Body After Baby | My Postpartum Journey After Baby #2

Hi friends! Some of you may know that this little blog started before my wedding to help me stay accountable with getting fit for my wedding day. I continued on with it as my health/fitness goals progressed or changed. After we moved to Europe and had Noah I enjoyed blogging more "lifestyle" type posts, but health and fitness is still very much a huge part of my life.

So here I am 7 weeks postpartum with baby #2 and ready to begin my journey to becoming the healthiest mama I can be for my babies. I plan to write about this at least once a month. I want to share what is working for me and what isn't. My struggles and triumphs as I find my groove being a mom of 2 and maintaining an active lifestyle. For me, this is an important goal so I can be a better mother. Eating right (most of the time) and staying active keeps me happy and sane...self care is so important as a mom. So whatever that thing may be for you, do it!! I have enjoyed 6 weeks of snuggling my baby and focusing on milk supply (still both priorities) but mama needs her time!

I will be tracking my progress mostly through pictures although I will be weighing myself from time to time. I have about 40 lbs to lose to get back to my pre pregnancy weight. That isn't my priority tho...fitting into my clothes is ;)

Far left is almost 38 weeks pregs, 1 week PP and 7 weeks PP. Real life progress pics.

I am not the type of woman who walks out of the hospital without a belly or weight to lose. I gain a lot while pregnant and have a lot of work to do postpartum. I entered a 16 week transformation challenge through my nutrition company at 1 week PP. Seems crazy but 16 weeks is a long time and it will be exciting to track my progress at 4 months PP. I will continue on from there in 16 week increments. It will keep me accountable and there is also the added bonus of receiving $200 for completing of the challenge!

Not even 24 hours post baby. Our bodies are amazing! 

GOAL
My overall goal is to lose body fat and replace it with muscle. I want to fit back into my favorite pair of jeans and regain my strength in the gym. This is definitely going to be a journey but I am so excited. I know I can accomplish this. I did it after Noah so I can do it again!
I hope I can paint a realistic picture and time frame for other postpartum moms out there.


DIET
My husband and I have been getting back into our normal routine with meals again for the last week or two. Things got a little crazy towards the end of my pregnancy. Besides my easy meal replacement shakes we weren't eating the healthiest and definitely feeling the effects. It continued after I had Siena mostly because I was so starving all the time (breastfeeding probs!) that I found myself eating whatever was easy...which equals a lot more carbs. Now, carbs aren't the enemy but too much of anything is never a good thing.
My hubby is basically the best and has been cooking our meals and helping me so much in the kitchen. I am so thankful to have his support!
So as of now, my diet is 5-6 small meals per day. I want this to be a maintainable lifestyle and not a quick fix to drop the weight. Keeping my milk supply up is my top priority so I have to make sure I am getting enough of the right foods.
I try to get a good amount of protein at each meal and a balance of carbs and fats. Right now I am having more carbs the beginning of my day or timed around my workout and tapper them off towards the end of the day and up my fats. Peanut butter before bed is never a bad thing ;)

m y f a v o r i t e s 
Isagenix meal replacement shakes. Best thing ever for a busy mom. If I am starving I mix it up with water and chug and if I have time and need a bigger meal I am loving the chocolate blended with a banana and peanut butter! They are also perfect for a post workout meal so I get everything my body needs quickly.

Taco Boats
Super fast and easy lunch or dinner idea!

Find me on snapchat for more meals and kid craziness ;) 

WATER
I am aiming for 3 liters minimum but a gallon if I can. I love my 1.5 liter camelbak water bottle I use to keep my water goals on track.

EXERCISE 
I was cleared last week to start working out again. Up until this point I have been following my Bellies Inc. core confidence program by practicing my core breathing as well as the other exercises it recommends. This has helped my core heal as well as my pelvic floor. I was so pleased when my doctor checked my ab seperation at my 6 week appointment and I only have about a 1/2 inch of separation. This is a great starting point for getting back into my workouts! It is so important as a new mom that we give our bodies time to heal and don't jump back into strenuous activities that we aren't ready for.

Wearing my Bellies Inc. Ab system about 2.5 weeks PP. The support felt so good on my shrinking belly 

So last week I eased into things by attending my first spin class postpartum. It was literally endorpin heaven. It was like I hadn't missed a day. I was pleased that I could still keep up. Staying active during my pregnancy helped me maintain some of my fitness level so I don't feel like I am starting back at square one with everything. I also got in two light and easy at home workouts. My goal for now is to workout at least 3 times per week (4 if I am lucky).
I plan to lift weights going lighter and working my way up as I progress...practicing my core breathing the whole time. If I get a 4th day in it will probably be another leg day. I really like training them twice if I can. But for now my split will be:
Leg Day
Chest and Back
Arms and Shoulders
Cardio will be the spin bike or the elliptical. I have an elliptical at home that I have been using here and there but it will be packed up soon so I'll be relying on the gym for my workouts.

7 week postpartum

Exercise is my therapy and my "me" time. I look forward to it and crave the iron of the weights. I know however, that what I am eating is 80% of the equation and what I will be really focusing on. I am a huge believer in balance tho and don't plan on overdoing it in the gym or depriving myself from foods I love. Especially during our last weeks here in Italy (give me all the pizza!).