First of all, I should let you know that I debated calling the title of this post something different. In fact, the title of this post makes me cringe a little. The Food Babe lifestyle has never been about the number on the scale, nor do I ever want it to be. I also don’t want to encourage any feelings of self-doubt about body image for new Moms. Feeling good after having children should not come at the price of obsessing about weight, or trying to get your “pre-baby body back” because if you are a mom – you know your body (and mind and spirit) has been changed forever. Becoming a mom has been the greatest thing I have ever achieved in my life – nothing will ever come close and no extra weight on my body will ever take away the joy I have from giving birth and getting to spend time with my little girl. But there is a reality of wanting to look and feel like your best self again and this post is all about that.
When I became pregnant I didn’t know what exactly would happen to my body. I spent so much time over the years cultivating habits that made me feel healthy, energetic and vibrant… and then all of the sudden I was nauseous, had the burps, and was tired all the time. Although I had a great pregnancy – I felt pretty good and didn’t really have much to complain about – let me tell you, I was no longer feeling my best! For example, I suddenly found myself hating to cook because everything smelled funny (only in my first trimester – thank goodness) and hating to travel (my favorite hobby!) Sitting in an airplane seat was the most uncomfortable position ever! I realized that the symptoms I was experiencing were just caused by everything the body goes through while creating a little human. You know, you’re making a baby after all… and so of course you’re not going to feel like your normal self. This was a bit of an adjustment for me, but of course was all worth it.
Fortunately, I was able to workout all the way up until I gave birth which I know helped keep my mood stable, digestive system happy, my circulatory system working great and kept any swelling down. I did a mixture of weight-lifting, walking and light cardio throughout my pregnancy. I was around 155 pounds when I gave birth, gaining about 35 pounds during my pregnancy – I also developed varicose veins and had new cellulite on my legs.
After I gave birth, I was head over heels obsessed with my baby (and still am!). That obsession took priority and helped me not worry too much about how I looked after giving birth – although to be honest, it was always in the back of my mind, I wanted to get back into my old clothes. I always envisioned myself as an active and fit mom – someone that will be able to keep up with my kids, climb mountains and run around.
Instead of going on a fad diet, I kept my focus on making sure I was getting appropriate nutrition so that my breastmilk would be as nutrient dense as possible without harmful chemicals. Making sure my breast milk was clean of processed chemicals and other toxins kept me from eating badly. The health of my baby comes first, so it was great motivation. I did this by eating an organic and unprocessed diet, avoiding packaging as much as possible – and as a result, the extra pounds I gained during my pregnancy came off without having to do anything special (the varicose veins and cellulite vanished too).
By 5 months postpartum, I was already back into my pre-pregnancy clothes which I was very happy about but at the same time, my hair started falling out. This was FREAKY. Every time I took a shower and washed my hair, it was like a murder scene! I had to wear my hair up for weeks so my daughter wouldn’t be covered in it while she breastfed. I had a lot of postpartum hair loss on the top front of my head, but thankfully after two months, it stopped falling out and started to grow back. All that lush pregnancy hair was gone but thankfully my hair is almost back to normal and it was only temporary (and completely normal according to my doctor). And now a year later, I’m down another 10 pounds, but that wasn’t my goal. My goal wasn’t to be thin, it was to feel good. Feeling good as a mom means I have good energy, a good mood and can do all the million things I need to do without getting stressed out. Eating clean, unprocessed food makes me feel so good!
If you would have asked me over 10 years ago, “Can I lose 40 pounds after pregnancy?”, I’d tell you that I thought it would be MUCH more difficult and maybe not possible. I’d be counting every calorie and caught up in the old mentality that I had about food. Focusing on the quality of my food helped my weight struggles vanish for good and stopped that yo-yo state of dieting I always used to find myself in.
Above are candid selfies of 40.5 weeks pregnant and 1 year later in the same nursing bra. I also debated not sharing these, considering the comments I might receive, but nothing can be worse than what I have already experienced online sharing my life. I am proud of my healthy body post-pregnancy that continues to nourish my baby through breastfeeding and no one can take that away from me.
If you are wondering how and what I ate, I’ve put together a free E-Book for you. I hope this helps all you new Moms out there feel the best you can feel!
Here’s a sample of my after-pregnancy life, along with recipes and a meal schedule. Simply enter your email below:
HOW I LOST THE BABY WEIGHT MEAL PLAN
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Here’s what I learned about feeling good after pregnancy:
1. Consistency
- The key to losing the baby weight fast is staying consistent day in and day out. This takes only minimal planning ahead of time but will absolutely allow you to reach your goals in record time. Pick a day that works best for you during the week and simply choose 3-4 recipes to make at home. This could be 1 breakfast, 1-2 lunches and 1-2 dinner recipes. Before the baby came, I spent the last few weeks of my pregnancy tripling recipes so I could freeze them. My freezer stash of soups, stews, burritos and such lasted a good month postpartum.
2. Take Walks And Exercise
- Start slowly, but try to work up to high-intensity exercise a few times a week. For the first few weeks after giving birth I just took daily walks outside with Harley. Then I slowly started doing a little bit of elliptical training. About 4 weeks in, I began lifting some weights, and started going back to Hilliard Studio Method classes. Eventually I also took on Orangetheory – which is a lot of running and interval training. I wasn’t able to go every day – but just as much as I could when I had someone to help watch Harley.
3. Make Good Use Of Your Slow Cooker
To make your prep and cleanup time as quick as possible, use a small slow cooker. For breakfast, I would throw all the ingredients in a slow cooker the night before and wake up to a delicious and nutritious meal. Once you clean out the slow cooker from the morning, feel free to do the same with soup for dinner. Add some chopped vegetables, spices, protein and stock to the pot and set on low for 8 hours. Get over 50 of my favorite slow cooker recipes here.
4. Plan Out Your Snacks
One of the easiest ways to sabotage your success is lack of planning. Snacks are one of those areas where if you’re not careful you can easily overeat or eat foods that will promote weight gain. Take 5 minutes at the beginning of the week to ensure you have stocked your pantry or refrigerator with healthy snacks such as chopped vegetables, nuts or nut butter, brown rice crackers, etc.
5. Soup Is Your Best Friend
- Soup is so easy to make and with the right recipes it can be done in a pinch. I would often alternate between making different nourishing soups for dinner or salmon with a side of sweet potatoes and green vegetables. When eating salmon, try to limit your intake to twice per week.
If you know anyone who’s struggling to lose the baby weight or is currently pregnant and worrying about it, please share this post with them. I want all mothers out there to know that this is nothing to focus on other than getting the best nutrient dense food into your body!
Xo,
Vani
Thanks for this :). I had gained 75lbs (that’s right…75 POUNDS) with my first and I’m still struggling to lose it 2.5 years (and a second baby) later. I’m still up about 50lbs from what I weighed before. Some days are so hard. I was so active prior to pregnancy. I ran daily, yoga, P90x videos and all that. I also counted calories every day for years. I didn’t think I needed to during pregnancy and totally gave into every craving. And well…here I am. Trying to get to where I was with two little ones seems nearly impossible (and I’m breastfeeding… which isn’t really doing anything in terms of weight loss for me)!
But these are all great reminders!!! A very motivating post. Thank you for all the work you do!!
Ali – Congratulations on 2 beautiful children! I love p90x videos too – they are awesome when you can’t get out of the house.
You are absolutely beautiful! I’m 63 and still trying to rid he baby fat haha!
You go Girl! It takes major balls to share those pics – of course you look AMAZE – hat’s off Sista 🙂
Thank you Francesca… I sat on this post for a few months nervous to share, I’m so glad I did. I really appreciate the encouragement!
Wow! So great Vani! But no matter what a woman looks like after a pregnancy the most important thing is that she loves her babymaking body! It’s time to make a little extra weight and stretch marks beautiful! It’s really empowering to see women post photos of their imperfections.
You are also young and its your first child. All those are great healthy habits at any age, but ask a first time mom at 38, 39 or 40 OR a second time mom at 38 39 or 40 and the answer will likely be different. Body chemistry and composition changes as you get older and the risk is always not being able to go back to your original self as easily as it was in your 20s or 30s.
Did you know I’m a young 39 years old? I’ll be turning 40 next year 🙂
Love this response!
@Vani, WOW you look fabulous! I never would have guessed you’d be turning 40!
@Lisa, Don’t let your age get in the way or become an excuse to be the best you can be. I mean that in the most positive way. Like Tony Horton says, “Aging is for idiots.” The idea is to work toward success on a regular basis, something he practices himself, even as he approaches his 60s. His mantra: “Do your best, forget the rest.”
love this entire story! love you wer in your later 30s and you look so beautiful people think you are in your 20s!!
Ha, too funny!
drop!
I had my baby at 42! Lost all baby weight (around 40lbs) within 6 months. Just eating REAL food, walking, and lifting weights twice a week. It just takes planning, commitment, and sacrifice! You can do it!
I’m in my late 30’s and had my second child 16 months ago. I bounced back to my pre pregnancy weight a little slower than I did with my first child but still within the first year. So I disagree with Lisa’s comment. I know for a fact it’s all about how you’re fueling your body. It wasn’t until I was trying to get pregnant with my first child that I changed my outlook on food and the products I was putting on my body. In the end after having my first child, I ended up 15 pounds lighter than my pre pregnancy weight.
That’s actually not true. It’s a myth we tell ourselves. If you are struggling, get your thyroid checked, because you deserve to be healthy!
I am 43 years old and back down to my undergrad weight (120) pounds.
Timika Chambers
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Fantastic idea to share this post. Both of those pictures are absolutely beautiful!
You look amazing, keep being an inspiration!
Awww!! Good for you, Vani! You and your daughter are both beauties.
Woohoo!! So proud! You look beautiful and so healthy! I do have a question … did you have stretch marks?? I can’t see any I am basically back in my pre-pregnancy clothes but all the fat in my breasts went to my stomach! my biggest issue aside from that is STRETCH MARKS. I am a naturally small/petite woman (5 ft 3 ~115 lbs) so the pregnancy stretched me out so badly. I did not take very good care of my skin my first pregnancy so that is the majority of them but I did get some more the second time around. I read that some women are more genetically inclined to get stretch marks, which my mom has them too, so I think that is partially it (I have them from puberty too). I was curious if you had any tips, tricks, or advice on lessening the appearance of stretch marks?
Keep up the good work!
check out livinglibations products! they are all natural wonderfully sourced and have baby products too! I’ve never had a child but i’m researching as ill try for one after a couple of years. Trying to get my body to the best place so i can have a healthy child! Good luck!
You look beautiful in both pictures. I am glad you shared your pics. Keep up the amazing work you do to help everyone Vani. Congratulations on your first baby.
Such a great post, Vani! You look beautiful. I *adore* that you are almost 40, had a child, and got back to your pre-pregnancy weight. Kudos for writing about, and for sharing your secrets. With the right lifestyle and diet (real food), getting to a place where you feel good and healthy (regardless of the number on the scale) is more than possible. Thanks for all you do! Francesca
Way to go. My daughter is 6 and I don’t think my midsection will ever look anything like that again, despite being physically active and being mindful of what I eat.
You look great in both pics. Thanks for sharing. My experience hasn’t been quite as easy. I desperately wanted to workout after each child, but ever since having them I’ve been dealing with adrenal fatigue. I’m slowly finding out some things that seem to help improve my energy and have even started to do some low intensity workouts when I have some energy, but it’s definitely not the kind of energy I used to have. I honestly miss the workout high and just having that energy to run around with my kids. Hopefully things will improve with time.
Great job Vani!
Reading your post made me remember all of those fun things that happened to me too. Yes the hair loss was a bummer. I have a picture of me with my hair pulled back and it still scares me! Ha ha! The breastfeeding was key for me to lose the baby weight. I was so dang skinny after about six months too. That is a good motivator to breastfeed, besides it being so good for the baby. I had babies on the late side too, my first was when I was almost 34 and then my 2nd when I was 37. What’s awesome about it is that people think I’m younger because my kids are young. They wouldn’t ever guess that I’m 51 and have a 17 and 14 year old. Ha! Loving my tumeric supplements too! Keep inspiring others Vani, you’re awesome.
This is such a good reminder! You look amazing in both pictures. I’m 27 weeks pregnant and try to eat as clean and nutrient dense as possible. It’s not always easy but I remind myself of why eating clean is important for myself and baby. I am staying active as much as I can since I always feel better after. It’s amazing how when people learn I am pregnant they often question why I just don’t eat whatever and continue to workout! I hope to continue eating healthy and staying active until I deliver like you. I love the idea of cooking meals and freezing them! Hopefully my post pregnancy journey heads in the same direction as yours, healthy. Thank you for sharing this. It’s comforting to read when other people value the same things and their experiences.
Vani,
You did an AMAZING job! I’m so proud of you and I don’t even personally know you. You are an inspiration to many people, not only women. Keep doing what you’re doing because you ROCK at it! Your pictures were absolutely beautiful.
You look amazing! Such an inspiration and I reminder to myself that it does take time! I had my 3rd baby 5 weeks ago and I’m so annoyed that I still have 20 pounds to go! (Gained 40 total) At 23 with my first I snapped back with out trying or eating healthy! You have been a huge part of my journey to being a total health freak! Who says you can’t look bangin’ At 30 or 40? Way to show em’ and you should be 100% proud of these pictures! Reminding us all it’s just a way of life not a crash diet!
Go Vani Go! My daughter just turned one and I am below my pre-pregnancy weight… which I’m not too thrilled about! I am worried nursing is causing some issues for my health and don’t want to get too skinny. My daughter is so chubby, so I’m glad she’s healthy, but I’m struggling to eat enough with how busy she keeps me! Thanks for your tips on healthy (and fatty!) snacks like nut butters. You look great!!
Thx for sharing vani 🙂 i just recently had my second baby 1 month ago and am back to my pre pregnancy weight! I had an emergency c section my first and had a successful vbac with my second ^_^ didnt do much working out but i did do acupuncture, prenatal massage, and chiropractic adjustment throughout my pregnancy and it really helped to keep the swelling down and kept me feeling great. Raspberry leaf tea, bone broth, coconut oil, juicing, magnesium is A MUST!
Hey Vani! It’s Tory from ButcherBox! I’ll be 29 weeks pregnant on Monday! My pregnancy has been pretty easy thus far (knock on wood) – no morning sickness, 6 days a week of CrossFit (scaled of course) and some more isolated weight training exercises, and still sleeping well… the worst things I’ve had is 5 migraines during my first trimester and some bad leg cramps while I sleep. I’ve gained ~12-15lbs so far and have continued to eat well and nourish my body. Your tips for post-pregnancy are totally true for during too! Staying as consistent as possible, having snacks on hand, meal prepping, and exercise are really vital! Plus I’ve been taking your Truvani trumeric/curcumin supplement every night with my pre-natals. I think I have that to thank for my lack of swelling and inflammation! I love that you wrote this piece – you are beautiful inside and out!
Is anyone else having trouble requesting the baby weight meal plan? There isn’t a place to enter your email address.
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This is very timely, as I am 8 weeks pregnant and very worried about weight gain. Thanks so much for sharing. Just wondering, however, in your post you say after pregnancy your body will never be the same. Yet it appears you got yours back to where it was?
Amazing postbaby results !! You are an inspiration to me and I have followed your blog for a few years now. I am first time Mom of a 2 year old and in my mid30s. Please please share any core exercises you used to get rid of the abdominal pooch. I heard crunches and sit ups make your muscles pooch out even more. (I used to be so flat, pre-baby. )
Yes, I’d love to know how to get rid of the abdominal pooch properly as well!
While I love the before and after pictures….they are not realistic because you are pregnant in the before. You really should have taken a picture right after you gave birth for the true comparison.
Just sayin. 🙂
This is another subject, but where can you buy toilet paper that is free of chemicals?
Please send How I Lost Baby Fat meal plan > Thank you
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You look amazing!
I haven’t had any kids yet but I have been nervous about what my body would look like after giving birth from many of the stories I have heard. Thank you for sharing your experience and pictures, they are truly inspiring!
Not able to get how how I lost the baby weight meal plan??
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you wrote:
“Soup is so easy to make …. When eating salmon, try to limit your intake to twice per week.” Just curious, why is eating salmon daily (wild caught) not a good idea?
Hi, If you don’t mind may I ask you what you did for your belly? It looks great but usually when women have babies they get a lot of scratch marks. Did you use any specific oil or treatment?
I don’t have a baby but that is one thing I am curios about. I want to know before:)
Thank you for your response in advance.
That was my experience after baby 1. It’s a totally different story after multiple babies- your body and hormones are completely different. Along with your energy level because you have other babies to care for. So it’s not always that simple.