how to lose the baby weight fast...

Convertible Maternity Maxi Dress: Nuova Vita

"Breast feed", they said. "You'll lose the baby weight fast!".

I absolutely encourage breastfeeding, and I do believe it is a wonderful, healthy choice for both mom and baby. I breastfed my child, and I'm thankful I was able to do so. I also attribute the great health of my child to breastfeeding, not to mention it was an incredible bonding experience. But I'm not so sure that nursing my baby helped me lose weight. Of course, not everyone is the same, I'm just talking about my personal experience.

I lost most of my baby weight within the first two weeks post partum and then it seemed as if my weight loss plateaued. It was starting to feel like breastfeeding was keeping the weight on, maybe even adding a few extra pounds too!

In order to combat my weight loss plateau after having my baby, I didn't restrict my calories, as that is not the answer for me. So, how did I lose the baby weight fast? I started eating a healthy diet. Lots of fruits and vegetables were and still are my go to foods. I love to come up with exciting and creative meals, like squash noodles with pasta sauce instead of traditional spaghetti. And I am quite fond of vegan cookie dough! I love anything vegan. I'll post the recipe in a later blog post. It. Is. Amazing! I also drink a lot of water. I can't emphasize enough how important staying well hydrated really is. It's mentioned often in weight loss articles, but maybe we browse over it and we don't really take it seriously enough and actually drink more water. So, bottoms up ladies! Drinking enough fluids is great for clear skin, feeling good, having energy, and of course, it aids in weight loss. Carry a water bottle with you, keep a full glass in the kitchen and on your night stand. Keep water near you and drink it as you go about your day. It's so important for helping you shed weight!

I also love green tea and spicy foods. Both of these naturally rev up your metabolism. Plus, they taste great! Next, getting as much sleep as possible is one of the best ways to "burn fat"! When we are overly tired, we tend to eat more. You can even ask Paige Hathaway, as she mentioned it in her recent e-newsletter! And of course, get in as much exercise as possible. Going on walks, even if it's just for 15 minutes after every meal, is a great way to lose weight without even trying very hard. I also love to lift weights in the gym, but I can't always get there with a new baby and running my business, Lauren Lorraine Shoes.

I hope some of these tips for losing weight fast help! This is definitely what has worked for me after having a baby.

If you ever have questions, feel free to leave me a comment below or shoot me an email. I am also on instagram www.instagram.com/laurenlorrainejones, so you can message me there also.

XOXO,
Lauren

my current fitness routine...

Leggings (similar): ALO, Shoes (similar): Nike 

Today on Lauren Lorraine I wanted to share my workout routine. For about a year and a half since I had my baby boy I have been doing Kayla Itsine's Bikini Body Guide Program (BBG). For the first year I was doing it on and off because of being a busy new mom, but for the past 16 weeks I have been doing it religiously with my friends who live in other states. We keep each other motivated via texts and facebook page groups.

So what is the BBG Program you ask? I will try to explain a little bit. Basically, it is a program that combines what Kayla calls circuits and cardio with two types of cardio, LISS and HITT. LISS is Low Intensity Steady State Cardio. So for this type of cardio you just want to focus on a workout that is for 40 minutes in duration. I would choose something you enjoy! Some like to walk or  jog, and others will ride their bike. I choose the elliptical for my LISS - I'll work out for 40 minutes and I honestly love it. I will listen to great music and I love to have my coffee then too. HITT is High Intensity Interval Training. A great way to accomplish this is on the treadmill by sprinting as fast as you can for 30 seconds, then resting for 30 seconds, and doing it all within a 15 minute period. BBG resistance circuits consist of different types of workouts and last 30 minutes each. For each circuit day there are 2 different circuits that you complete twice. Each circuit has 4 different types of exercises included that have a certain amount of reps that you are supposed to complete for each. Details are available when you sign up for BBG. But generally, the circuits last 7 minutes and you do as many exercises for the amount of reps assigned as many times as possible before the 7 minute circuit is up. Next, rest for 30 seconds before moving onto the next circuit. Once you complete circuit 2, you go back to circuit 1 and start all over! Once you have done Circuit 2 for the second time and the 7 minutes are complete, you are finished. The BBG app comes with videos of all the workouts, specified rep numbers and a timer. You always know when each circuit is ending and when your 30 second water break is beginning! 

Kayla's circuits are broken into 3 categories so there are 3 30 minute circuits that you are to complete each week. The first circuit is upper body, the second is lower body, and the third is full body. Once you complete weeks 1-12, and go onto weeks 13-24, she changes her circuits to arm day, leg day, and ab day. Right now her program is a 24 week program but you can keep doing the program as many times as you would like.  Here is what a typical week looks like:

Monday: 40 minutes of Cardio on the elliptical (LISS)

Tuesday: 15 min warm up on the elliptical and then Leg Day Circuit (30 minutes)

Wednesday: 40 minutes of Cardio on the elliptical (LISS)

Thursday: 15 min warm up on the elliptical and then Arm Day Circuit (30 minutes)

Friday: 15 min warm up on the elliptical and then Ab Day Circuit (30 minutes)

Saturday: 40 minutes of Cardio on the elliptical (LISS)

Sunday: 15 minutes of sprinting for 30 seconds and resting for 30 seconds on the treadmill (HITT)

I also try to eat healthy and prefer a vegan diet when I can stick to it. I feel my best when I do! 

Feel free to reach out! 

XOXO, Lauren Lorraine