Hi, my name is Brooke and I’m currently on a mission to lose a few pounds. Five pounds of leftover baby weight that is. For me, baby weight is different than any other weight I’ve had to lose. Where a little diet and exercise used to make the pounds melt away, it feels like I have to make dirty deals somewhere to lose just one pound of baby weight. I blame it on my body being all hopped up on hormones and running on caffeine and tears, but that’s just my very unscientific assumption.
For some women, with breastfeeding the pounds drop off, but for others, a good 5-10 pounds hangs on for dear life no matter what you do. I am in the latter group. Now, I’m not one who watches my diet and exercises regularly for vain reasons. I believe in living a healthy lifestyle and I just feel better when I am toned and light on my feet. When you have a squishy kangaroo pouch from total lack of abdominal strength, it’s hard to feel fabulous. Although it may feel impossible, abdominal muscles do bounce back, the kangaroo pouch diminishes and your tummy can look like it never housed a baby at all. If you’re diligent, results will happen, eventually. I have to remind myself of this often, especially when I’m cursing the one too many Taco Bell drive through visits I made while pregnant.
I practice a healthy way of living most of the time, but when I’m on a mission to drop a few pounds, I try to be even more diligent to make the right choices. When I’m just maintaining my weight, I workout three days a week, eat fresh well balanced meals and allow myself indulgences in moderation. When I’m trying to lose weight and build muscle, I amp up my workouts to five-six days a week and keep the indulgences to a minimum. It has been a while since I talked a lot about my fitness routine, but I focus predominantly on weight training and HIIT cardio. It all sounds easy on paper, but I struggle to find the energy to fit in my workouts everyday and to make the best meal choices when I’m tired and hungry. But, diet is important, especially if you’re working on your abdominal area. So, here is a list of five meals that will take you ten minutes or less to throw together and will keep you on track.
1. Anything Broiled – Broiling is fast, keeps meats moist and veggies crisp. I love to broil asparagus and chicken mostly. Some of our favorite broiled recipes are Lemon and Crushed Almond Asparagus and Strawberry Balsamic Chicken.
2. Smoothies – Smoothies are a fast and easy way to pack in a lot of nutrients. This recipe that Erica made is also great for older kids!
3. These Lentil Nachos feel indulgent, but are made with fresh ingredients! This one totally makes me feel better when I’m ravenous from breastfeeding.
4. Oatmeal is another fast meal that keeps me full and satisfied. I love to make mine with 1 tbsp of peanut butter, half of a banana and a dash of cinnamon. Once it’s cooked I add 2 tbsp of almond milk to make it creamy!
5. This egg wrap is often my lunch or dinner when I’m too tired to function. It would be great with spinach added in!
Now, I’m totally hungry, think I’ll go whip up some lentil nachos.
– Brooke
I’m seriously hungry looking at these food pics! It’s great that these meals can be quickly made!
Tina
http://www.justatinabit.com
Girl I feel ya, I have a ways to go! Finding the time and energy to workout is so hard for me! You look fab and will get there!
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
These dishes do look scrumptious! Best of luck to losing the last 5! To me the last few pounds are the toughest.
Red Reticule
great ideas!! these will come in handy once I have this baby!
I think this could be good for me and I dont’ have a baby LOL!! The lentil nachos look so good! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Even though I am not a mom, I could use as many healthy meals as I can get!
Eleventh & Sixteenth
I are great ideas for healthy meals! I’m always grabbing things that are bad just because its easy!
Jill
Doused
In Pink
When I was breastfeeding my body really held on to those last 5 pounds and they were gone as soon as I stopped. I love all these great ideas for just being healthy, not even for losing weight! I need to check out that strawberry balsamic chicken-Yum!
Such great ideas! The egg wraps look delish. Thanks for sharing!
~Samantha
http://goldcoastgirlblog.com
Definitely sharing these with my mom-to-be friends!
These dishes all look very tasty! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.dressed2dnines.com
Thanks for sharing! I have never tried peanut butter in my oatmeal! I don’t eat meat so that is a great tip for me! Susan
Hahah, babies will never come easy to this world! Keep going on, super mom! 😉
Lazy Penguins
These all look so good! Sounds like you have an excellent approach to health and wellness!
Lentil nachos?! Yum!
Everything looks delicious AND healthy!! That egg wrap looks fantastic! And I love eating oatmeal in the morning.
Christie
The Closet by Christie
All these look so yummy! I wonder if they’ll work as well for losing regular weight?
Angelina Is
I’m working on losing about 10 pounds. I’ve got the exercise down, but the eating part always gets me! Thanks for these delicious suggestions!
Wow they all greeat! thanks for sharing!
lifeisashoe
omg all this food look so tasty!! great blog!!
http://fashionwalkinbrussels.blogspot.com/
These look fabulous! I’m always looking for healthy meals to make at home and these look delicious!
-Court
http://www.thegoldentabby.com
That chicken looks amazing!! I’m trying to eat mostly healthy throughout this pregnancy so that I don’t end up with a ton of weight to lose after the baby. Smoothies are such a go-to for me!
xoxo Danielle
For the Love of Leopard
Currently my husband and I are on the low carb diet. He lost about 10 in 3 weeks and I lost 2. I have 8 more to go. How the food here look very yummy! I may try some low card version at home for us! Thanks for sharing!
Take care and keep in touch!
By the way, I started my own link up and it will be every Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop by! 🙂
Grace
http://colorandgrace.com
These all sound so very good, plus healthy and pretty to look at. I want to try that first dish and the smoothie, badly. I am currently eating my breakfast but these all sound so good!
oh my god, first of all, ALL that food looks SO GOOD. lentil nachos?!?!! i’ve never seen before but makes me want to try. lentil soup is the bomb dot com. and the egg wrap, smoothie, and asparagus, and chicken!?!?! sounds amazing indeed.
keep working out mama and you’ll get there! glad to see you have goals set and are straight with them. i’ve never been preggers but i know from fact that the abdominals may separate during pregnancy, which causes the permanent stretch if you don’t do something about it soon, then adhesions build up and the tummy stays stretched.
I’ll have to try lentil nachos! Great idea… thanks for sharing.