Work That Mom-Bod!

Embracing my new "mom-bod" like nobody's business! Plus, isn't it kind of cute how I gave my baby his rolls & he gave me mine ;)

After giving birth, the biggest thing I've struggled with is getting my pre-pregnancy body back. Yes, breastfeeding helps a lot. It burns 300-500 per day and helps with losing the baby weight, but it's important that I don't only rely on breastfeeding for the weight to drop off. For me, it's not about being skinny, it's about feeling good and confident in my own skin. I want to be happy, healthy, and comfortable in what I wear. I'm a firm believer that you do not need to spend tons of money on weight loss product or gym memberships. There are many all natural, home remedies, and simple ways to lose weight. And remember, everyone's body type is different so embrace the skin you're in because it's beautiful!

Recently I've had a lot of questions on what I've done to lose the baby weight, so I've rounded up a few tips that I hope will help you too!

1. Hot water, squeezed lemon, cinnamon, and honey

I swear by this remedy and it's what I refer to as "the lazy way to lose weight." Drink this every day as soon as you wake up and before your meal. The honey will help with your digestion, the lemon helps lose weight by increasing your metabolic rate, and the cinnamon will reduce your waistline by stabilizing your blood sugar levels, so you feel satisfied and have fewer cravings. I drank this mixture every single day before my wedding and the fat continued the shed without any dieting. (Please note - cinnamon is not recommended while breastfeeding or pregnant)

1 cup of hot water1/2 squeezed lemon1 tsp cinnamon2 tsp honey

2. Matcha Green Tea Latte

I discovered green tea fraps through Starbucks a while ago and instantly was obsessed.......... until I realized how much sugar was in it. I decided to do a little research and start making my own green tea fraps. The more I looked into how to make a green tea frap, I decided I wanted to try the latte instead. It was simpler and didn't require ice cream in the ingredients. I bought ingredients to make a latte based on what I thought would taste good & it is so delicious!

After drinking matcha for a few weeks, I was interested to know a little bit more about the health benefits of it. Of course it's delicious, but it's a HUGE bonus when it has really really good health benefits! Score! Here's what I found.......

Matcha powder green tea has 137 times more antioxidants than regular brewed green teaOne cup of matcha = 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea in terms of nutrition content Boosts metabolism + burns caloriesDetoxifies naturally and effectively Calms the mind and relaxes the body

Here's my recipe:

2 packets of Truvia sweetener (optional)1/2 glass of unsweetened vanilla Silk Almond Milk (30 cal.)1/2 iced water

Here's the Matcha Green Tea Powder that I purchase. I've tried 3 different brands and this one is by far my favorite and the most cost effective! Also, I found that using a Blender Bottle (pictured above) mixes the matcha best - shake, shake, shake it up!

3. Keep it simple

Don't beat yourself up over trying to stick to a strict diet. There's no fancy "meal plan" you need to follow. Do what best fits you and your schedule, because we all know that life can get busy. It's all about making small but smarter choices and soon you will be in the habit of making those choices naturally every day!

4. Be intentional - that's my word for 2017!

If you seriously want to feel better about yourself, then do it. You are in charge of your own body. It's all about being intentional of your time each and every day. I do at least 20 squats while I'm brushing my teeth (multitasking at it's finest lol). Putting in that little bit of effort is more than I did the day before and it makes a difference!

Here's a simple at home workout to add into your routine every morning:

10 jumping jacks10 squats10 calf raises10 lunges10 jumping jacks10 squats

Brooke