Body After Baby: The Reality and What You Can Do



So you just had a baby.  Last month... last year... 15 years ago ;)  Whatever your situation, your body has changed.  All of the hype about "getting your body back"?  Forget about that.  If you're like me, you've literally had your intestines taken out, laid on a table, and put back in again.  And while it's all fully functional, you can tell that everything in there still feels a bit off and it probably always will.  Like the constant feeling that I must pee right this second, but then next to nothing comes out.  Or the sudden electric shock I feel deep under layers of muscle and fat.  Oh and of course, the beloved droopy belly button that ironically sits in the shape of a frown.  I can eat kale and brussel sprouts for every dang meal and those things will not change.  I accept this and I'm totally fine with it considering the amazing humans I got out of it.  I'm proud and you should be too.  So let's just start there.

What you CAN change is your relationship with food, your percentage of body fat, your gut health and overall level of wellness that allows you to live an amazing life.  Here I am sharing my 5 steps to body after baby, to be done in no particular order, to stop feeling like you're sitting on the bench and get you back into the game!  



1. Make fruits and veggies a priority.  I used to think my husband was a bad influence on my eating habits until toddlers entered my life.  While my head and my heart both say fresh chicken and veggie stir fry, my energy level says canned peaches and hot dogs.  Because that is the only thing I can get the rugrats to consume and you've got to be kidding me if you expect me to make 2 different meals every night.  It's just not happening.  This is where meal prep and planning ahead have been sooooo crucial.  When I take the time to do it right, I know I at least have something healthy pre-packaged at lunch, and last week's Hello Fresh box for dinners had me wondering why I hadn't jumped on that bandwagon earlier.  Sign me up, I'm sold.  Use my link to get $40 off your first box!  



2. Drink a good quality protein shake daily.  If you need to lose weight, choose a meal replacement.  If you just want to slim and tone, the standard blend will do just fine. I recommend IdealFit due to the amazing flavors and specificity for women and IdealRaw for breastfeeders or those just looking for an affordable vegan option.  There's even a 6 week Fit Mommy Program in there!  Of course, check with your physician before starting with any supplement.  





3. You NEED a belly band.  Not just for a week, but for as long as you can stand it and until you feel like your skin is mostly back in place.  I seriously wore mine for months and I will 100% do it again if I have more.  It holds it all in place and literally trains to stomach to do what you want it to do.  I'm not positive how it would work if you did it later on down the road, but I'd imagine it's worth a try!  I used one like this UpSpring Baby Shrinkx Belly Postpartum Belly Wrap


4. Make sure you have some at home workout options.  I used be a gym rat because exercising at home just had way too many distractions, and I still agree it's not preferred.  But the truth is, when you are the one responsible for wee humans, you cannot just pick up and go to the gym.  And for the first 2 years they are either rolling around on the ground or sticking everything they encounter in their mouths so no thank you, I do not want to utilize the gym's kids space. Two potential life savers include Beachbody On Demand and Aaptiv, an audio app that allows you to hook up your earbuds, step outside with stroller in hand, and experience a virtual fit coach telling you your next move each step of the way.  How cool is that?! 

5. Shift your mindset!  It makes me sad when I see moms so down on themselves because they know they will never look the way they used to and so they just sit under the umbrella in their t-shirt all day watching the kids play from afar.  No, your body will not look the way it used to, but you can still get it back to a point of pride and know that you worked dang hard at it too!  Join my group for that added lift, that bit of motivation, and your own personal cheerleaders to keep you going strong! 



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Amazon Finds to Perfect the Morning Routine

Mornings... ugh.  Even as a true morning person, as a working mom, the word typically makes me cringe.  Waking up knowing your hectic work day hasn't even begun and you're probably doing it before you're truly ready is hard enough.  Let's make things easy on ourselves and at least make the morning routine something to smile about! Lately I've made a few purchases that although small, have definitely given me a sense of ease and control to start the day.  What are they?? I thought you'd never ask! ;) 

1. Joy Mangano huggable hangers.  If you follow me on Facebook you know I've been gushing, but I'm posting the link here for anyone who missed the memo.  I know it's so bizarre and yes it took me 35 years to decide it was worth it to spend actual money on hangers, but trust me when I tell you it is.  When you wake up in the morning in a grump and walk to your closet to find something to wear, what is the first thing you see?? Nicely displayed organization?  Or a mismatched mess with garments half falling off and you can't find the one thing you were actually looking for?    Don't underestimate the value of an organized closet.  When you use these hangers, the clothes do not fall off, they're super slim and space saving, and everything is at the same level, making it easy to find exactly what you are looking for.  I prefer a neutral color because it allows attention to stay on the clothes and not the popping color of the hangers, but to each their own and if you want bright pink hangers, I certainly won't judge. 




2. Organized products and makeup.  I literally had my face and makeup products just lying all over the top of my dresser in no particular order and my makeup bag I am pretty sure I got as a freebie back in high school and was still shoving makeup into it, along with old old old products I didn't even remember were in there.  After the hanger revelation, I decided I needed a new makeup pouch as well.  Picked this adorable Scout print and then bought some plastic organizing baskets at Walmart for like $.99  or something like that which keep my face products contained in the bathroom cabinet.  




3.  Pretty brushes.  If I have to put my face on before I'm actually ready to be awake, I'd rather do it with brushes that make me smile a little bit.  Got these pink ones on Amazon for $10 bucks for 14 brushes.  I'll admit I was a little skeptical at the price, but they had good reviews and I have to say I'm very happy with them.  When they first come they will smell like paint, but but the company acknowledges this and when I followed the instructions to simply wash them with shampoo before using, the smell was totally gone.  Not a bad buy!  


Ok, I realize none of these little items should be life changing, but when it comes to getting through your morning and starting your day right, it's the little things that count!  What are the products that help you start your morning?!  Feel free to share in comments below! 


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