2018 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

My Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss & Fitness Journey

July 30, 2018

Even though I rarely mention it on my blog or social media, fitness has always been a huge part of my life. I can still remember beginning to work out when I was in middle school in my parents’ garage: I would walk/jog on the treadmill and lift weights with the help of some how-to books. Ever since then, exercise has been part of my daily routine. I’m always a work in progress when it comes to fitness, whether it’s trying to build muscle in my arms or tone my abs (definitely the most challenging area post-pregnancy!) I’ve been working extra hard to get back in shape since having Lila, so today I thought I’d share a bit about what I’ve been doing to lose the baby weight since giving birth 7 1/2 months ago.Before we dive in, let’s talk about this outfit—I’ve always found that cute workout gear gives me extra motivation and I found both of these items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The top has unfortunately sold out online but my pants are fully stocked in all sizes and also come in a pretty burgundy color.Nike has always been my favorite brand for flattering workout gear and I really love how these pants fit. Not only are they flattering, but the mesh panels on the side feel nice and cool while you’re working out.As a new momma, I need all the energy I can get and working out definitely boosts my daily level. I want Lila to know how important it is to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. We can’t wait to take her bike riding or go on family hikes together when she gets older. Okay—are you guys ready for some before and after photos?!Eek…sharing photos like these is always a bit scary! The left photo is six weeks postpartum, on the day I was cleared to resume my normal workouts (January 17th) and the right photo is from today (July 30th). I was 125 pounds in the first photo and now I’m about 114 pounds, so while I haven’t lost a massive amount of weight, I’ve definitely toned up and built muscle. Taking before/during/after progress photos really helps provide reassurance when you think you aren’t making progress, so my advice is to take lots of photos on your journey! I wish I had taken more right after I had Lila just to show myself how far I’ve come.

My Fitness Routine

I used to go to the gym every day to take classes but since moving to Amman, I’ve found it easier and less expensive to do my workouts at home. I have Beachbody On Demand and stream workouts from my iPad, which is really convenient. Sometimes I also find workouts to do on YouTube: I like the BodyFit by Amy and Fitness Blender channels. I don’t like ‘winging it’ when it comes to exercise and prefer structured workouts, so doing these workouts is similar to taking the group classes I enjoy. I have a range of free weights, a few kettlebells, and various elastic bands that I can use for a lots of different workouts. I like to change up my routine every few months to avoid boredom and I just finished up my second round of 80 Day Obsession, which was a pretty intense program centered around working the abs/butt. Now I’m on my second week of a new routine, which is a blend of Chalean Extreme (weight lifting) and Turbo Fire (kickboxing/HIIT training). They alternate by week with one week being mainly weight lifting and more cardio in the next. Both of these are Beachbody programs. I also try to do at least ten minutes of daily stretching, including a few extra core exercises like holding plank for a few minutes. I had diastasis recti (ab muscle separation) during pregnancy and my abs have almost closed completely but I’m still working on strengthening the muscles. It’s amazing how weak they get from pregnancy and how long it takes to get them strong again.

My Diet

I have never followed the eating plans that come with the workout programs I do, although I probably would have seen more results by now if I did. I simply try to eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies and have my treats in moderation—life’s too short not to enjoy the foods you love! Personally, I can’t live without bread, sweets and wine.Case in point: my abs aren’t perfect–no six pack here! I still have a strange concave belly button and faint linea nigra line, plus some wrinkly excess skin from pregnancy. But I’m finally starting to see some ab definition and that’s what motivates me to keep going! It’s definitely a slow journey when it comes to losing baby weight and getting fit again, but with healthy eating and a workout routine, it’s definitely possible. You just have to give yourself time and be patient with the process. Don’t assume it only takes breastfeeding to drop the weight either; that only takes off the initial weight. I gained about 35 pounds with Lila and the first 20 came off quickly, but I had to work to drop the rest (still not quite there yet). It wasn’t until about six months of post-pregnancy exercise that I really started seeing results, with the slowest area to lose weight obviously being my stomach/waist. I did work out 5-6 days a week when I was pregnant, which I definitely feel helped me bounce back faster. My workouts were similar to what I do now, just with more modifications. I also want to note that I’m still breastfeeding and have been the entire time and it’s never interfered with my supply. I know some people think you can’t do intense workouts when you’re breastfeeding but that’s not true; just make sure to drink plenty of water all day so you’re never dehydrated.

Sorry for the super long post but I wanted to make sure I covered everything! I’d love to hear from other mommas out there: what has worked well for you when it comes to losing the baby weight and getting back in shape? Thanks so much for reading and hope you’ll be back soon!