Hello Loves
So how many of you been traveling & partying this summer? Since summer time in India has already begun, I’m sure a lot of you have been finding ways to beat the heat. While there are a lot of ways to have a gala time and enjoy the holiday season make sure that you do not let it effect your health & body which will indirectly takes a toll on your weight. Yeah, all those beers, thick shakes, lemonades and yogurt ice-creams are mouth watering and satisfying under the scorching sun but sadly they’re loaded with sugar which is not so good for your health.
Let me share with you my weight loss journey:
I started my journey towards fitness even before my pregnancy. I’ve always believed in fitness and practiced Zumba. However, I was younger then with a good metabolic rate, so didn’t emphasize much on my diet. Apart form controlling on my sugar intake I din’t really stop myself from indulging. But, after having a baby, the story is completely different. You basically have to deal with 3 Post-partum issues to lose weight: weak & sore body, weight gain and an unpredictable baby. Furthermore, post-partum depression could make it worse.
Here’s how I started:
The doctor said I could start with my regular workouts after the 5th week, however I wasn’t quite ready because I had a really sore body. So at 6th week I started with breathing exercises from yoga & avoided sugar as much as possible. It made me calmer and helped me to stay focused my on goal. I practiced breathing everyday for half an hour in the morning and evening.
At week 12th, I started walking around my house for an hour daily. It helped me in regaining strength and getting my muscles back to work. At this time I stopped eating white rice, but I always made a point to eat nutrient and protein rich food in the form of cereals, pulses and nuts. Baby birth drains you out totally and you must focus on being stronger than losing weight. Since, your body has been through a major change, all you need is to feel energetic and refreshed.
When my baby was about 4 months old I started practicing traditional yoga. It is a great way to relax and stretch my body which has been tensed and feeble. It helped me in stretching all my joints and muscles and brought me back into momentum. All the asanas helped me with my hormonal imbalances and strengthened my weak back. I started feeling much better after joining traditional yoga and continued with it for about 2 months. I also used to go for a brisk walk in the evening for about 30 mins to keep lethargy at bay. And then, I shifted to Power Yoga. I was strong, determined and ready for vigorous workouts after taking it slowly for 6 months as I build my mind and body.
Power Yoga along with Pilates, Strength Training (be a little careful with the weights) & Circuit Training, all of these in moderation everyday without fail was my agenda. I made it a point to not to miss even one session, come what may. By this time I had lost half of the weight I’d targeted, but the stubborn fat in tricky areas was still a matter of concern hence, I joined a Gym besides continuing with my Yoga practice. And till date, I practice Yoga everyday for an hour and hit the gym for about 45 mins for some Cardio.
My Tip:
- Lose weight only if you want to: I see a lot of people trying to lose weight halfheartedly . Please do not do that. Make up your mind, don’t play with your body. Workout well, Push yourself & eat a balanced diet. If you’re compromising on any of these it would be an absolute waste of your time and energy.
- Know what a Balanced diet means: The younger crowd, especially college goers have a notion that eating fewer calories will help them lose weight which could be disastrous. For eg: Today I will have a Pizza for lunch and skip my dinner! (that way I will compromise on my calories) Now, here’s the catch: Skipping a meal might balance the calories, but what about your nutrient intake? A Pizza doesn’t have enough amount of protein to keep you going for the day, and by skipping your next meal you again cut down your protein consumption. In conclusion, you are a box of calories which is full of carbs and no protein, resulting in laziness, high blood sugar levels & muscle fatigue. Following such a diet and exercising can cause weakness and muscle cramps & in the long run can cause a lot of health issues.
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A balanced diet includes vegetables, green leaves, pulses, cereals, lean meat, dairy and fruits in moderation. Do make it a point to eat healthy meals with high protein content, it will also keep you fuller and will help you to gain strength
- Know your workout: It’s not necessary that everyone must follow the same workout regime. You could do what you enjoy and only when you enjoy you’d be able to do it everyday faithfully. Go for a Bicycle ride in the mornings, jog around, join your favorite Sport, hit a Gym. You can also enroll in a Dance/Zumba/Aerobics class, practice Yoga. For summers, you could also go for a nice swim everyday. One important tip: try to find your workout near your home. That way, you are more likely to be regular and punctual!
- Feel Good: Invest in some nice Fitness Gear, look good, get motivated and hit your gym with a smile. Smile is probably the most important to stay motivated an get results. Don’t get demotivated looking at that muscular guy or the hot girl right next to you, they might have started just like you 🙂 Stay focused, feel good about yourself and workout well!
- Stay Hydrated: A lot of people neglect the importance of water. It’s necessary to stay hydrated, it will help you to stay energetic. It also helps in burning your fat easily and in flushing out the toxins in your body. If you’re working out well, you need to compensate the water level which you lose in the form of sweat. So, drink a lot of water. Don’t drink refrigerated water, as it slows down your metabolism. For best results, have luke warm water !
- White is poison: All foods white in color briefly- sugar, salt, cheese, butter, cream etc must be avoided in any form! They’re are one of the main reasons for weight gain.
- Avoid Junk: I know that your favorite chocolate cake is hard to resist but if you are serious about losing weight and want to get fit, try to avoid it. Set goals and you can treat yourself once achieve them! You can definitely pamper yourself on occasions with your favorite food; but only if you’ve been serious with your workout and diet all through.
Your food cravings and what they mean!
- For Women: Post-Partum weight can be really challenging to lose, but stay strong! I know what it takes to raise a baby and to look after yourself. It’s okay to take your own time but don’t give up. Take it slow, one thing at a time and you will surely achieve the desired results.
I believe cooking at home makes great difference to your health as you know what’s going in your stomach and it’s obviously hygienic and fresh. Incase you are not a great cook you could just take someone’s help to learn some recipes. You can find more great recipes and product reviews from our friends at the Village Bakery
Hope this helps!
PS: Please do consult a nutritionist or a certified trainer before you take any major steps.
Clean eating, Healthy living! Good day folks 🙂
Love.
