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| Pregnant at 40 weeks - Gained 60lbs |
"I never want to have kids cause pregnancy will ruin my body!"
"You may have a nice body now, but say good-bye to it once you have babies!"
"Oh yeah, you may have bounced back after one kid, but just wait until you have another!"
These are the things I hear from women all the time. Before I was pregnant, while I was pregnant and now after I had the baby.
Honestly....it pisses me off to hear women talk this way. Its not men, men never say this, its women! I'm shocked. I'm also wondering why its not ok to bounce back to your original body after pregnancy? No matter if its kid 1 or kid 5? Why is it looked down upon to be in shape after pregnancy.
Your body is meant to go back. Your uterus is built to expand and retract 14 times its size (I asked my doctor). So, if you eat well, take care of yourself and the child you are growing inside you, use great lotion on your skin to prevent stretch marks......and after you give birth your body happens to go back.....why is that bad? Why do we criticize and not praise?
Most importantly, who started this lie that just because you have a baby means you will never look "hot" again. Your body will "never be the same".
If someone said, "Ok...here's this gorgeous amazing baby boy BUT..... in order for you to have him.... your body has to be trashed, stretched out, you will have belly fat that will never go away. Ok? Oh! And.... you will never be able to wear a bikini again!"
Honestly? If that's how it had to go down? I would trade in my body in a heartbeat because I love my son more than anything....but guess what?
I didn't have to!
Why?
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| In Cancun, 8 months after I had a C Section |
I'll tell ya
This is me, 8 months after I had my baby boy, (via C section). After 8 months I was on the beach, on my honeymoon, in my string bikini.
Yeah, I hear you....
Well, of course you look like that! You are a Broadway dancer. You never had any fat to begin with!
Listen, I'm not posting a photo of me in a bikini to boast. Yes, I'm very proud of myself that my body bounced back, but I'm showing you the before and after because I want women to realize you CAN bounce back. Your body is meant to bounce back.
One week after having my son, I lost 38lbs. I didn't take a magic pill, I didn't do anything other than eat very well, breastfeed (but only for 3 months) and.....here's the product...I used Arbonne's Vegan Protein Shakes (Vanilla) with a scoop of Fiber Boost.
My son was 8lbs 13 ounces. He wasn't a small baby. I was hungry ALL THE TIME when I was Pregger Bunny. Believe me, I ATE. And I didn't always eat well. I listened to my body and what it craved. I didn't eat junk food or take my pregnancy as "the chance to eat whatever I want". Why do women say that?I thought the opposite.
I wanted to take the best care of myself and my body because of what was growing inside me....the love of my life.
This is what I want to convey to pregnant women. How gorgeous and powerful we are! Being pregnant isn't about getting fat, even though there comes a point when that's all it feels like. Being pregnant is wonderful and beautiful and so are you!
I want to throw the ideals of what women think they have to give up in order to have a child. Change the perception to what you have to gain.
Arbonne is a phenomenal company that has tremendous products. But for a pregnant women the most important is what I put in and on my body goes to my baby. So I got real. No chemicals, parabens, mineral oil, or hormones. Arbonne's botanically based so I knew what I was using on my body was going into my bloodstream. I had to be confident about the company and the products. And thank god for Arbonne!
Order through www.merie.myarbonne.com.
Email Merie@MerieInc.com for more advice and how to order.
My "Pregger Bunny" Products:
- Item #2066 Omega 3 Plus - Incredible to take! Especially for babies brain, eye, and memory function and development. Its vegan so don't worry about mercury.
- Item #2062 Calcium Plus - A must have for your bones and your babies bones.
- Item #818 Arbonne's RE9 Advanced Line: Your skin goes through changes when your pregnant and this line kept my skin in balance and kept me looking young...seriously.
- Item #965 Arbonne's Lip Saver: I still love this! Best lip balm ever.
Prevent Stretch Marks? Yes please!
- Item #481 Arbonne's Intelligence Rejuvenating Cream twice a day, on the belly
- Item #9684 Arbonne's Shea Butter Hand & Body Care Duo Makes you smell yummy!
- Item #7089Arbonne's Aromassentials Sea Salt Shower Scrub exfoliating relief for the itchy belly skin!
Protein Shakes
My life blood to keeping healthy while preggers and losing the weight after! They are 20 grams of vegan protein and 21 essential vitamins and minerals per serving. Ask your OBGYN. Mine said the shakes are perfect!
Best Value! Item #2046 Arbonne's 30 Day Feeling Fit Kit 2 Protein Shake mixes (Chocolate or Vanilla), Energy Fizz Sticks, Fit Chews, Herbal Detox Tea, Daily Fiber Boost and Free Guide.
My favorite morning shake mix recipe:- 2 scoops of Arbonne's Vanilla Shake Mix
- 1 scoop of Arbonne's Fiber Boost
- 9 ounces of Almond Milk
- 2 ice cubes
- 1 heaping scoop of all natural peanut butter
You can also add peanut butter, agave, crispy cereal and fiber to the protein shake mix and make your own protein bars! Good idea to carry with you cause you are always hungry right?
If you are wondering about workouts. I didn't do much. I listened to my body and it wasn't having it. I was dizzy a lot. So I recommend walks (Or "Stop and Go's" as my husband called them) and good deep stretching. I couldn't work out much in my second and third trimesters. But, I did heavy tap and ballroom dancing in a show 8 times a week in my first trimester!
All in all. Arm yourself with some great knowledge, product and mindset. Then trust and listen to your body, it knows what to do.
**Best Baby Shower gift you could give your girlfriends!
My goal is to empower you. I hope I did, and I wish you so much love with your pregnancy and your beautiful bundle of joy!
Namaste my friends,
Meredith
