Camping...Here We Come!

One great way to lose weight after baby is by going camping and hiking, but I have to admit, I'm not much of a camper. My very first camping trip was with my husband right after we're married. Let's just say the trip began in tears and continued in tears when I had to go the bathroom in the middle of the night and my sweet groom wouldn't wake up to walk with me outside our tent.

Fast forward the tape almost 10 years and I guess I'm ready to try again - ha! This time, we will be in a cabin (upgrade!) but we'll have kids (more challenges!). No running water but at least we'll have shelter. I'll let you know next week how it goes. Hopefully minimal tears will be shed by myself, my 4 year old or 22 month old!

So remember, if you're losing weight, don't be afraid of new adventures. Try hiking, or biking, or go to a rock wall gym. Something totally out of your comfort zone might be a great date night with your husband. If you don't like your new adventure, you should be able to get a lot of laughs out of it anyway!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22

The Delights of Tea

Tomorrow I will be speaking at a Women's Summer Tea at our church. The flyer for the tea says in a very pretty font:
Flavorful teas, seasonal fruit, finger sandwiches, and delightful sweets will be served.
Believe it or not, there's actually something to be learned about losing weight from a tea menu:

1. Tea is a great drink when you're trying to lose weight, especially green tea. Keep in mind I'm not referring to sweet iced tea with a ton of sugar!
2. Seasonal fruit is a wonderful way to satisfy your sweet tooth while eating nutritiously. Watermelon is a great example of a summer power food that's super healthy.
3. Finger sandwiches are small. If you eat small portions (instead of super sizing everything), you will lose weight.
4. Delightful sweets...well, these won't help you lose weight but they will bring a smile to your face. Just remember to eat in moderation. Don't have dessert everyday.

When you're at a tea, the servings are small. You're kind of forced to eat slowly because if you scarf down your sandwich in one bite, you won't have anything else to eat! This is a great secret for losing baby weight: when you eat things you enjoy, eat very slowly and savor each bite!

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8

-Arlene

Losing Weight While on Vacation?

The summer months are approaching which means you may be headed for vacation soon. How do vacations usually impact moms who are trying to lose weight? You usually end up coming home a week later with 5 extra pounds to shed after all the dinners and desserts add up!

My family has just returned from our first roadtrip to Yosemite with my in-laws. I'm happy to report we all did great on the 8 hour trip (except for one hour on the last day when our baby Noelle had enough and wanted out of the car!).

When you're on vacation, it's a bit ambitious to say you're going to lose weight, so I think MAINTENANCE is a worthy goal. Here's what I have found to work:

Be active on your vacation. Take walks together, swim, bike, hike - be outdoors and keep moving! No sitting around watching TV on vacation!

Bring healthy snacks along. This way, you won't fall prey to the vending machine or fast food place when you're starving in between meals.

Practice moderation. Enjoy your splurges (after all, you are on vacation!) but don't have a big splurge for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

With a little planning, vacation can be a wonderful time of togetherness, enjoying great food while not gaining any weight in the process.

May this Mother's Day be extra special for you! God has done a new thing in your life by giving you a precious treasure. Enjoy your little baby and the privilege and high calling of motherhood. You are doing a wonderful job nurturing your family! Happy Mother's Day!

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my
petition which I asked of Him." - 1 Samuel 1:27

-Arlene

You Can Do It Mom!

You’ve been making a person inside of your body for 40 weeks – talk about hard work! Then after your sweet baby is born, your body has to recover from delivery. And of course the shocker for many new moms is: why do I still look pregnant after my baby has been born?!

Have no fear mom! God designed our bodies in such an amazing way to produce life, and He will give you the strength to bounce back physically after the baby as well. Give yourself 6 weeks to rest and recover. Walk if you’re comfortable doing so. Then when your doctor gives you the green light, you can start working those pregnancy pounds off and I will be here to help you!

In the coming weeks, I’ll be giving you tips and encouragement about refueling your body and losing weight after baby. After 3 pregnancies in 3 years in my 30s, I have learned a few things about what works and what doesn’t. And I’m excited to let you in on the good stuff!

Here’s the first thing I want to encourage you to do: Believe that you can lose your baby weight. For some of you, you may feel like you will need a miracle but remember what Matthew 19:26 says, "With God all things are possible." When you have a "can-do" attitude, it’s much easier for God to do the miraculous.

If you buy the lie that "I’ll never have time to exercise" or "I’ll never fit in my old clothes again" – guess what? You’re probably right! You will go where you focus.

Keep coming back to Totally New Moms, and let us cheer you along the wonderful journey of motherhood. And remember, when it comes to losing weight after baby, you can do it mom!

-Arlene