7 Helpful Postpartum Weight Loss Tips!

Before we get into today’s post, I just want to start off by saying that Mama, you are beautiful.

You are stunning. You are amazing. You carried a child for 9 months.

Our bodies are obviously going to change during and after pregnancy, it’s completely normal!

I had the worst all-day (not morning) sickness with both of my pregnancies. My second pregnancy was literally me in the bathroom for the majority of the day watching Judge Judy on my cellphone.

So whenever I had a craving or could keep something down, I really enjoyed my food! Kit Kats in particular.

I told myself to eat anything that I could stomach – the baby needed it! My doctor told me the exact same thing.

As long as I was keeping something down, I had to eat what I could (even if it was Kit Kats)!

Baby #1      Total Gain: 65+ lbs
Baby #2      Total Gain: 60 lbs

Once my newest little sweetheart was here safe and sound and I was comfortable to do so, I was determined to get back on track with my postpartum weight loss goals!

This isn’t because I want to just look a certain way.

After having both of my children, I noticed how tired I was. It wasn’t until I started losing some of the postpartum weight that I found I could do more.

This might not be the case for everyone! In my instance, I just noticed that the healthier I eat, the more active I am, and the more energy I have.

Sometimes it is not just about weight loss, but about fuelling your body with foods that it will love.

Therefore, playing with my children, cooking meals, or even just running up and down the stairs to grab something is so much easier.

My body might not go back to what it was before I had kids. That doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

I brought two beautiful, healthy children into this world and nothing makes me happier than that.

This post is for moms who are seeking some tips, recipe ideas, or just don’t know where to begin!

Don’t ever feel like you have to look a certain way for anyone unless that person is YOU.

 Before I begin, I would just like to say that no, I am not a registered Dietician.

These are just tips that worked for me! I hope that what’s worked for me can also help anyone seeking postpartum weight loss tips and/or healthier food options too!

1. Plan Your Week!

I have mentioned this before on my website – buy a whiteboard, a planner, something that has a magnet on its back that you can easily attach to your fridge!

I have an example from Amazon down below!

Before you go to your local grocery store, plan ahead first!

Write down your meals for every day of the week to stay focused on your postpartum weight loss.

I find that if I go to the grocery store with a plan, I am less likely to buy random things and stick to healthier food choices!

Here’s an example of a normal week at our home:

These days, we’ve been doing a lot of grocery pick ups which makes it even easier for me to plan ahead!

• If you need meal ideas for toddlers, click here and I will take you to my Toddler Meals’ section!
• If you need meal ideas for yourself or your family in general, click here for some Mom Fuel!

If you’re still unsure of what to do or you want to switch up some of your go-to meals, here are some more tips!

1. Substitute regular cheese for a partly-skimmed option. The same goes for recipes that need cream! Once in a while, sure, we use the regular stuff (especially for my little ones as they need the fat), but for myself and my husband, I try to keep the dairy content on the lower fat content.
2. Substitute white breads/rice for brown, whole grains, or whole wheat! It’s great to have some of that extra fibre!
3. If you drink a lot of coffee, try switching or replacing your usual 2nd cup with a herbal tea! I have a tea infuser mug that I fill 2-3 times a day with hot water. It’s perfect for busy moms and hydrates me a lot better than coffee does.
4. Do not cut out snacks!! Yes, you want to stay away from chips, sweets, pop/soda, etc, but replace them with healthier snacks! My #1 recommendation for snacking: fruit, cut up veggies, and lightly salted/buttered popcorn! I make sure to eat every 2-3 hours to speed up my metabolism, so in between meals I’m always making sure I have an apple, carrot sticks and dip, or some watermelon in my fridge so I don’t settle for salty or sugary snacks.
5. Cook with your choice of extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or real butter when sautéing, but instead of adding more oil in to your pots/pans as you cook, try adding Low Sodium Broths!

Example: I love making caramelized onions and peppers (for taco night).

Instead of going back and adding more oil to my veggies as they cook, I add veggie broth instead!

You can do the same with ground beef, diced chicken breasts, etc!

2. What Do I Buy?

You need to know what you are putting in your body in order to fuel it!

Here’s my list of go-to foods that are great for your body and will keep you feeling fuller, longer.

Now that you have an idea of what foods to rotate around, you can get creative with your meal ideas!

Fresh herbs, low sodium seasonings, and broths all add tons of flavour to your meals!

3. Make Your Meals Ahead Of Time!

If you can plan your meals ahead of time, this will help you out Momma!

I always try to make my lunch the night before.

For example, I rely on my Bento Box to prep sandwiches, veggies and dip, crackers, boiled eggs, and fresh fruit so I don’t have to worry about what I’m eating the next day!

Click here to check out my favourite Bento Box!

It’s a great idea to put your snacks in small baggies, whether it’s cut up veggies, granola bars and fruit, crackers and cheese, etc!

Another tip: if you have time on the weekend, try to meal plan for the week! For example, some Sundays, I will cook big portions of flavourful rice, peppers, black beans, corn, and put them into containers.

I then store these portioned containers into the fridge so that they are ready for my lunch during the week!

You can also make casseroles or dishes like pre-seasoned veggies, potatoes, and chicken breasts in a baking dish. Cover them and store them in the fridge to cook during the week!

4. Snack/Meal Ideas That Work!

Now that you have a grocery list and fresh groceries, here are some of my favourite snack and meal ideas that work well for me!

• Carrots & Roasted Red Pepper Dip
• Blueberries & High Fibre Blueberry Waffles (instead of sugary toppings, try a drizzle of honey!)
• Strawberry Smoothie (protein powder, strawberries, banana, almond milk, ice)
• Tuna Wraps (whole wheat wrap, tuna [mix some in a bowl with light mayonnaise, celery, onion/garlic powder, salt, pepper], and fresh veggies)
• Chicken Wraps: Cook diced chicken chunks in salt, pepper, garlic powder, Clubhouse’s No Salt Added Chicken Seasoning, and add veggie broth. Once cooked, add in a half a cup of canned or fresh salsa, mix, and place on wraps with a slice of cheese. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 Degrees F.
• Greek Yogurt With Fresh Fruit & Honey Drizzle
• Lightly Salted Popcorn (add in your own nuts and dried fruits)
• Protein Balls: Mix oats, protein powder, peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, and any other nuts/seeds together. Form into balls and place in the fridge whenever you’re craving something sweet!

5. Do Not Deprive Yourself Of Foods You Love!!

Mommas, if you deprive yourself of the foods that you love, you will have a harder time with your postpartum weight loss journey!

Incorporate them into your weekly routine in a different way.

For example, try different portion sizes of snacks you crave. Try cutting those portion sizes that you’d normally eat in half and pair them with some fresh fruit instead!

I still eat snacks and foods that I love in this way. Yes, even cookies!

There have been instances in the past where I would not allow myself to enjoy my favourite foods. I had such a hard time on those weight loss journeys. Those foods became all that I could think of.

We eat takeout about once a week! If I know we’ve had too much takeout in one week however, I will substitute our usual pizza night with homemade pizza instead! I love to get my toddler involved too.

I truly believe that children appreciate the foods that they eat if they’ve had a hand in making it.

Here’s an example of a pizza my little guy helped me make just last week! We started with the dough in the morning, and rolled it out/added the toppings together before dinner time.

This is a great way to make pizza for you and your family.

I used my two ingredient dough recipe (0% Greek Yogurt & Self-Rising Flour).

It’s a great way to pack in protein and a great example of this weight loss tip!

Also, here’s another takeout tip: try and replace your usual takeout for a healthier takeout option.

Sushi, sandwich shops, restaurants that serve roasted chicken, etc, are all great takeout ideas that will be great for your weight loss journey!

6. Cheat Day/Meal!

Allow yourself one day a week where you can eat whatever it is that you want!

I usually make it one meal and a treat. It’s something to look forward to all week!

For example, I will have a hamburger from our favourite fast food restaurant down the road!

That day, we might also have donuts or an ice cream sundae. This resets my mind and keeps me focused on my goal.

If you treat yourself to a day where you want to eat fast food or something you’ve really been craving, you are more likely to stay on track with your postpartum weight loss goals!

7. Go For Short Walks!

Walking is a low intensity form of exercise that has so many benefits for your physical and mental health!

I love to bring my boys out for a walk when the weather is nice. The fresh air puts us all in a great mood!

During this pandemic, it’s definitely been a lot harder for us to get out. So going for a walk is something we can all safely enjoy!

Sometimes I’ll even bring a tea out with the stroller.

If you can get outside safely, try a walk around your neighbourhood. It’s a great way to clear your mind too!

If you have any questions or would like any specific recipes, please feel free to DM me on instagram or comment down below 🙂

TKM