I started my fitness journey in late April of this year. It’s been two months and I have lost 13.6lbs but running, lifting, and eating a little better. I had twins in December 2018 and gained A LOT of weight with that pregnancy due to pure neglect of what I was eating. I had another baby in December 2020 and managed to keep my weight in check during that pregnancy. Caring for babies and toddlers can put a damper on mother’s physical and mental health, and we tend to put ourselves on the back burner. I was miserable and hated my body. I never would look in the mirror, and knew that I had so many excuses. Until I finally decided that only I could make the change and I wanted to start now.

I’ve had people ask me what I’m doing, so I decided to share what I’ve been doing for the last two months. I still have 16lbs to lose to hit my goal weight, and I know I can hit as long as I keep up this routine.

I aim to get workouts in 5 days a week. I personally have found a new love for long distance running. Since I have a lot of young children, I mostly run on my treadmill at home. I usually set a min mileage of 3.1 miles a day and always follow up with a 30 minute cool down walk (start at 0 incline at 2.5 or 2.8 (depending on how it’s feeling) speed for two mins, and increase the incline by two every two mins. I keep the speed the same the whole time.

0 incline for two mins

2 incline for two mins

4 incline for two mins

Etc until I hit 14 incline

Then decrease 2 decline for two mins

14 incline for two mins

12 incline for two mins

10 incline for two mins

Etc.

If you’re completely new to running but want to give it a try, don’t even worry about mileage or speed. Just start. Set a time limit at whatever speed your body is comfortable with. When I first started I just did a slow jog for twenty mins. Create a fun playlist, watch YouTube, listen to your favorite podcasts. If you stay consistent, I promise you that you will hit goals.

I try to get weight lifting in my routine five days a week too. So right after I do my cardio I lift (I’ve read it’s better to lift before cardio, but I prefer it the other way) I am lucky enough to have a full gym at home and I’ve been using Whitney Simmons Alive app for workouts. I thought I wanted to be her gym bestie, but turns out her workouts are a real bitch. They are usually 45 mins long and it really kicks a punch. I think the program has a subscription, but you can always find endless workouts on YouTube, TikTok, etc.

Please remember that consistency is key. You won’t want to move your body everyday, but I promise that you will feel so much better after you do. Set goals for yourself. Hold yourself accountable. Changes won’t be made in a day, but over time it will all be worth it.

As far as nutrition goes, what I eat may not work for you. Add more protein into each meal to keep you fuller longer. Be mindful of what you eat. Figure out your calorie deficit. Drink your water(I refill my Stanley three times). This weight loss journey I think has been a lot healthier mentally for me. I use to be so strict on what I put into my body, and felt so much guilt even on my cheat day(which I do allow one cheat meal a week) But I’ve also realized that all calories are the same. If I give into a donut or cookie, it’s not going to cause my progress to go down the drain. So if you have a crazy day and eat a lot, don’t just throw in the towel. Move forward and keep doing what you’re doing. Moderation is so important in everything you do.

I’ll give an example of what I eat in a day(but remember that what works for me is what works for me, you need to figure out what works best for you)

Wake up:

•Black coffee: only until after I work out in the mornings. It helps fuel my runs and I’ve never been a breakfast eater.

After I workout:

•One banana with peanut butter

•One piece of Dave’s Thin sliced bread with peanut butter

•Premier Protein Shake

Lunch:

•Salad. If I’m using premade mixes, I love the Nashville Hot or Avocado mix salads from Target. If I’m making a salad, I like to use spinach as my base and add in veggies. I’m not a big meat eater, but adding in grilled chicken or tuna would be wonderful too.

Dinner:

•Grilled salmon, jasmine rice, and broccoli or asparagus.

Snacks:

•Fruit is always a great option

•Greek Yogurt

•Hard Boiled Eggs

•Veggie slices and dip

•Nuts

I have some really yummy recipes that I’d love to share if anyone wants them. But this is the easiest what I eat in a day looks like.

Download an app to track what you eat and what your body needs.

I hope that this helped someone or helps them give their fitness journey a start. You can do anything you desire. Just stick with it. 🙂