FITSPO

In my last post I talked about trying to start getting active. I asked my doctor about milk supply problems with exercise and she said that light to moderate exercise shouldn't hurt just to make sure I am drinking plenty of water. I did a little research online and found this to be helpful. 

"Moderate exercise improves a mother’s health and has a positive effect on her emotional well-being. Some of the benefits include:

• Higher level of cardiovascular fitness

• Improved blood lipid profiles and insulin response

• A feeling of well-being from improved energy and reduced stress levels

• Enhanced maternal-infant relationship

• Alleviation of depression symptoms in those with major depressive disorders

Research has shown that moderate exercise does not affect milk supply, milk composition, or baby’s growth. Exercising to exhaustion may have a short-term effect on lactic acid content of a mother’s milk."

The last few days the weather has been absolutely perfect. It's cool enough to go for walks which is the easiest way for me to get in exercise since baby can be with me. 

Since it felt so good I had a ton of energy and we walked for an hour all around our neighborhood. In the last 10 minute stretch to get home I got EXHAUSTED. It was really obvious that my muscles weren't used to being this active and my legs felt like jelly. Not only that but I was ravenous. I always get hungry post workout but this was like eat the whole pantry hungry. Because you burn about 500 calories a day just breastfeeding and I burned about 500 calories walking moderately for an hour (CALORIE BURN CALCULATOR) my body was really wanting me to replace those calories with food - which you are supposed to do while nursing. In fact I was told to eat about 500 extra calories a day.

I kind of feel like I eat all the time but I am eating healthy options. (now that the oreos are officially gone!) 

A lot of people talk about losing weight by nursing but the La Leche League recommends breast feeding mothers wait at least two months before dedicating themselves to rigorous weight loss efforts. By doing so, you can allow your body to become accustomed to making milk. 

I won't lie I am feeling unattractive in my postpartum body, but I really just want to focus on the health of my body and my milk supply not getting a more attractive body. I have plenty of time to get to my MILF body right???? 

I just wanted to share a few of the things I have been eating to help me feel full, keep up my calorie intake, and still be healthy. 

 For breakfast I usually eat Fruit, oatmeal or cereal, and toast with jam and chia seeds. PLUS water, coffee, and orange juice. I only have 8 oz of coffee a day and avoid caffeine the rest of the day. My doctor told me not to drink juice but its 100% juice no added sugar with pulp so I feel like a glass a day isn't going to hurt. 

 The other night I made sriracha roasted chicken. Its a whole chicken that I coated in olive oil and sriracha and baked for about an hour and a half. It was DELICIOUS. I served it with quinoa that I mixed with sauteed kale, onions, and carrots. MMMM 

This soup was inspired by one I had on a carnival cruise that I decided to recreate. It is SOOO easy and delicious. Just a can of condensed tomato soup and a can of coconut milk. I ate it with crescent rolls baked with ham inside. Crescent rolls are actually made with no dairy so I can eat them. YUMMY

And a new product I found for my dairy free diet is a butter substitute and its REALLY good. It actually tastes a lot like butter with only a hint of coconut flavor to it. 

GOALS

1. Continue to walk when its cool enough 

2. Continue to cut dairy for Emma

3. Don't stress about weight