Spring Weight Loss Tips For Mamas
So as someone who hasn't really needed to "watch her weight" (or as they say in France, and in the book I'm reading "Bringing Up Bebe," I haven't been "paying attention") in a really long time, I tried on my wedding dress during an unfortunate time of my cycle and found it to be a bit more snug than expected.
Since I'm willing to bet there's more than one of you out there reading this and thinking, "Yeah, that's me like every time I need to wear a dress or a bathing suit," and SINCE swimsuit season is around the corner, I thought I would share with you a few of my main go to ideas for slimming down 2-4 weeks before a big occasion.
So first, I was all like, "seamstress, you're doing it wrong." And then I thought, ok, maybe the dress DIDN'T get smaller...And then I realized that I might be on my period 4 weeks later when my wedding and honeymoon take place and I got so mad I didn't even want to deal...
So I marched my menstruating, puffy self right on home and reviewed my plan of holistic remedies for bloat-busting and waist-slimming and decided I'm not going to kill myself.
One of the first things I plan to do, at least every other day if not every day, is to drink warm water with freshly squeezed lemon in it. Doesn't have to be hot, and doesn't have to have tea or anything else in it. This totally helps with bloating. Lemon is a natural diuretic. It helps to cleanse and wake up your system, aiding in digestion and alkalizes your body. It's incredibly hydrating and is one of those things that makes a huge difference really quickly.
Next, is I am making sure to make my lunches bigger than my dinners. In the middle of the day our metabolism speeds up and our digestion is amped and ready to go. (As the sun sets and the day progresses, the rest of our body begins to slow and relax as well, including our digestion). This is why, contrary to what our on-the-go society may think, a "light salad" isn't the optimal way to fuel your body and we often experience the afternoon slump, craving sugar and caffeine. Eating solid lunches with tons of veggies, protein, healthy fats and carbs will keep you pumping all the way through dinner. Then, ideally, have a lighter, veggie-based dinner and top it off with a little walk afterwards.
I am moving my body every day, and changing it up! I walk, ride by bike or jog every day, OR take a yoga class or hit the gym for weights and strength training. You don't have to do the same thing every day, and you don't have to kill yourself. But walk, stretch, sweat, swim, climb, play, you gotta keep that body moving, and do it for at least an hour. I also use a fitbit to track my steps - just to keep myself accountable.
And finally, I stopped snacking. Since we wake up so early in the morning, I have found that I feel the best eating 3-4 times per day. Most adults actually thrive on 3 solid meals every day (yes, you thought I was going to say 6 small meals, right? Nope, not here.) We eat around 7am, 11am, 2pm, and 6pm. And I have found that I can really drop inches and notice improved digestion and energy when there is no eating after dinner! (That's a bonus tip!) Are you staying up so late that you get hungry again after dinner? It's time for an earlier bedtime, Mama!
It's never too late for a fresh start, especially with spring break, summer vacations and weddings around the corner!