Losing weight is something every mom has to do after having a baby. And it can feel very overwhelming to have to lose all that weight at once! Learn how to set weight loss goals that WORK — no gimmicks, no fads…just results.
This post was originally sponsored by Medifast for IZEA and published in May 2016. Updated January 2021.
“How the Heck am I Going to Lose 50 Pounds?!”
Before I had kids, losing weight was never one of my main goals. I was always active and considered myself fit, so I’d never had to lose a big chunk of weight at once.
That all changed after my first baby. Suddenly I had fifty pounds to lose!
How in the heck was I going to do that?? I’ll admit, I was overwhelmed and discouraged when after the birth of my daughter, I only lost 10 pounds right away. Which was how much she weighed, basically.
I was stuck wearing maternity pants, even though I wasn’t pregnant anymore.
I also had a beach wedding to attend in less than a year. The thought of putting on a bathing suit terrified me!
But I did it.
At my sister’s wedding, I wore a pre-pregnancy dress and a bikini!
And I’m going to tell you how I did it.
How to set weight loss goals that work
How to set weight loss goals that workThere’s no getting around the fact that to lose weight, you’ve got to change your lifestyle.
Different eating plans and exercises work for different people.
I found the keto diet to be extremely effective. I also love yoga and kickboxing.
But I’m going to let you in on a little secret…
It’s not about any specific diet.
It’s not which workout you do..
Weight loss is a mindset. It’s setting a goal and staying the course, through ups and downs until you get there.
So, it doesn’t necessarily matter which diet you choose, or which workouts you like best.
THIS is what does matter…
These are the four things that kept me on track and helped me to reach my weight loss goals:
1. Keep it real
Setting a realistic goal is key!
Think “I want to fit my clothes more comfortably” instead of “I want to get back to my high school size.”
Having realistic, do-able expectations will make sure that you’re not setting yourself up for disappointment.
Related: How setting “Micro Goals” can help you make big changes faster!
2. Don’t fixate on numbers
Don’t get stuck on what the scale says on any given day.
Rather, think of the scale as an indicator of overall progress. You want to see a general downward trend, but don’t expect the number you see to decrease every single day.
I actually don’t even weigh myself each day, because I can tell if I’m losing weight by how my clothes fit.
3. Make it easy
Planning ahead and having everything you need already on hand makes it easier to stick to your diet and achieve your goals. That’s what I love about Medifast — everything I need for my week-long Summer Shake Up is all here and ready to go. I don’t even have to think about it!
It also helps to stock your fridge with healthy options. Meal prepping and planning to make sure that you have good real food ready to go, so you’re less likely to reach for junk when you’re hungry.
Related: Grab my meal planner to help set yourself up for success!
4. Eat!
You’ve got to eat to lose weight!
I’m going to say it again for the people in the back: “You’ve got to eat to lose weight!”
Why??
Eating actually fires up your metabolism and helps you burn calories, so if you’re not consuming enough you can actually sabotage your weight loss efforts (plus it’s not healthy!)
Medifast shakes are easy to mix for a quick breakfast — this is probably the most-skipped meal of the day, but it is SO important to fuel your body and get that metabolism going!
Whipping up a quick shake or grabbing one of the bars as you head out the door will keep you on track, even when you’re busy.
Related: 27 Healthy Breakfast Recipes for Busy Moms
Read More from My Weight Loss Journey
I blogged about my weight loss goals in preparation for my sister’s beach wedding. I had a one year old and was still trying to get those last few stubborn pounds off before putting on a bathing suit.
Almost one year later, I have for the most part maintained my weight loss. However, as we head into summer I decided that I wanted to step it up again. Even though I’ve continued to exercise daily, I’ve admittedly relaxed a bit on my eating habits.
Here are more posts I’ve written about losing weight as a mom:
- How to Lose Weight While Breastfeeding
- Does Red Wine Help You Lose Weight?
- 10 Best Tasting Smoothies for Weight Loss
- Do Postpartum Belly Bands Work?
- Cowboy Caviar - March 24, 2023
- Bunny Bait - March 22, 2023
- 20 Thrifty Kitchen Hacks - March 21, 2023
Alyssa Winters says
Hey Stacey! I just love this blog. Gaining weight after a baby is a normal thing. I am also a mother of a 6-month-old cute little boy and looking for some kinds of ways to look perfect. Thank you for sharing your amazing ideas. Keep writing, stay safe and healthy!!