With the fairytale post baby transformations of Hollywood’s elite constantly displayed in magazines, movies and television, many moms come out of childbirth with an unrealistic expectation that the pounds will just melt away and it will be as if the pregnancy never occurred.  I don’t know about the rest of you moms out there, but me?  I didn’t look like Heidi Klum to begin with so I am most certain that all the work in the world will not help me look like her after childbirth.  Just sayin’…

Weight loss is hard, there are no two ways around it.  But the hard work, if you’re willing to put it in, can and will have lasting results.  But where do you start?  What steps do you take to head down the path of regaining your body after baby?  And how do you stay the course when you have so little time to yourself?  I’m so glad you asked!

There are a few steps you can take to jump start your weight loss as we head into this summer season.

Set realistic goals

To set a realistic goal, you have to know your body.  Don’t expect to be a size 2 after baby if you haven’t seen a size 2 since that day when you were 11 years old and you zipped through size 2 and headed straight for a size 6…all in the same day.  It is cliche, but true – your ultimate goal is health, not size.  Knowing what’s right for your body and what you need to do to maintain ultimate health and fitness will release you from pressure and stress in your weight loss goals.  Keeping a realistic body shape in mind will save you disappointment and discouragement down the road.

Start Somewhere…Anywhere Really – Just Start

Whether you were active before and during your pregnancy or you are just beginning a consistent work out routine for the first time, what you must understand is that everyone has to start somewhere.  If you can only make it once around the block, that’s fine, you can start there.  But you can’t stay there.  You must increase the distance and intensity of your work outs if you hope to see any lasting results.

Julie, a Ballwin mother of two, understands this principle all too well.  After her second daughter was born, Julie says, “I couldn’t stand to look at myself in pictures.  I knew that I wanted to be able to enjoy my kids and play with them outside without being winded over the slightest bit of activity.  I knew I had to get healthy so I could be involved with them as they grew up.”  And with a lot of determination and hard work, Julie has lost a significant amount of weight and is now only ten pounds from her goal.

“I don’t deprive myself of much.  If Ihave a strong craving, I indulge – I just eat smaller portions and make up for it by pushing myself a little farther at the gym.  Of course, some days the cravings feel really strong and during those times I just remind myself of what it is that I am working towards and remind myself how far I have come.  I can’t blow it all by giving into a cookie craving.”

Join a Gym

I know times are tough and a gym membership can seem like a frivolous benefit that can be cut from the budget.  But I would counter that investing in your health and future are anything but frivolous.  And these days, many gyms offer cheap membership rates (some as low as 15 dollars a month) that can be easily managed with a little shift in the pocketbook.  There are a few things to keep in mind, though, when you are looking for a gym:

If you have young ones still at home, make sure the membership includes childcare.  If you have to go in the evenings when hubby comes home or get up early before the kids are awake, chances are you will rarely make it to the gym.  You need to set yourself up for success.

Make sure the gym is a comfortable environment for you.  If it’s full of sweaty body builders who are grunting and straining and flexing their bulging muscles, you will likely talk yourself out of going out of sheer embarassment.  

Most gyms will let you trial a membership for a week before making a committment.  Take them up on this offer.  Take the time to explore and get acquainted with the environment.

Take advantage of the classes the gym offers.  We’ve come a long way since Jane Fonda high stepped her way into the world.  Gone are the step classes that require a degree in coordination to keep up.  Fitness classes have a lot of variety these days and are geared toward all fitness levels. 

Pick Up the Weights

Did you know that weight training burns calories longer and more efficiently than cardio training?  Not that cardio should be avoided, of course, due to the benefits it provides in fat burning as well as cardiovascular strength.  But as far as long term calorie burning, weights are the way to go.  As you lift weights, your muscles actually tear a little requiring lactic acid to come in and build them back up.  As they repair themselves, you will continue to burn calories.  If a gym membership is out of the question, consider purchasing a few barbells and an instructional DVD for instruction and maximum potential. 

Eat Right and Stay Positive

It can be discouraging when you work hard and don’t immediately see results.  Just remember that losing weight is a process.  It doesn’t happen over night. If you maintain a healthy diet and a consistent workout, you will notice the difference in your body.  And you can bring your kids along for the ride.  Go to the local high school in the evenings and walk or run the track.  Your kids will have a blast with the wide open space and you will get a good workout.  (You can even walk up and down the bleachers a few times to tone up your derriere!)  At night while you watch your favorite shows, pull out the weights and do a few reps (make sure you focus on the major muscle groups) and workout while you watch.

No matter what you do, just remember that maintaining a healthy weight doesn’t just benefit you.  It sets an example of a healthy lifestyle for your children and sets them up for success in their own lives.  And that is, perhaps, the greatest benefit of all.

Image credit: Workitmom.com

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