Ahhh the post pregnancy body. The baby belly, stretch marks, excess weight, saggy boobs – the list goes on. Those darn kids, ruining what was once a temple. Right??
Being a mum of 2 girls, I completely understand how difficult it is to get our bodies back into shape after having a baby, but it’s also so important to accept the changes. Those tiger stripes are there for a reason mamma, so be proud!!
The only thing we can do is to be the best version of ourselves, so working with the body you have is where to start. Forget the dress sizes, bin the scales, they are but a number. Focus on eating well and moving daily. Don’t make time an excuse! Of course, we are all so busy and life seems to move so quickly these days, but make your health and wellbeing priority on your list of things to do. In fact, don’t make anything an excuse. Your body isn’t ruined and it’s certainly never too late to start. So whether your baby is 20 weeks or 20 years old, you can always make positive changes to your health and wellbeing.
As women, we are programmed genetically to be nurturers, carers, and putting others first is a natural instinct. Trying to change that and focus of ourselves can feel selfish, but in the long run it’s beneficial to those around us (you know what I’m saying)!
The question I get asked more than any other is “how do I get rid of my baby belly, I just can’t seem to shift it?” I always ask if it’s ok to take a look, and 99% of the time the ‘baby belly’ is actually just excess body fat – which is the best news as it means you don’t have to be stuck with it forever and you CAN get rid of it!
In order to get rid of excess body fat there needs to be a calorie/energy deficit within the body. In order to lose 1lb of body fat per week, the calorie/energy intake needs to be cut by 500kcals per day. You can do this by upping your workouts, moving about more, and eating less of the bad stuff. There really isn’t a quick fix, but noting your food intake and exercise can be really beneficial in helping you become more mindful of your lifestyle.
Unfortunately, it’s not possibly to spot reduce excess fat on your targeted area, so you might find that if you’re wanting to lose body fat from your belly, it may come off your legs or even arms first, for example, and no amount of sit ups will change this – rubbish I know! Persevere though, and the results you want will come.
Just remember your post baby body is beautiful and has served its purpose well. It’s created the miracle of life, and that’s definitely something to be proud of.
I hope you find this useful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting me and I’ll be happy to answer.
Kelly x
Kelly Francis Bell 