how can i get my body back?

With temps hovering in the 90s most days, summer is undeniably here, and here to stay! Trying to keep cool in this heat usually means wearing less clothes, or... a swim suit (gasp!) If you recently had a baby (and by "recently", I mean "ever"), and the thought of putting on a swim suit makes you sweat more than the southern sun at noon, read on! 

​Your body has done amazing things in the last year or so! You grew an entire human being and you are now keeping that tiny human alive. But maybe you miss your old self, your old clothes, your old shape, and you are wondering how to get yourself back. Here are some tips to get you feeling like your old self again.

1. Eat up! Yes, keep eating! I’m personally not a big fan of diets, but this is an extra bad time to attempt weight loss by cutting calories. Continue to eat plenty of high quality calories, including proteins, healthy fats, and yes, carbohydrates. Fruits, veggies, lean meats, nuts, avocado, beans, eggs, and oatmeal provide great flavors, tons of nutrition, and fill you up. If you are breastfeeding, avocado may be especially beneficial as a source of healthy fats and the oatmeal may help increase your supply. I recommend that breastfeeding mothers resist the temptation to go on a juice fast or any other restrictive diet. Breastfeeding will use about 500 calories a day, so you can safely lose about a pound a week without ever feeling hungry!
2. Drink up! Your body may need more than you used to drink, so drink to thirst. No need to force fluids, your body will tell you when it is thirsty. Take a water bottle with you when you leave the house and have one nearby when you breastfeed or pump.
3. Cut the garbage! Most of it, anyway. Treats can be very satisfying and make you feel happy and normal, and there’s no need to eliminate every non-perfect food. Plan for a treat after a meal, and take the time to savor and enjoy it. But mindlessly eating piles of garbage food will probably just make you feel yucky and guilty.
4. Get some exercise! A little fresh air can make a huge difference in how you feel mentally and physically. Once your OB has cleared you for normal activity, take a walk! Light and moderate exercise is safe and healthy while breastfeeding, and it is a fun way to spend time with your baby. In Greensboro, there are mom-and-me exercise groups that provide friendship, fun, and support for moms of young babies. If you would like more information about these groups, please reach out to me and I can get you in touch with them!
5. Be as kind to yourself as you are to your best friend! Self talk matters, so be mindful of what messages you tell yourself about your body and your abilities. Would you tell a friend the things you tell yourself? Most likely you are telling your friends things like, “you are amazing”, and “you are beautiful”, and “you’re a superhero because you just had a baby and you are keeping it alive with your breast milk!” The truths that you speak to your BFF apply to you as well, so be sure to speak truth to yourself!

Bonus tip: To get the perfect beach body:

1. Have a body.
2. Go to the beach!
3. There it is… the perfect beach body! ​