With the last three kids, it always took me months, even over a year to get back to my pre-pregnancy shape. This time I was determined to focus on good, clean eating habits immediately after I left the hospital. That meant lots of greens and lean protein with a healthy dose of carbohydrates throughout most of the day.
My secret weapon was a "healthy start" green smoothie (recipe below). I drank one everyday for 21 days. At the same time, I also ate a fully raw vegan diet. Adding salads, fruits and nuts really jump started my weight loss journey.
After the 21 day renewal cleanse, I stuck to a low-carb, high protein diet and began exercising at 6 weeks post-partum. At 12 weeks, I was able to shed 21 pounds of the 25 pounds I gained.
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The process although simple, was challenging. On days when I was craving a big greasy burger and fries, I turned to a big salad filed with lots of veggies. Sometimes, I just had to have a glass of wine or steak, but after eating so healthy for so many weeks, I found my body didn't react well to my old favorite food and drink.
I'm the end, I realized you can lose weight pretty quickly, but you must eat the right foods so that your body gets exactly what it needs. I still have about 5 pounds to go, but my focus is about clean eating and consistent workout routines.
Here's a photo of my weight loss journey:
Healthy Start Smoothie
- 2 cups of baby spinach
1 cup of red seedless grapes
1 banana (frozen is best - add extra ice if using fresh)
1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup filtered water
Blend all until smooth.
Pumpkin Smoothie
- 1 cup pumpkin (raw or canned )
1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
1 banana (frozen is best - add ice is using fresh)
1/4 tsp all spice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp honey
Blend all until smooth.
-Recipes provide by Stephanie Merchant