Lose Your Pregnancy Pounds and Defy Average

Imagine you’re at a play date with other moms. As you look around, you realize you are not the only one struggling with those extra pregnancy pounds. In fact, you see it’s pretty normal to keep that extra 5, 10, or 15 pounds long after baby is born. After all, life is busy. Today’s average mom is too overwhelmed to fit in exercise. It’s easy to chalk up those extra pounds to slowing metabolism or other changes in your post-baby body.

Whoa! Stop right there. You don’t have to give into that average mentality. You see, every mom wants to have a great body, but most moms are not willing to work for it so they give up. Coach Vince Lombardi said it well, "It’s not the team that wants to win, that wins. It’s the team that wants to win, and is willing to work at it, that wins."

Here are a few obstacles you’ll need to overcome to defy average:

1. Peer pressure. Did you know that moms face peer pressure too? If most of your friends are 10-20 pounds overweight, subconsciously you want to fit in. You want to belong and complain together about those maddening stick thin celebrity moms and how you can’t find time for the gym. If you were to become serious about weight loss (and actually succeed), you might lose that common ground with your close friends.

2. The victim mentality. It’s very easy to think, "My body is just different after baby. There’s nothing I can do about my post-baby belly and cellulite thighs." You give up and surrender to your aging body instead of fighting with everything you’ve got. If you want to see a visual of moms who have risen to the challenge, just pick up a copy of Body for Life for Women by Pamela Peeke and look at a few before and after pictures. These transformed women (many of them mothers) did not give into the victim mentality.

3. The temptation to rationalize. It’s easy to rationalize and think, "Well, at least I’m not as fat as so-so." On the other hand, you look at a friend who has lost all her baby weight, you chalk it up to great metabolism. Don’t allow yourself to rationalize and make excuses for yourself. You have the power to make some wonderful changes in your post-baby body.

Think of average as your enemy. Being average keeps you eating at the drive thru, three sizes bigger than you dream of being, sedentary, and at risk for various illnesses. Now is your time mom to inspire your children and others in your life by taking control of your body.

Are you willing to work at losing weight, to stand head and shoulders about the carpool crowd? If so, here’s your action step for the day: do one healthy thing you wouldn’t normally do. Maybe skip the drive thru and make a healthy meal at home instead. Walk for 20 minutes around your neighborhood with your family. Do something to remind yourself, "You are not average!" When you go the extra mile for your health, you’ll be on your way to losing weight after baby and being an inspiration to those around you.