Somehow, during my pregnancy I gained about 60 pounds. I started out at about 118 pounds, made my way past 168 pounds and then stopped stepping on the scale. Okay, so you’re probably thinking I indulged myself in craving after craving. Quite the contrary (for the most part). I mean, there was the occasional cookie and frozen yogurt cup, but it honestly was very occasional. I attribute my pregnancy weight (primarily) to my emergency appendectomy at 19 weeks, pre-term labor at 26 weeks and then bed rest at 29 weeks.

Anyhow, the 60+ pounds I gained during pregnancy was a really hard pill to swallow once my little guy, all 6.5 lbs of him, had arrived. I held on to the hope that breastfeeding would literally suck the pounds off….Nope! I had friends who said that no matter how much they ate, they could not keep weight on, and they were skinnier than they had ever been. HA! That was so not the case for me. I have to admit I was a little green with envy. The post-baby night sweats took care of the first 20 pounds, which was a blessing. But the next forty were tough.

After 6 months of hard work at yoga classes, baby boot camp, and circuit workouts at a local park, another 20 pounds came off. Yes! But there were still 20 pounds to go and my son was a year old. What? Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would struggle this much with losing the baby weight. I was so uncomfortable with how my body looked that I resisted taking pictures for the first year or two of my son’s life. When I look back through my camera roll, I have very few pictures of my little guy and me. Very sad!

Every day, I struggled to find clothes I felt confident in. The muffin top would inevitably spill over the top of my pants and every shirt accentuated my love handles. It didn’t matter how many times my hubby told me I looked beautiful…I still wanted to cry every time I got dressed. One day I finally had had enough. I knew there had to be resources out there that would help me get back into shape. With the help of my iPhone, I found a few apps that helped me get back to my pre-baby body. Some of my favorites are:

• Up Band and App from Jawbone: Not only did I get a lot of compliments on my bracelet, but the Jawbone really helped me focus on how much I was truly moving around during the day. Although I felt like I was getting plenty of cardio chasing after my toddler and working out in spurts, this app made me aware of my actual daily calorie burn. Once I got an accurate assessment of how much I was moving, I felt encouraged to “up” my activity level via longer, more regular workouts and nightly walks or hikes. Added bonus: This app also tracks your sleep patterns. Tip: If you are pushing a stroller, make sure you move your band to a swinging arm or onto your ankle so you get credit for all of your movement ($129.99, iOS, Android).

• Nike Training: One word…Awesome! This app is made for women with varying levels of fitness ability and strength. Plug in your current fitness level, and you’ll receive a customized training program within minutes. I love that this app brings out my inner competitiveness and encourages me to “get lean, get toned and get strong!” (free, iOS, Android).

• Pocket Yoga: Rushing around and getting things done is how I normally live day-to-day, but sometimes even moms need some down time to get re-centered. Pocket Yoga allows you to create your own custom workout based on your favorite poses. You can add in breath counts, background music, length of pose, and much more. This app is even more effective via an iPad or streaming through Apple TV. Namaste! ($2.99, iOS, Android).

2+ years after my pregnancy, I have lost all my baby weight but am still not back to my old pre-baby body. I may never get there; however, I feel my confidence levels rising and am starting to feel more like the me I used to know pre-pregnancy – active, fit and happy. Do I still sport a muffin top? Yes ma’am, but it’s much smaller now and easier to hide. Thank you technology for getting me motivated and making fitness so easy as an on-the-go mom!

Written by Veena Goel Crownholm

Veena Goel Crownholm is a UCLA grad and former Miss California. Prior to having her son, she worked in the non-profit field doing special events and program development as well as working as a Program Officer for the Thomas J. Long Foundation. In 2010, after she had her son, she began her career as a Lifestyle Contributor both online and on-air, as well as motivational speaking. She enjoys DIY projects, Thrift Store/Flea Market hunting, Camping and Hiking. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, son and 3 puppies. For more information on Veena please visit www.VeenaGoelCrownholm.com or follow her at: www.TiarastoBabies.com or on twitter @TiarastoBabies.

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