I have had a few mommas recently ask about losing those last lingering pounds from childbirth. What a great blog topic! Let me first start by saying that the body of the momma-bear is beautiful and strong. We are all built differently, have different priorities after the baby-bear arrives, and this is in no which way shape or form meant to bring shame or hurtful feelings to anyone. This post is to offer encouragement and information to those who have a desire to make a change in their lives and bodies.
I'd like to share some areas that I have noticed will pack the poundage back on for me. I'd also like to cover how I successfully resolved each of these mistakes.
So, I have been active my entire life. I always felt athletic, though there were times in my life that I may not have quite looked the part. It wasn't that I was lazy. Quite the opposite, actually. I would run and run and run, but never manage to get that sleek, svelt, tone in my legs. Even when I started cross-training and lifting weights in the gym, my body carried the weight in my extremities (e.g. "fluffy" arms and thighs). Yes, CrossFit is amazing, and has been a huge help to get me back into my Lulu speed shorts, but I cannot emphasize enough that it is what you put in your MOUTH that ends up on your A$$. Here are some common errors that I made over the years that kept me from losing that last 5 lbs, or in my case, the last few inches on my hips.
1. Glory be to the grains! Even as a die hard, sprout-crazy vegan, my thighs left a bit to be desired. All too often do I hear of people with the following regimen: Breakfast- cereal, Lunch- sammich, Snack- pretzels or baked crackers/chips, Dinner- pasta. I'm not even trying to go paleo-nutz on you, but that's a whole-lotta-carbs! According to the Zone, by Dr. Barry Sears, the insulin response to grains is much greater than in vegetables. That means the portions for grains should be much much smaller. For example, 1/4c. rice is equivalent to 4 cups of spinach, 1/2 piece of bread, 1/2 a grapefruit, or 2 cups of broccoli, cauliflower, or celery. Think of the difference! I am not strict paleo, but when I do eat grains, I try to keep the portions very small: think more as a garnish than foundation for your plate. (Granola as a side to the eggs, not the other way around) I highly recommend at least taking a look at a Zone chart to get a better gauge of how much of each food you really need at a meal.
2. Desserts be damned. So you eat a well-balanced and nutritious meal full of fresh vegetables and quality protein. Yay! Then comes the dessert tray... Do I even need to elaborate? Just say no! Here's a tip: eat some raw nuts when the cravings kick in; it'll help keep you stay satiated. I do let myself have an occasional treat, and try to make it worth it (have your heard of Sugar Mamas Bakeshop? They use non-GMO flour, have amazing goodies, and even won Cupcake Wars! Go big FTW!)
3. Improper portions. I struggled with this one for YEARS. I didn't know how to properly fuel myself to keep a steady flow of glucose to my brain. So, I would either over-eat and need to go on a 5-mile run to burn it off or I would under-eat. The under-eating was by far the worst. In order to think clearly during the day, I would keep the caffeine a-comin', and by the evening either eat way too much or resort to drinking alcohol to curb my cravings (that sometimes just made me say screw it and get dessert anyway- see above). While I do not currently Zone since I am still nursing Sterling, I "eyeball" my portions to what I feel works for my body based on my experience measuring food. I make sure I keep enough balance on my plate of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to give my body what it needs. Ladies, I'm telling you, balancing food is my #1 tip to the tight bod and a clear head!
4. Food OBSESSION. Stressing about food and my weight only led to one thing: stress. One of the body's amazing physiological responses to environmental stress is to protect it by retaining fat for survival. Interesting.. Beyond the stress response, I found that obsessing about my food would actually lead to more cheat meals because psychologically, I would put such an emphasis on food, the junk became that much more appealing and hard to resist. My personal approach to success was to change my view of food to be my fuel. Before preparing or consuming a meal, I look at the ingredients and consider how nutrient dense they are and eliminate the empty fluff. I want only premium in my tank!
5. Extra, extra, extras! Salads are great; then you add cheese, croutons, ranch dressing, and the next thing you know, that amazing bowl of fresh produce is saturated with nasty chemicals and processed crap. Then you throw a side of garlic bread on your plate, and the protein:carbohydrate:fat ratio gets completely out of balance. Yep, been there, done that. I have found the best way to add meat to your salad is to add, well, meat. One of my favorite dining out options is to pair a bowl of chili with a salad. No frills, lots of protein, and leaves me very satisfied. Boom.
There are some great supplements that I will cover later, but honestly, unless the eating is dialed in, the supplements are a waste of money.
Please leave comments or message me if you have any questions. This topic is highly covered in my Balanced Wellness Coaching program. I'm here for you!
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