Getting rid of baby weight is no easy task, and, it’s those last few kilos that take forever to budge! Here’s how to lose weight without going on a diet…
In both of my pregnancies, I did put on quite a bit. Let’s just say it was in excess of 30 kilos…
I always enjoy my food, and even more so when I am pregnant. Whilst I do try and balance, I do indulge a little more than usual. Besides that, my pregnancy body has a tendency to be of the rounder type. I’ve always envied women who do not look pregnant from the back, then turn around and have a huge bulge. But who am I to kid? I will never look like that and I accepted my body as it is and enjoyed being pregnant to the full.
Post-baby (fast forward two years or so), I knew I was not back to my pre-baby weight. I did exercise and eat healthily and had ‘dieted’ (no unhealthy fads though) – but although I did lose weight I still could not get back to where I had been. Conveniently, the batteries on my weighing scales had died on me months ago. I never got down to replacing them. That is until one fine day, a few days before we were scheduled to go to Rome for a short break, I ‘remembered’ that I had not weighed myself for months. My husband got them replaced, and on I hopped onto the scales. Let’s just say that I was not a happy mama to see that I was still 6 kilos over what I usually am. And to weigh myself just before going to ROME for a few days? Pretty darn clever, right?
As soon as I stepped off the scales I swore to myself that I would not let this spoil my holiday. I would not let this spoil my love for food, period. I decided that I would make a few lifestyle changes for the better, and adopt a new way of eating, rather than ‘going on a diet’. These four words sound so negative! Who wants to diet anyway?
Here is what I did to lose 6 kilos, in 3 months, without going on a diet.
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No sweeties, sweetie
Chocolate, cake, and all things delightfully sugary are my vice. I did not quite exclude sweet treats from my diet, but I did make up a few simple rules to reduce the amount of sugar intake.
All of you mamas who work in an office environment can definitely relate to the exorbitant amount of treats made available at the workplace. Our colleagues all mean well, but boy is this the unhealthiest habit on the planet!
I decided to not have any sugary treats that came my way at the office. I have to admit, my colleague who sits right behind me does help me stick to my resolution. He says ‘no’ automatically as soon as he spots the sight of food being offered which is not a part of his lunch!
If you do do this, keep in mind that the first couple of days are the hardest. You will get used to it. Your colleagues will get used to you saying no and will give up on trying to coax you into eating.
Now, where is the balance, you might ask? Whilst I do exclude sweet treats at the office and during the week, I decided to still indulge during the weekend.
If you have have a tendency to overdo it, limiting your sugar intake is bound to help you lose weight. -
Make wiser choices
I really think about what I choose to eat. Sometimes, making a wiser choice does not mean you need to deprive yourself. Let’s take spreads for example. Instead of reaching for the butter, I opt for hummus, tomatoes, low fat cottage cheese, ricotta or avocado. Healthier, leaner, and more interesting!
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Cheat today, but not tomorrow
There are a few simple but well thought-out ways to balance out your choices. Let’s say today is Saturday, and you treat yourself to pancakes for breakfast. I would opt for a carb-free dinner, and I might opt for a lighter breakfast the following day, such as a boiled egg & avocado, and some fruit. The choices I make depend on the extent of the damage 😉
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No unplanned snacking
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make you gain weight. I used to really enjoy myself snacking away while I made lunches for the kids after work. A few grapes, a bite or two of cheese, some avocado…
Whilst most of the tidbits I nibbled at were healthy, if you had to take the total amount of calories & fats I was ingesting, they definitely added up. So, unless the snacks I had in front of me were a part of my plan, I have learnt to say no. -
Pack a good lunch
This tip is also valid if you work from home, or are a stay-at-home mum. Mindfully ‘packing’ a lunch, along with snacks, to get you through the day will minimise the chance of snacking on unhealthy foods which you would have not eaten had you planned ahead. If you work outside of your home, do make sure you have enough food to get you through the day. There’s nothing worse than a hunger pang when you have no healthy snack to resort to.
Listen to your body and nourish it with wholesome food you enjoy. -
Drink lots of water
I find it challenging to gulp down glass after glass of water, but I find that having a water bottle helps. I make sure this is as close to my laptop as possible when I am at the office, and carry it around with me whenever I go.
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10,000 steps a day
Moving is an essential part of my day. I take the stairs, I park one block away, I dance with my kids and run after them. An exercise regime isn’t park of my schedule at this point in my life, so I keep myself as active as possible.
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Limit the pasta (& the carbs)
I LOVE pasta. And bread. I would never exclude either from my diet, so I’ve set a few rules for myself. My lunch consists of a wholegrain roll filled with healthy ingredients such as chicken, salad and hummus. I limit pasta to once a week. When I do cook pasta, I opt for healthier versions, such as brown pasta or spelt pasta.
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Have an early dinner
My youngest, Nina, is in bed by 7pm, hence our dinner has to be early for her sake. Dinnertime is at 17:30pm in our household. If my husband is not home yet I usually feed the kids and myself and we then sit with him whilst he eats and we still have our family time. I make it a point not to snack after dinner. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember, so my body is used to it and I do not get hungry.
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Weigh myself weekly
Oh, how I have learnt! Never again will I fall into the trap of not weighing myself for a long period of time! Avoiding the scales will not keep the kilos at bay! One final note – I now keep a spare set of batteries at the ready…
Honestly, I have never found it so easy to lose weight. My new food habits have now become my lifestyle. I do not think twice to say no when I should say no, and to say yes when I should say yes. What’s more, I have finally said goodbye to guilt feelings that crowded my conscience the instant I opted for a sinful something. Because now when I do, I know I can, and I enjoy every morsel!
Nakita xxx
Disclaimer: This blog post is based on my personal experience of weight loss and maintenance. It should not substitute medical advice. Please always consult with your doctor before beginning any weight-loss program and never rely on information found on any website, including this, which is not run by a medical professional.
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