As a first time mother, getting my body back has been a challenge. I was able to lose the majority of the baby weight after giving birth; it was just now finding the motivation and time to actually tone it all up, like my tummy. I’ve always had a pretty flat and toned stomach, but noticed that my body definitely changed after having a baby. My tummy wasn’t as firm and sculpted as it used to be. With a few things that I have incorporated into my every day fitness and health, I wanted to share 5 tips that I’ve been doing that have helped me banish some of that baby belly for more of a toned, sculpted abdomen.
MOVE 20-30 MIN. A DAY
Being a full-time stay-at-home mom with no help, I’ve definitely had to learn time management. I usually do my 20-30 min. workouts early in the morning or afternoon when it’s her naptime. I swear by Jillian Michael’s DVD workouts- don’t laugh! If you’ve got Amazon Prime, purchase it through there and watch and workout in the comfort of your home and on your own time. I really like that her workouts are short, but effective. One of my favorites is her Yoga Meltdown. I have even memorized some of the moves, that if we go on a trip, I can do the workout in my hotel room.
AVOID SODA
Drinking a ton of water helps to flush out toxins in your body and also promotes weight loss. Try to avoid soda and sugar drinks as its added empty calories that can pack on the pounds. Not only is it good for the body, it helps improve your skin complexion as well.
DRINK YOUR GREENS
Every morning for breakfast, I always make a glowing green smoothie in our Vitamix and my whole family loves it, including my baby. This is the smoothie that Kimberly Snyder (She’s a celeb nutritionist) has created and it’s a huge hit with all of her celebrity clients. This sets the tone for the rest of the day and I like how it’s perfect for even on the go! Here’s the recipe:
2 cups of water
1 head organic romaine lettuce, chopped
3 to 4 stalks organic celery
½ head of a large bunch or ¾ of a small bunch of spinach
1 organic apple, cored and chopped
1 organic pear, cored and chopped
1 organic banana
Juice of ½ fresh organic lemon
Add water and chopped head of romaine to blender. Blend at a low speed until smooth. Add the spinach, celery, apple and pear, and blend at a high speed. Finish with banana and lemon.
RECRUIT AN EXERCISE BUDDY
It helps if you have someone to keep you accountable for workouts; so working out with a friend or family member definitely helps. I’m so lucky that my sister just moved back, so we’ve both have been walking the park with our little babies in tow. It gets us moving, outdoors and the babies even love to take a stroll.
FIRM AND TONE IT UP WITH VENUS FREEZE
A few months ago, I posted about my first experience of the Venus Freeze I had done at Honolulu MedSpa here. (You can see my before photo there too) It’s basically the safe version of a tummy tuck that uses multi-polar radio frequencies and pulsed magnetic fields to the skin to increase collagen. Last week, I just finished my 8th final treatment and I have to say, I feel like it’s really helped toned and firmed up my mommy tummy. This is a treatment that reduces cellulite, contours and tightens for a flatter, more defined waistline. After months of working out and eating healthy, I wanted to do the Venus Freeze to help in conjunction with my health and fitness habits, because my skin was loose and flabby. For this treatment, I had to go in every 7-10 days for the past few months for 30 min. It was almost like having a spa treatment, because it felt like a hot stone massage on my tummy. If you’re looking to lose inches, this wouldn’t be for you. I would probably recommend CoolSculpting for that, but definitely go in for a consultation.
For you new moms that are struggling with the same issue don’t put so much pressure on yourself on losing weight so fast. After having a baby, your body goes through so much, just allow yourself to heal. Our bodies are pretty incredible! (We are literally rockstars) Don’t compare your body to anyone else’s. Just be a better version of yourself and be strong!
P.S. How adorable are my jean yoga pants? It’s like your favorite pair of jeans and favorite pair of yoga pants had a love child! These are made from Lucy Activewear and I love how you can workout in them and then go on about your day if you have a lunch, drinks with friends or even meetings. They are so comfortable; I want to live in them! They are called the Lucy Indigo Flare. I love how it has the high rise that provides core support, lightweight, stretchy and breathable. The fit is amazing!
