Being a mother is not always easy, but there are certain things that make it much harder. Things like not being able to sleep when the baby or special needs child does, working full time, and trying to stay home at the same time, and oh yes, let’s not forget weightloss for moms.
Even though I have been a mother for years, it is the last one on the list that really annoys me. A few months ago, I was looking at my profile on Facebook and saw an old picture when I was ten pounds (5 kg) lighter and thought ‘wow!’ yet that time I actually thought I was fat.
It seems like whenever I try to lose weight quickly, something will happen to make me want to eat even more than normal or exercise less. Part of the reason, I think, is because you need all the energy you can get when taking care of children.
But most likely it’s because women who are moms never seem able to lose that extra weight that they put on during pregnancy. No matter how much we try, it just seems to stay there. Now, I am not saying people with kids should not try to lose weight – they should. But the struggle is really real and we all know it.
Why is it so hard to lose weight as a Mom
So moms, see if you can relate: You know you are in trouble when your significant other (and father to your children), the one who vowed to love you for better or worse, tells you that your booty is a little too bootilicious. Once you get over the urge to suffocate them with a pillow (the urge is strong), you reluctantly realise, as you struggle to zip up your favourite jeans, that maybe, just maybe, they could be not wrong.
Once you have had this epiphany, you decide to skip breakfast. You feel empowered and guilt-free, thinking this is the best way to shred weight fast. Until the hunger pangs strike, so you grab an apple, then a small snack, soon another snack, then another, you push on through the day with determination. By dinner time, you have consumed most of the fridge AND pantry.
So the next day, crushed but not yet defeated, you see a ‘miracle weight loss’ tablet on an infomercial that says it is the best weight loss help for women. The toned, trim celebrity who endorsed the product promised great results, and the before/after pictures by their clientele are encouraging. You excitedly sit down to watch the next 15 minutes of testimonials by gorgeous people with gorgeous bodies.
You are practically vibrating with enthusiasm as you wait with bated breath for the price, then the beautiful bubble you created where you have your toned parts on display in a ‘yellow mini dot bikini’ gets rapidly blown to bits at the ridiculous amount, you definitely can’t afford, flashes across the screen.
So, what does a struggling mother need to do in order to lose weight? Well, that is up to YOU. Do you want to eat healthily or exercise more? Both would be great, but finding the time to exercise…is that not thou thee question. Now I know the struggle of trying to get kids ready for school while I’m still sleepy and looking like a zombie.
Yesterday, I looked at the clock, and it was 5:30 am, and my resulting groan resembled the sound the wookie makes in Star Wars. I love my kids, but getting up early is not a choice I would voluntarily make (I know you get me). And night times? Oh my… I own the night- as a night owl ( it’s maybe for my books or K-dramas).
The best weightloss for moms is to EXERCISE, and no, that is not a dirty word. I know what you’re thinking, and I thought it too…where will I find the time? The thing is, you need to start thinking of looking after YOU as an investment project. You won’t get results immediately; it will take time, but the reward is being a better mother for your kids. Yes, I said what I said.
You won’t be the exhausted mom barely hanging on or the overwhelmed mom hardly keeping it together. When you take time to look after yourself, your mental health and your body will thank you. Think about it logically: can you pour from an empty cup? If you are not your best self, do you really believe you are doing your best for your little ones?
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to make you feel like a bad mother, I’m just trying to give you a wakeup call because YOU matter. So make time for yourself like your life depends on it, because quite frankly, it does.
Best weightloss for moms
It’s been a rough road fighting the great fight, hence the reason I can tell you with confidence ( even fake confidence) what works and what doesn’t. Here are some of the weight-loss ‘weapons’ I tried and tested – my honest opinions as well as my experience with them:
Diet pills and Supplements
The first method that you should be aware of is diet pills or supplements that claim to burn more fat. There are many different types of these on the market, ranging from teas and health bars to drinks and capsules. Some of them contain herbal extracts, while others make it seem as if their product contains some sort of ‘magic’ formula. The truth is that most of these pills and supplements are useless, and the few that do work usually contain stimulants such as caffeine or green tea extract. These may help you burn a few more calories during your workout (or while you’re watching TV), but they certainly won’t make up for all the junk food and soft drinks you’re consuming every day.
I took carb blockers for a time, and they seem to really help keep my weight down as I worked through my carb addiction. However, the side effects I suffered made me come off these pretty quickly. I suffered incredibly bad headaches, and my blood pressure kept spiking.
Fat burners
The next weight-loss method that you need to know about is fat burners, which are claimed to increase the effectiveness of your workout by increasing the rate at which your body burns fat. The truth is that most people who take these pills don’t see any additional benefit from exercising harder and longer. In fact, many fat burners contain ingredients such as ginseng and guarana, which can cause serious harm when taken in large doses. So, unless you want to end up in the emergency room with heart palpitations and high blood pressure, you should avoid fat burners like the plague.
I have tried these for a time as well, and they did work for me. Quite well, actually. However, I suffer from High blood pressure, and it skyrocketed while I was on fat burners. My pressure got so high that I entered the stroke range, so I had to immediately come off this for my health.
Low- Carb and Keto
The next category of weight-loss methods that we will look at is diets. By far the most popular type of weight-loss diet is the low-carb diet. There are several different variations of this diet, but all of them involve eating fewer carbs than your body requires and consuming large amounts of protein instead. Theoretically, these diets should work because they force your body to break down fat into fatty acids and ketones, which can then be used as energy. In practice, however, most people who follow a low-carb diet don’t lose fat because it’s hard to stick to these diets in the long term due to their high satiety value, especially keto
In my personal opinion, Keto for weight loss for moms, combined with 3 sessions of high-intensity workouts per week, worked wonders for me. This has helped me lose almost 10 kg in less than 3 months; however, my visceral fat (1) increased. My cholesterol reached danger levels as I reduced my carb intake to 50g per day, ate more protein, and LOTS of fat. My body had been using fat instead of carbs to burn energy; it’s a process of ketosis that you have to train your body to adjust to. It worked amazingly well, but my doctors were less impressed as my cholesterol levels increased, causing my blood pressure to rise too. Hence, I had to stop for my health, which was so weird because I was losing weight.
Calorie Deficit
This involves counting calories, so your math has to be on point( hence your math better be math-ing ). In theory, this diet should be extremely effective, but in practice, it be hard! Some people (I am some people) also find it difficult not to binge on junk food when “starving” themselves. Okay, let me be fair, if you practice burning more calories than you consume, then it actually worked for me…in fact, it still works.
Use calorie deficit in combination with the low carb/ keto (check with a doctor first) -or practice intermittent fasting- it definitely will work and accelerate the ketosis (2) effect. This, in turn, helps you to lose weight faster and more effectively.
The Great Weight Loss Fight
To fight in this Weight Loss War, you need to combine exercise with good-ish eating habits(No, I did NOT give up carbs completely #workinprogress). Then, between school runs and laundry… weight loss for moms is achievable.
I know it is hard to hear, but exercise really is the most effective way to beat the bulge; by building muscle, you burn calories even when you’re resting. It is a lifestyle change; you do not want a quick fix. Just like there are no easy ways to get rich-you have to work hard and invest wisely. As I mentioned above, the same applies to your body and your health. Exercising your body and maintaining a good weight is your investment into longevity.
It gets your heart pumping and makes you work up a sweat, though, I admit, it is incredibly difficult to START exercising. Nevertheless, worth it, regardless of the struggles, because there are so many benefits: it is an instant ‘pick me up’.
It will boost your self-esteem because losing weight means you look great, and the increase in blood flow will do wonders for your skin. It helps you think clearly by helping reduce stress; it also improves your libido and boosts your immune system. What more motivation do you need?
You have to start with basic exercises that aren’t too taxing, like walking, then speed walking, and work your way up to jogging. Or if being indoors is more your speed, then do skipping for 5 minutes and plank for 1 minute, then increase the time frames over a few days.
There are many different exercises to choose from, and it depends entirely on your level of fitness or what your doctor recommends. Once you have made your choice, remember that even 10 minutes of something is better than nothing.
So, if you are reluctant to check out gym membership options, especially if you just break out in cold sweats when you think about being on display while you’re all blotchy and red-faced. Then do home workouts, in this digital age where everything is readily accessible, you have YouTube, Instagram, instagram etc for all types of workouts.
This has been the single most effective and safest means of weight loss for me as a woman/mom in her 40s with high blood pressure. I have accepted that I will spend the rest of my life in the gym and combined good (kinda) eating habits (not restricted to anything specifically), which works for me as I navigate perimenopause (3).
Wrapping Up
Sooooo what is the best weightloss for moms? The simple (and often safest) answer is to eat fewer calories than you consume WITH exercise. Not easy to do because some people find it hard to eat smaller portions and resist the temptation of fattening foods or snacking (as we already established, I am some people).
It is what your body can handle and what is most effective for YOU. It is a good idea to consult your doctor or get assessed by a dietician before starting anything specific (like a diet specifically keto), so a professional can guide you and help you through the process.
My instagram account shows my weightloss war journey so if you want some motivation or someone to struggle with then give me a follow here or there:) All the best mama!