10 Simple steps to weight loss as an overwhelmed new mom.

Having a baby changed everything. It used to be so simple!Wake up.. say my prayers.. WORKOUT! then get around to the business of the day.

But oh! How the the mighty hath fallen. My routine these days is more or less…

Wake up more tired than I went to bed because it’s morning and I’ve barely gotten any sleep…..

Breastfeed.

Try to say my prayers out loud for baby to hear and subconsciously pick up some lines ….

Fail woefully.

Breastfeed again to get baby to stop crying.

Try to say my prayers..

Fail again. Eventually get frustrated and hand baby over to nanny.

Say my prayers.

Get around to working on my blog, courses and programs.

Fight sleep and foggy brain.

Decide to dance for a bit.

Barely dance for 15mins before I hear screaming.

Run out to save baby.

Get back to work.

Try to ignore crying…

Unbearable.

Run out again to save baby.

Get baby to nap.

Finally! Time to workout.

5mins into warm up

Baby wakes up.

Give baby a bath.

Feed baby.

Play with baby for a bit.

Finally it’s time to workout…..again

Start working out.

Exhausted from sleep deprivation.

Manage 20mins of exercise.

Collapse.

Eat.

Feed baby.

Try to nap… 20mins in..

Up again.

………………………………………….the cycle goes on and on and on.

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This is me.

I’m not the average new mom.

Exercising keep me sane.

The average new mom cringes at the word Exercise. She barely has enough time to get her household together let alone workout frequently, if at all.

When you finally get some “me” time and try to get some shut eye, nightmares of chores and projects still undone torment till you decide sleep can wait.

Yet, some other moms you know seem to have it all together.

Hair, nails, makeup? check! Check! Check!

SnapBack game? Definitely tighter than yours.

Hustle mode? Activated!

How the heck do they do it!

It becomes incredibly difficult to stay grateful and happy.

Add that to being overwhelmed, exhausted and sleep deprived. The result? Comfort eating.

Comfort food = junk food = Weight gain

But don’t be dismayed! Help is on the way.

Below are some ingenious ways to begin your weight loss journey regardless of your busy mom schedule:

1) Forgive yourself.

You’ve just had a baby, you are sleep deprived, have no life of your own and ravenously hungry all the time. This makes you a moving stress bomb waiting to explode.

Do yourself a favor and ignore everything you’ve heard about breastfeeding helping you shed the baby weight.

It’s not that it doesn’t promote weight loss, it’s just not the magic bullet most new moms think it is. Chances are, you’ll eat much more than your body burns to keep your milk supply up.

So don’t be hard on yourself for not losing or even gaining weight while breastfeeding your baby.

2) Be patient with yourself

The pressure to snap back to your pre-baby bod is real. No thanks to celebrities with washboard abs barely 4 weeks after delivery.

In the real world, post partum weight loss is not that easy or fast.

It took your body nine months to make a baby, it’s only fair to give it that long to heal and shed the baby weight.

Nine months is a long time to shed the weight in a way that’s healthy for you and your baby.

3) Try to cut down on snacking.

Honestly, I think the breastfeeding hunger thing is overrated. Yes, you will be hungry but it doesn’t mean you have to eat every time you’re hungry.

Decide to eat 4-5 times a day if you simply can’t help the hunger or 3 times a day if you can (and yes, every time you open your mouth is one meal so make it count!)

Clear out your fridge and cupboards of every sugary, salty or overly processed food and replace them with healthy snacks and fresh produce.

Prepare in advance for parties by working out those days and eating a healthy meal before you head out.

Don’t eat junk food just because it’s being served. We have a tendency to say yes to food just because it’s offered. But we always have a choice. If it’s not in line with your weight loss goals, Say No, thank you!

4) Drink lots of water.

I know you’ve heard it time and again. You should drink a glass of water after breastfeeding or anytime you feel the urge to snack.

5) Ask for help.

Ask someone to help you watch the baby while you exercise. You only need 20-30mins everyday to get started with losing weight.

If all fails, then exercise with your baby (using him as extra weight). Not only will your arms thank you for it, it can be an exciting game for your baby. (I don’t usually advice using newborns. Wait till your baby is at least 10weeks.)

5) Hire a Personal trainer or enroll in a weight loss program.

We live in a society where asking for help is perceived as a sign of weakness. There’s a reason why personal trainers exist. Hire one if you simply don’t have the motivation to lose weight on your own. (Feel free to contact me if you need help!)

If you can’t afford a personal trainer then enroll in an online weight loss program. They work if you are determined to shed the weight.

6) Say NO to additional stress.

Just say No. Being mom to an infant is overwhelmingly stressful enough, the last thing you need is additional stress shooting your cortisol levels sky high.

Stay away from negative people and stressful situations. The only person allowed to stress you out at this point is your baby and he/she is doing a pretty great job already.

Stress makes you reach for comfort food and neglect beneficial behaviors like exercising and meal prepping. It also triggers baby blues.

Let the house be a mess. Let the baby cry in his crib for a bit. Let the dishes be undone. Be too tired to change out of old dirty clothes.

Take a break and never apologize for taking care of your mental health how you see fit.

8) Don’t invest in a new wardrobe.

Nothing pierces my heart more than trying on a pre-baby dress and the zipper doesn’t close.

Honestly, I sit on the floor and weep.

As much as I’m tempted to buy a few clothes that fit, I fight the urge because I know I’ll settle into that size. Constantly having no clothes to wear and seeing how much work need to be done keeps me motivated and reminds me of why I have to return to my pre-baby size.

9) Believe beyond doubt that you can lose the weight.

Whether you think you can or you can’t; you’re right. – Henry Ford.

If you don’t believe it’s possible, you’re giving up even before you’ve started.

Losing weight is a tough and emotional experience but you need suck it up and do what needs to be done.

The beginning is always the toughest. But hang in there and keep pushing. You will be victorious.

10) Go hard or go home.

I know from experience that if you want to move from good to great, you’ve got to 10x everything.

When it comes to postpartum weight loss, gentle steps won’t cut it. I know this goes against everything you’ve read and heard.

I’m not asking you to workout two hours everyday…where’s the time even! What I’m saying is, make those 20-30mins count.

Push yourself out of your comfort zone because that’s where the result are.

Eat clean; train dirty.

There you have it, my top 10 tips for changing your mindset and shedding the baby weight.