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Bye bye baby-weight: how to regain your figure post-pregnancy

Whether you’re a new mother or not, I bet there is something in today’s article that will help become more fit, gain confidence or just learn a little empathy.

No matter how or why you’ve gained weight, know that it takes as long – if not longer – to lose that weight again.  Pregnancy is a special time and new mothers need to concentrate on their baby but you  may need to reprioritize if you are still blaming a spare-tire on baby weight, three years later!

Dads-to-be often gain baby weight too – if someone around you is eating more then the temptation to join in is hard to refuse. This week, I’m going to share five tips that will help you regain the figure you want.  I’m focusing on how to reclaim your pre-pregnancy body because it’s a message I relate to strongly.

During my last pregnancy I was carrying triplets and, with four months to go, I was put on bed-rest which meant my activity levels plummeted. Over forty weeks I gained 70lbs and I was nearly as wide as I am tall!
Finally welcoming my new babies to the world and introducing them to their big brother and the rest of the family was magical. I think the sole focus for new parents should be enjoying every second with their new little human because they change so quickly.
Since it takes forty weeks to gain baby weight then you should give yourself at least forty weeks to lose the weight too.  When we see airbrushed photos of celebrities who have six-packs within weeks of giving birth, we shouldn’t try and compare ourselves.  A sensible approach – giving yourself plenty of time to be with your baby and learning to balance the diaper changes, feedings, and lack of sleep is much better than looking at yourself in contrast to a pampered celebrity.

Stay safe.  New mothers need to be careful when they first begin exercising. Check with your doctor about when to recommit to exercise: without exception your joints may be weak and your body may be sore.

As soon as I received the all clear to start exercising again, I tried to jump straight into exercising intensely and it was too hard.  I learned that I need to be kind to myself and be patient. Rather than make my mistake of rushing in too quickly – try these weight-loss, figure-regaining tips.

Post pregnancy tip 1:  make time

Trust me, I know that as a new parent you don’t have time but you have to grab a moment when you can. Try to find some time every day – aiming for 10 minutes is a good start. Ask a family member or your partner to make a commitment to give you a break or put it in your schedule during baby naptime. If you’re already back at work, then try to fit in a walk around the block at lunchtime. It’s hard but exercising will ultimately give you more energy.

Post-pregnancy tip 2:  no more excuses

Try to at least walk, stretch or do something that involves moving every day. Exercise naturally boosts your energy levels so don’t hide behind excuses. Knowing you are doing something positive for yourself, when you’re also realizing that your life is no longer all about you, may help you get motivated and better adapt to the new person in your world.

Post-pregnancy tip 3:  be creative

I’ve said it before: any time exercising is better than no time. You need to be resourceful, so try jumping rope, adding in  squats while washing baby bottles, and doing crunches in bed. This might all sound crazy but it’s a workable way to fit in activity. It worked for me: my 10 minute routine in my bedroom each morning and evening was enough to start pushing me back to fitness.

Post-pregnancy tip 4: focus on your core

Work on your posture all day because pregnancy alone can mess with your posture and balance. Lifting a growing baby, bending over a crib, pushing heavy strollers and more … means that your postural muscles may need stretching throughout the day. Holding in and contracting your abdominal muscles will help strengthen them, so pull in your tummy a few times a day – whenever you remember – and each time you’ll be developing your muscles. Go ahead; pull in your tummy right now!

Post-pregnancy tip 5: eat well

Aim for quality nutrition every day. I saved the most important tip for last because immediately post pregnancy is not a time for fad diets that deprive your body of essential nutrients. Starving your body is never a good solution for weight loss. A smart calorie-controlled diet that provides your body with essential carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins and minerals is a much better choice because it is sustainable long term.
Learning how to balance your caloric intake and caloric expenditure will help you to lose weight at sustainable rate. If you are nursing, however, you must check with a health professional to ensure you consume enough calories to produce nutrient-rich milk.

 ***

Make time to play, head outdoors and keep moving. Every step will help you regain control of your figure.

That’s it – I hope that when you read my tips they seem manageable.  I am so passionate about helping people to reclaim their body after a baby because I’ve dealt with the insecurity that come with body changes. I’ve admitted before that I cried, I turned to comfort foods to make me feel better, and I did all the wrong things before I decided to get smart and practice what I preach. I spent a good four years getting my fitness levels back up and at times it was hard but I believe it was worth the effort.
Now I love my post-pregnancy body, it’s stronger than ever and I use it to run around the soccer field with my kids, hug them when they (or I) need comfort and I love to jump and dance to make sure all of us stay smiling.   Being fit has helped me keep my energy levels up and that’s important if you have four rambunctious children running around and demanding attention.  Losing the weight was part of my goal but fully committing to taking part in my life was the best outcome!
Start your journey today with commitment and a smart approach because you may just surprise yourself.

Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA.

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The Calorie Calculator - How Many Calories Do You Need?

Whether you're looking to lose or gain, here's the equation to calculating exactly how many calories you need.

MF Editors

A. Take your weight (in pounds) and multiply it by 11: _____. This is the amount of calories your body burn to stay alive.

B. Multiply the value you calculated for A by 1.5: _____. This is how many calories your body burns going through normal, daily activities.

C. Multiply the number of minutes per week you lift weights by 5: _____.
(For example, four one-hour workouts per week would be 240 minutes.)

D. Multiply the number of minutes per week you run, cycle, or play sports by 8: _____.

E. Add the values for C and D, then divide by 7: _____.

F. Add the values for B and E to get your daily calorie needs: _____.
(This is the number of calories you ned to maintain your body weight in your current lifestyle.)

Yogurt and probiotics promote digestive health.

If you’ve spent any time in the yogurt section of your local supermarket lately, you might see more and more products that highlight their “live active cultures” – a nice way of saying that the yogurt is full of bacteria.

While the idea of consuming bacteria in the diet may not sound appealing, probiotic bacteria found in yogurt and other fermented dairy products can promote digestive health.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help maintain the proper balance of the microorganisms (called flora) that live in your digestive tract.  Your digestive system is home to hundreds of types of probiotics, and these helpful bacteria keep the growth of other, potentially harmful, bacteria at bay – thus promoting healthy digestion.

The bacteria in your system also help to break down foods that are resistant to normal digestion, allowing you to obtain more nutrients from your foods.  In the process, gas is produced – but we have other gas-guzzling bacteria that keep its production in check.  So, a healthy balance of these various intestinal ‘bugs’ is key to a well-functioning digestive tract.

One of the most common strains of probiotic bacteria that reside in your intestines is Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is found in yogurt.  When you eat yogurt that has ‘active, live cultures’ (the label will tell you), you can be assured that you are consuming this healthy probiotic.

Written by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD. 

Cellulite: how to get rid of thigh dimples

Do you ever think about cellulite?  Do you have cellulite? Cellulite is the dimple effect seen on thighs up and down the land. And if you’re thinking, “what an earth could she possibly know about having cellulite?” Let me fill you in on a little secret: I have never trained with a woman who doesn’t have it and, yes, I too am guilty of owning a little cellulite of my own!

With the warmer months fast approaching, the dread of revealing all in a bathing suit or shorts has many men and women frantically dieting and exercising in an attempt to shape up. If you read my summer countdown post, you know that getting active today means you may see some improvement in your external appearance just in time for beach season!

What is cellulite?

Many people have heard of the ‘cottage cheese effect’ but let me explain what cellulite really is: it’s simply subcutaneous fat. Fat squished under the surface of your skin. It has a dimpled appearance because bands of collagen fibrous connective tissue sometimes push outwards as fat cells expand. Males and females can suffer cellulite on their buttocks, thighs, and tummy – although more women experience the phenomenon. And, no, having cellulite is not a sign that you are necessarily unhealthily fat – most people now recognize that cellulite is caused by genetics (and bad luck) and can appear regardless of weight, age or fitness level.

One of the things that I think makes people horrified by the thought of cellulite is the range of unfortunate names that describe the bumpy appearance: cottage cheese thighs, orange peel skin, chicken skin and bubble legs.  It’s hard to embrace body confidence when you have these descriptive terms running through your mind so, from now on, let’s just accept cellulite as a reality and choose to find the names amusing rather than hurtful.

What’s the best way get rid of cellulite?

This is a hot topic question and, sadly, if you ask most doctors or read the medical research, you will see that it is not possible to get rid of cellulite altogether. A healthy, active lifestyle is your best bet to reduce the appearance of cellulite and, if you couple regular exercise with a good dose of confidence, then you can banish cellulite worries! After all, there’s more to life, right? Having cellulite does not mean you are unhealthy or overweight or undesirable – it means you are human and many humans get cellulite!

My secret weapon against cellulite

Self-confidence and feeling beautiful regardless of what you can see in the mirror is the perfect fix for cellulite because confidence is beautiful! The way you carry yourself through life; your posture and your attitude is ultimately what others around you can see.

To help build your confidence, try improving muscle tone in your legs and glutes by following a resistance-training program combined with quality daily nutrition. Personally, being active and healthy makes me feel more positive, and the internal and external benefits of being fit make me feel more confident.

***

While I’m busy baring all of my secrets today here’s one more; after having my triplets I cried when I looked at myself in the mirror. I mourned the loss of my previously un-scarred and powerful athletic physique. I swore I would never wear a swimsuit again!  My husband asked me – quietly, over the sound of snuffling babies – “why would you be so upset about something you wear only a few times a year and, anyway, what makes you think you have time for the beach?!” I had to laugh at his question as visions of trying to prevent four kids from eating sand came to mind.

I have since proudly built sandcastles and chased my kids around at the beach – while wearing a swimsuit.  Cellulite was a reality as an professional sprinter and it’s still a reality as a mom, only now I’ve added the extra beauty of a few scars to the mix.

I’m confident that if you see me at the beach, you will only notice my energy, smile and love of life because a healthy, active life combined with self-confidence has gotten rid of my cellulite and scars forever, metaphorically speaking anyway.

Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA. 

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Great 5 Minute Ab Workout

Are you ready to work your abs with Samantha Clayton, fitness expert and former competitive sprinter to achieve a healthy, active life?

"Today, we're going to focus on engaging your core, and work on getting that perfect flat tummy or serious six-pack. In just five-minutes, I expect you to feel the burn and realize that lack of time is not a good enough excuse for not working out your mid-section."

Remember! Some exercises are not right for everyone, so please listen to your body and, if an exercise doesn't feel right, then opt for a modified version or stick with an exercise that feels good and fits within your current fitness level.

Good nutrition & convenience can go hand-in-hand



 Focus on good nutrition while making use of pre-prepared foods and you’ll find that healthy eating is easy.

One of the biggest complaints people have about eating healthily is the perception that it requires more hours in the kitchen to prepare nutritious meals.  But there are so many convenience items available now that preparing healthy meals is a snap.
For protein, you can buy fish or poultry that’s already seasoned and ready for quick grilling or frozen pre-cooked shrimp that can be tossed with some pasta and veggies for a quick dish.  And don’t overlook canned tuna, salmon or chicken breast that can be added to salad greens, rice dishes or soups.
You can also boost the nutritional value of condensed soups by mixing them with nonfat milk or soy milk instead of water.  As the soup is heating, toss in some frozen mixed vegetables, or some loose pack spinach to add nutrition, flavor and bulk.  Frozen-loose pack vegetables allow you to use only what you need and are ready to eat in minutes.
Salad preparation can also be quick thanks to pre-washed salad greens, all sorts of pre-sliced and chopped veggies and baby carrots.  Add a splash of low-fat bottled dressing and some pre-cooked chicken or shrimp and you’ve got a quick and healthy meal.
Fresh, pre-washed and cut veggies are available in the produce section, and if your market has a salad bar you can often find them there, too.  Pop them in the steamer, toss with some pre-chopped garlic or onions when they’re crisp/tender, and you’ve got a gourmet dish in minutes.

Written by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD