There are very few things in life more difficult than losing weight, especially as you get older. It takes dedication and a commitment to make life changes. As humans we are creatures of habit and unfortunately we pick up bad habits rather quickly.

I recently had my second baby and as a normally petite 5’2” woman, pregnancy has never my strong suit. I also have a giant husband who measures in at a whopping 6’5”. Together we produced two very large, tall, boys.

Going into this pregnancy I knew it would be my last so I didn’t restrain myself from any cravings. If I wanted a cookie, I was going to eat a cookie… okay, maybe two cookies – who’s counting anyways? I also headed up the Catering department at a luxury hotel so indulging in amazing food was not something I was ever going to turn down. Pregnant women like to joke they are now eating for two, but let’s be honest here; the second person is practically the size of a melon. I’m sure they don’t require a whole cookie just for themselves.

I admit my love for food is unparalleled, pregnant or not. This obsession coupled with hypothyroidism, hormone treatments, and an intense sweet tooth caused me to gain nearly 20 lbs. before I even became pregnant. During my pregnancy I gained another 40lbs, so I knew once this baby arrived – I would have my work cut out for me. In my last trimester I put together a weight loss game plan. I knew if I waited I would get caught up in the daily struggles of taking care of a newborn and my goals may have been sidelined.

Let me first state that I am not a weight loss expert, a doctor, a nutritionist or even a personal trainer – I am just a busy mom who is passionate about my health and the example I set for my boys.

My first step was writing goals down and sharing them with friends and family. I am a firm believer in sharing your goals so you’re held accountable for them. Plus, you can use the encouragement and support you receive as inspiration to continue on your path.

Next, I created a realistic timeline. It takes nine months to put on the weight and it very well may take nine months (or longer) to take it off. Being a mom is stressful enough so be sure to make attainable goals, as you want your weight loss to be a healthy one.

I then downloaded some helpful apps to track my progress and started following some fitness blogs. Lastly, I continued to stay true to my goals and myself. If I cheated one day, I made a conscious effort not to do it the next day or any future days.

Below are tips that helped me in reaching my goal weight:

• I wrote down my goals and shared them.
• I chose to nurse my son. Nursing, if you can and choose to, will help you lose up to 500 calories a day! This helped tremendously with my initial weight loss.
• I toned down my portions. Eating off of a salad plate rather than a dinner plate helped me gain perspective on my portion sizes.
• I eat very little dairy, refined sugars and gluten. Diary and gluten can give your baby gas when nursing so giving them up was a win for both my baby and me. I know gluten-free products can be expensive so try substituting one item at a time that your budget allows.
• Sweets are now just an occasional treat, not part of my daily meal plan. I do miss my cookies though!
• I signed up for a Mommy Fit class. These classes are a great way to incorporate your baby into your fitness routine, and are the perfect networking opportunities for you to meet other new moms.
• I enjoy running as a cardio workout, so I signed up for future races to keep my goals ongoing.
• I follow fitness / healthy lifestyle blogs religiously. Three of my favorites: New mom, Kelsey Byers Fitness, Becci Prather Fitness, and Angela Carpenter, The Yoga Life Blog. All give recipes, food recommendations, fitness routine suggestions and post videos to show the ‘How To.’
• I have two apps that I also use religiously: Nike + Running App to track my miles and running goals, and My Fitness Pal to track my calories, food intake and exercise goals.
• When the baby naps I try to use that time to work out, whether it’s simple floor exercises, push-ups or using hand weights.
• This one may sting a little… I consume very little alcohol. Alcohol is a complete waste of calories and it also prevents me from nursing my son. I now consider it only as a treat on special occasions. The nightly glass of wine for relaxation is now a thing of the past.

Today my son is almost five months old and my progress has exceeded my expectations. When I checked into the hospital I weighed 185lbs, I currently weigh 120lbs. I feel amazing but most importantly – I feel healthy.

Posted on 4/16/2014

Written by Holly Rust

Holly is a native Texan but currently resides in the great city of Chicago with her husband, two sons and their Chihuahua. She spent over 10 years in Marketing, Communications and the Luxury Hotel Industry. She is now a Freelance Writer, www.hollyrust.com, which allows more time for sanity and family. She is the Co-Founder of Mother’s Guide To Sanity, a humor blog where she shares stories about raising a rambunctious toddler and a nocturnal newborn, all while trying to manage a career. Holly considers herself the ultimate foodie and loves to travel. She is also an avid runner and completed the 2011 Chicago Marathon. She plans to run the Chicago Marathon again in 2014.

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