The Battle of the Baby Weight

A post from Holly G. of H&G Personal Training and our CMF Fitness Coach:

Recently a well-known celebrity trainer (Tracy Anderson) gave an interview for DuJour magazine in which she discussed the topic of pregnancy and its many issues. She shared the idea that some women over-indulge during pregnancy and consequently use the birth of their child as an excuse for neglecting to attain their pre-pregnancy body. As expected, many women were royally ticked. Truth be told, I wasn’t mad at the comment. I think it was an honest assessment. After all, she’s in the business of changing bodies.

Do I think it came across as snobby and insensitive? Perhaps.

The truth regarding pregnancy weight gain is simple, indulge in the things you want but don’t OVER-indulge. If you’re at a healthy weight, you need no additional calories in the first trimester, about 300 extra calories a day in the second trimester, and about 450 extra calories a day in the third trimester.  Exercising throughout a pregnancy is important, unless your doctor has said otherwise.

The truth regarding post partum weight loss is simple, take it one step at a time and make it work for you.  Losing all your baby weight in 3 weeks is not a healthy way to lose the weight and it’s just as unhealthy to keep the weight on for a prolonged period of time.  GOALS must be set and TIME must be set aside for you to care for yourself.

Pregnancy and childbirth can tear up our bodies, and we gladly sacrifice ourselves for our children. The truth is, we don’t have to sacrifice our bodies forever….we can get it back.  Just like anything worth fighting for, getting back to our “normal” selves is just as important as everything else.

I say this as a woman who is 6 weeks away from having her second child.  I feel like I’ve taken good care of myself.  Hell, I’ve had a few Rolo Mc Flurry’s and am itching for a funnel cake at this weekend’s Cabarrus County fair (I’ll make sure to walk my butt off and take it easy on the crap foods next week).  But, overall I’ve taken the proper pregnancy steps and feel prepared.

(Please don’t ask me if I have his nursery done.  That’d be a big N-O.  I still have time on my side right? Ummm…..I’m thinking not so much!)

Last but not least, I’ve set my gym re-entry month as December and the goals are starting to line themselves up in my head.  I have to do this because like many woman, I can get distracted and forget about myself. And I refuse to do that.  I’ll be a better mom and wife if I take the time to get the old “me” back.  And I’ll do it in my own time, and so should you!  Don’t take people like Tracy Anderson so seriously when she speaks or gives interviews on the pregnancy topic.

In fact, don’t take anyone (famous or not) so seriously for that matter.  Set your goals, put them in motion and never look back!  Good luck and believe in yourself.

Holly