran up until 32 weeks and lifted weights throughout my pregnancy. I fantasized that I would leave the hospital after having my baby looking and feeling great like those fit moms on Instagram do.

Boy was I wrong.

Instead of walking out of the hospital feeling and looking great I was being wheeled out wearing hospital undies and a giant ice diaper still looking seven months pregnant because of my swollen uterus. It was less than ideal.

I knew I wanted to reclaim my pre-baby body but there was no way I could walk yet alone run or lift weights. So I took the six weeks to heal my body and in that six weeks my body did not transform into its old self.

The baby weight did not fall off.

I knew if I wanted to get my body back that I was going to have to work HARD for it because baby weight just doesn't fall off of some of us.

Here are a few tips that have helped me reclaim my pre-baby body.

1. Don't make excuses.

If you want to get the pre-baby body back you can. But you can't do it if you make excuses for yourself. Changing a few simple things can kickstart everything. Devoting three days to walking after dinner or cutting added sugar from your diet.

None of it is easy, but all of it is doable.

2. Join a gym or get an at home workout program.

At six weeks I could not go the gym because the baby slept every hour and well I didn't want to mess with his schedule. So for three months I did an at home program called The Bikini Body Guide. It required little to no gym equipment and was a program that was a high intentisty workout that lasted no more than 30 minutes. I could do that! When my son turned seven months we joined a gym that had a great child care facility that would allow me to workout more intensely. Initially, he hated being dropped off there, but now loves it so much. So much so that the workers encourage me to sit in the sauna or do a class so he can play longer.

I do have an advantage because I am a stay-at-home mom with more hours in the day to enjoy my child and can't imagine how hard it is to try to fit the gym into life after a busy day of work and with only a couple of hours with your child.

But it is possible if it is important to you.

3. Change your relationship with food.

I did not grow up in a family of healthy eaters. Fast food was the norm for us but when I got older and started to discover new fresh foods it was like an awakening. I genuinely love the taste of fresh tomatoes, apples, avocados and other fruits and veggies. So naturally now I try and eat real foods as often as possible, but I do not diet nor do I deprive myself of my chocolate treats or pizza when I want it.

Now I know that there are some who don't crave the fruits and veggies like me, uh hum my husband. But there are so many delicious alternatives to steamed broccoli that we love too! One of those is Salad Power, a veggie and fruit juice that is far better than your average one. It's completely paleo, vegan, and gluten free and has fewer calories and more vitamins than the competitors! Salad Power also doesn't have any added sugars like a lot of fruit juices do. We get the variety pack and my favorite is the veggie and pineapple and my husband loves the veggie and mango. Yes. You heard me right. My husband actually likes a veggie juice. They are really tasty and I bet will make a great cheat day mimosa too!

Get your variety pack here.

4. Have fit friends.

Okay that sounds so bad, but you do need friends who want to encourage your fitness journey. That can be real life friends that you can meet on Meetup for stroller runs or you can reach out to #fitmoms on Instagram. I was surprised at the large supportive community there. My college roommates and I would do the same workout program and though we live miles apart we would text each other post workout selfies. Talk about hilarious! Whatever route you choose, choose a friend that will support you.

5. Find what motivates you.

I started working out for me. I wanted my body back. I wanted to feel good all for me. Not saying that's right or wrong. Just saying that's what motivated me. But for some of us, yourself isn't enough to motivate you. That's fine! Maybe your motivation are your children or your spouse or maybe it's just to look better than that one mom in a bikini at the community pool. Who cares what it is! Find what motivates you, harness it and then use it to get those abs!

6. Have fun.

I've always said, "If it's not fun don't do it." This whole journey is suppose to be fun from seeing your progress, to meeting new friends that motivate you, to achieving new goals you didn't think were possible. If running isn't fun but you love rock climbing well don't run. Go climb that wall instead! Just enjoy it. Enjoy the transformation, enjoy the community, and find the foods that you really enjoy as well.