Post-baby body posts are tough. But I’ve gone through the process twice and I love to share what worked for me, what didn’t and how I felt along the way (to give some context to other moms who may be here looking for some secret: there isn’t one).
This was me about a year after having Hailey:
See that smile?
I was in a good place. I had energy, felt fit and my clothes fit well.
(That didn’t mean I didn’t still have areas I wanted to work on. In fact, a few days after taking this picture, I convinced myself I have mom butt — you know what I’m talking about — and geared my recent workouts towards toning it up.)
I always forget how hard it will be to sit the day after an intense workout that includes numerous squats, lunges, fire hydrants and one legged deadlifts.
Anyway, in the months after having my first baby, when I didn’t feel as fit as I do now, I wondered if people were being honest when they told me not to worry, that the baby weight would come off. Would it really come off for me?
It did. I credit 4 factors to making it happen for me.
[Tweet “My four keys to losing the baby weight”]
My Four Keys to Losing the Baby Weight
1. Focus on being active.
Sometimes active means a solid workout, weights and all, but it doesn’t have to. It means walking to a friend’s house instead of driving. It means knocking out a plank while rolling around with the baby in the play room. Just like the old adage of taking the stairs instead of the elevator, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll burn a ton of calories, but moving should make you feel good and inspire you to continue making healthy choices.
2. Use food as fuel.
I remember when David and I dated long distance. On my long drive home, I’d “reward” myself with a treat, like a double cheese burger. What I sought as comfort ended up making me feel, well, gross. It just sat in my stomach. When I really started focusing on eating real foods, I noticed how energetic I felt and the craving for grease-soaked burger faded. It was like my body was finally running on high quality octane.
I remembered that when Hailey first was born and made sure to stock up on healthy foods. Though frozen pizza would have been an easy dinner choice every night, I knew it wouldn’t give me the high quality fuel my body needed. As any new mom will attest to, energy is a priceless commodity, so in the first year I really focused on eating the quality stuff, with a little wiggle room, of course.
3. Remember to hydrate.
I’m sure this isn’t news to you, but thirst can mimic hunger. Drinking enough water helps every single system in the body. I always knew it was important and tried to make drinking water a habit, but when I first was nursing Hailey, the thirst I experienced was unlike any I’d ever felt before. I was PARCHED. This is when I really got into a good habit of filling up a large water bottle first thing in the morning. Getting water flowing through me early in the day reminded me to keep it up throughout the day.
4. I’m a role model now.
I’m convinced that kids pick up habits from what they see, not what you tell them. My hope is that my kids will see me eating and enjoying fresh foods and do the same. I hope they’ll see me enjoy being outside and being active, and they will follow suit.
I also want my girls to see me being kind to my myself, in action and in words, so they, in turn, will be kind to themselves and their bodies. I’ve never had a stronger motivating factor to strive for a healthy lifestyle than my sweet baby girls.
What factor do you credit with keeping you on a healthy living track?
nicole @ making good choices says
great tips brittney! can’t wait to put these to use in a couple of weeks!
Brittany says
Only a couple weeks left- AMAZING. How excited are you?? 🙂
Tina @ Best Body Fitness says
No doubt I’m with you on all of those. 😉
And you definitely look great!
PS – Mom butt is my arch enemy. Still trying to conquer it.
Anne Marie says
Great tips. These are super relatable for everyone trying to get fit, not just those losing baby weight, so thank you! Totally agree with your comment of finally feeling like you were running on high quality octane. That feeling makes the junk so much less appealing!
Jessie says
All mamma’s should follow your tips because you look greatt!!!! 🙂
Erica says
I haven’t checked out your ass lately but I’m fairly certain you do not have mom butt!
Brittany says
Maybe I should instagram my mom butt situation? Maybe then you would believe me? Haha, no, I wouldn’t do that to you 😉
Erica {EricaDHouse.com} says
Well if it makes you feel any better I’ve been rocking the Mom Jeans since I turned 20 and I’m 100% childless 🙂
Katie@PopCultureCuisine says
I really need to get better about drinking water, I just get lazy, but I know it would help me from thinking I’m starving all the time 🙂 P.S. I have mom hips now, or really that lovely love handle above them, trying desperately to get rid of it!
blackhuff says
You’re right. Kids do pick up things that their parents do rather what they preach. So I’m totally with you on being a role model to the children.
You do not have a mom butt.
Maria says
Oh no. What is this mom butt thing? I think I may have it already! But single leg deadlifts do amazing things!
You look great by the way! Someone told me the other day “You look so healthy and athletic.” I thought about it for a while and realized thats the best compliment I could receive. So I am saying the same to you!
Brittany says
The mom butt sags a little on the side, is a little flatter than I like and makes me want to trade in my undies for boxers! Ha 😉 Ok, a bit dramatic, but some toning wouldn’t hurt me.
And thank you for the compliment. I agree that it’s one of the best one’s a girl can get!
Holly says
This post made me put “large waterbottle” on my “items to get before baby” list. I’m pretty terrible about drinking water unless I’ve got a water bottle by my side (the cat likes to sneak sips out of our glasses- yuck), and I know with breastfeeding starting in a few days/weeks (eek!), I’ll need all the water I can get!!!
Adria @ A Spoonful of Healthy says
Thank you for this post! Your focus was basics and you’re proof that it works! No special fad diet is needed.
Stacy K says
You look fantastic! I have to admit losing the baby weight has been causing me some stress the last few days. I feel like all my girlfriends who have had babies recently lost all the weight they gained + more within months of having their babies. They didn’t put any effort into it either so I feel a lot of pressure to get back to pre baby weight quickly. I think keeping your tips in mind and just being mindful of my eating will help, but sometimes we don’t have control over how our bodies react. I just have to be careful around the holidays 🙂
Presley @ Run Pretty says
I can’t wait to post something like this… buuuut I have to lose the weight first. Oh well. haha looking good, girl!
Erin says
Great post, Brittany! I’ll have to bookmark it as a reference to start using in a few weeks. 😉
Natalie @ Free Range Human says
I think I stay healthy so I can keep up with my lifestyle. My husband and I are backpackers, and I know that if I “let myself go” there’s no way I could do that anymore….I love it and the mountains far too much to give it up!
Chantal says
Great tips!! I lost all my baby weight, plus 20 pounds more, by changing my diet, running more, and juicing. I feel awesome!
Amy says
not related to this post, but today, I got rid of my summer windowbox, so had a ton of basil, so I made your freezer pesto-thank you! it was so easy! I subbed walnuts (way cheaper than pine nuts!) and use a little chicken broth to cut the oil, but I can’t wait to use it!
lindsay @ fuelmyfamily says
I lost my baby weight easily using intuitive eating and exercising when i had the time too. And there is seriously no thirst like breastfeeding thirst. Like the second they latch, its like I havent drank in days or something! Have you weaned hailey yet? With my first I gained like 3-5 lbs after weaning her and don’t want to do that this time around. Although last time my husband deployed and I broke my foot within the same week I fully weaned my first so maybe I just drowned my sorrows in too much dessert and tv!
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance says
Such an adorable post! And I love how realistic you are with the idea of being active in general and not completely obsessing over workouts every day. I don’t have children yet, but I imagine that when I do I’d love to be a positive role model for them, and not an obsessed gym rat! haha
Life's a Bowl says
Congrats on your bundle of joy [first time reader]! Sounds like you’ve put a lot of effort forth to work off the baby pounds [and in a healthy and realistic way] and it’s paying off- great work!!! I just got married earlier this month and don’t have any children yet, but I hope to be a positive role model to my children in the healthiest way- teach them that healthy is an active and fulfilling lifestyle, not a diet 🙂
ashley says
My sister had a huge problem with baby weight too.
She tried everything to lose the baby weight and get rid of acne/scarring but she just couldn’t do it.
I felt so bad for her. I mean I love her and I read online that there are natural solutions to it.
So I took it upon myself and started digging…
I recommend to her several products, but 1 really did the job great! It was called Pregnancy Without Pounds.
Long story short, she shed her baby pounds and didn’t have scars, stretch marks, or anything! She looks so beautiful now.
She loved the product. Anyway, you can find it and the reviews at http://www.reviewsphere.com
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Amy says
Hi Brittany,
I just stumbled across your blog. I was wondering if you could give tips on losing that ‘last 5kg’. I seem to have plateaued.
thanks!
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