FAQ: How have you lost the baby weight?!

Okay y’all,
The post that SO MANY of you have been waiting for!!
I really really hope this post doesn’t disappoint and answers all of your questions, BUT if it doesn’t, please feel free to comment/email/DM me if you have any questions whatsoever!!

Before I get started I HAD to show y’all my outfit from last weekends rehearsal dinner…
I felt more confident than I have in a WHILE and I figured that needed to be documented!
I’m completely obsessed with this rainbow dress and I’m going to wear it AS MUCH as possible while it’s still hot outside.
Can’t wait to dress it down and pair it with some cute sneakers soon.

Okay so, I really wanted to wait and do this post when I was 100% back in shape BUT I’m getting overwhelmed with all of the DM’s asking about what I’ve been doing to lose the baby weight SO I figured I would share a little about what I’ve been doing to slowly get rid of it and what my long term plans and goals are!!

First things first, I gained about 35 lbs during my pregnancy and I really didn’t do much working out, which I regret!
I did a good amount of walking and would very very occasionally do some body weight exercises at home BUT the next time around I really want to try and work out through my entire pregnancy…
Because working out again when you haven’t worked out in over a year is NOT easy… it actually freaking sucks haha

So the first 6 weeks after Hayes was born I really wasn’t even thinking about losing weight. I was in full on new mom mode and just soaking up everything and appreciating my body for what it had just done!

However, I swear breastfeeding helped me tremendously those first few weeks when it comes to weight loss! I started going on little walks as soon as I felt up for it just to get my body moving, but BE CAREFUL and do not overdo it in those first few weeks! I was super sore one morning and way overdid it on one of my walks so I had to take a break for a week or so. Giving birth is SERIOUS business and your body needs plenty of time to heal, so seriously y’all, do not rush into working out!!
As far as eating goes, I feel like my main food source was straight carbs the first 3 months of Hayes’s life,
I seriously couldn’t get enough carbs and they were the only thing that satisfied me.
Breastfeeding hunger is no joke!
I kind of just ate what I wanted and then as soon as I was cleared to work out again I continued to eat what I wanted but was way more aware of my portions and wouldn’t overdo it, especially at night!

I’ve worked out a good amount since having Hayes but I’m definitely not as consistent as I’d like to be!
I think the hardest part for most people is finding the motivation to get up and get moving…especially for new exhausted moms!
But now, on top of that, I have to find the TIME. Hayes is always pretty consistent with his morning nap so I’ve learned that I need to do my work out during that time frame or it most likely won’t get done!
I usually use that time for blogging or household stuff but in order to make sure I get a work out in I’ve had to switch up our schedule a little bit, but y’all, I am SO MUCH HAPPIER and more energetic on the days that I get a work out in!

Alright, WHAT WORKOUTS HAVE I BEEN DOING?! 

Before I get started I just want to preface this and say I AM NOT trying to sell this to y’all.
I am “technically” still a coach (became one a few years ago so I could get discount on the shakes) and if you do order stuff through my links I will get a small commission, but y’all, I genuinely SWEAR by these work outs and this shake and I probably won’t ever get a gym membership again because I believe in the program so much.
Honestly, throughout my pregnancy I gained weight pretty quickly at first but I was NEVER worried because I knew exactly how I was going to lose it all afterwards.

Okay, so anyways…
A few years ago I decided to order a challenge pack from BeachBody and it completely changed my body.
After about 2-3 months of doing the at home work outs and drinking their protein/superfood shake for lunch every day I was legitimately in THE best shape of my life. Please don’t be confused though, I DID put in the work every day (5 days a week) and this is not some “miracle program” where you can drink some shake and get abs. This is a program that is designed to help you create a habit of working out regularly and living a healthy lifestyle, it provides you with awesome 30 minute work outs that can be done at home as well as a meal replacement shake that is packed full of superfoods. So basically, it’s teaching you to make better/healthier choices each day, which of course leads to a healthier body!
I have always struggled with eating junk or grabbing something quick (like an XL bag of hot cheetos) when I’m starving and having this shake on hand has been a total game changer, especially since becoming a mom. It’s full of nutrients and good things that your body needs and I have always sucked at making sure I get in all of my fruits and vegetable so I LOVE that I can quickly make a healthy shake after working out and know that I’m getting a ton of nutrients from it.

Now, yes I had heard of BeachBody before and I had even done some of their workout programs in high school and college, but for some reason I wasn’t a huge fan, they were either CRAZY hard or I just couldn’t get into it…but this one was different, no clue why, it just was…or maybe I was just super motivated. I don’t know what it was but it is hands down MY FAVORITE work out program.
So whenever I first started the program I decided to go with the 21 day fix challenge pack (work outs + shake) and after doing two rounds of that (6 weeks) I moved on to the 21 day fix extreme challenge pack and that’s really when I started noticing some muscle poppin’ and the love handles that I had been trying my entire life to get rid of finally disappear.
After having Hayes I just went straight into the extreme work outs again because they’re my favorite, did I have to modify some of the moves? YEP. Do they kick my butt? YEP. But I loved what they did to my body previously, so I’ve been doing those occasionally as well as drinking a shake for lunch every now and then.

(When I first did this work out program years ago I had AWESOME before and after photos but I can’t find them anywhere and I’m so disappointed…so I guess I’ll have to take some new ones for y’all!)

Since we have Hawaii coming up I really want to start being more consistent and get my butt back in shape.
I have lost the baby weight BUT my tummy is nowhere near as toned as it used to be and my booty is pretty sad right now.
So starting Monday I’m going to restart the 21 day fix extreme program and I’m super pumped about it!!
I’m going to do two rounds of it which means I have exactly 6 weeks to get my butt in shape for our trip!
I’m also going to start having the shake for lunch every single day instead of just occasionally.

BeachBody has TONS of awesome programs but the 21DF programs are definitely a favorite of mine AND I’ve done them before and know that they can change your body significantly if you’re consistent! I’ll be keeping y’all updated with everything and will of course let y’all know when I decide to try out a different program of theirs!
If you have any questions on the work outs or the shake or if you want to start a program with me and keep each other accountable just holler at ya girl!

As far as my diet goes, I definitely am not super strict!
I love a good queso + margarita night and pizza and I are totally BFFs.
But I really do try to eat “good” most of the time!

I typically have some oatmeal + an English muffin every morning (& fruit if we have any!)
Shakeology for lunch
And for dinner we’ve been doing Blue Apron!
It is SO easy and convenient and you can even choose your meals for the upcoming weeks.
I love it because I am NOT a cook and trying to come up with meals to cook every week totally stresses me out…
Bonus, the meals are usually super healthy and always delicious!!

I’m sure I’ll get asked this – I drink the Vegan Vanilla shakeology! and I get the bag instead of the individual packets.
I’ve tried both chocolate and strawberry but I like the vanilla because you can make so many different recipes out of it!
If you’re thinking about getting a work out program and also want to try the shakes make sure you order a challenge pack and don’t order them individually, you’ll save $$ that way!!

Okay y’all, that’s it for today!!
Love you and thanks for stopping by!