Following is an article I recently wrote as a guest post for another website. You may recognise that I’ve replicated the portion on selenium from a previous post for BodyAfterBump, but the rest is all new!

So you’ve had the baby, you’ve wondered in the joy of what a precious little bundle you managed to create, you’ve finally finished the horribly bumpy ride that is first-week breastfeeding, and now you’re ready.

Ready for what?

For the weight loss to begin, of course! For that annoying but (at least partly) unavoidable baby weight to melt off with a combination of breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, stress, and God’s good will. Well. Sorry to be the one to have to tell you, but that’s just not going to happen.

The truth is that like anything worth wanting or working towards post-partum weight loss is a little trickier than what the latest celebrity mags might let you believe. Combine that unfortunate truth with -

• The crazy whirl of emotions that is being a mother to a newborn baby
• The fact that even when you do occasionally get time to yourself you’re inundated with well-meaning visitors
• Your desperate need to set aside some time for at least attempting some semblance of a decent sleep whenever you do get 2 seconds to spare –

- and it’s no wonder you’re just about ready to give up and wear your old fat jeans for good. I mean you’ve heard of those yummy mummies who somehow set aside multiple hours per day for a structured exercise routine and home-cook all their own meals, but you honestly don’t think you can be one of them.

Even if you wanted to.

Want the good news?

There is hope. And here’s something else you might like to know – I totally get where you’re coming from. I gave birth for the first time last year, and the whole ‘weight-loss-after-baby’ thing came as kind of a shock. The fact that it wasn’t as straightforward as I thought it would be, that is. If you’re like me in that you already eat correctly and follow the rules on good training techniques then you’ll understand what I’m saying.

So what do we do? Well, clearly, giving up is not an option. But nor is simply following the pre-pregnancy rules. The truth is that post-partum weight loss is kind of a new ball game, and while it certainly won’t do you any harm to eat well and hit the weights room when you’re body is ready, there are a number of additional issues you need to be aware of if you’re serious about blasting away that baby belly.

Today I’d like to talk about 3 important areas of post-partum health – digestion, selenium and your thyroid, and omega-3. In Part Two of this article I’ll be discussing everyday nutrition (how to make eating well work easily in your crazy busy life) and ideal exercise choices.

1. Digestion

Let’s assume for a moment that you didn’t have perfect digestion before falling pregnant. Given that in my entire practice as a BioSignature Practitioner I’ve never tested a knew client who did have, it’s a pretty safe assumption. Now – would you think that pregnancy might have a positive or a detrimental affect on your digestive function? Easy guess, right? During pregnancy, your body sends the very best nutrients to your baby and isn’t really that fussed if you miss out a little. This means that even if you’re eating 100% correctly, any pre-existing issues may be exacerbated. Even more so if you experience any regular stress like, oh, waking up umpteen times each night. This can cause a rise of the stress hormone cortisol which in turn inflames your digestive system and can also lead to a (futher) deterioration of healthy yeast and bacteria. According to Coach Poliquin digestive disturbance is a primary reason for stubborn p/p fat.

To improve my digestion after pregnancy I’ve been regularly taking Digest Force and HCL with each meal, am using ProFlora probiotics daily, and also take one SB (healthy yeast) capsule each day. I’ve found this combination has made a tremendous difference in the ‘heaviness’ of my stomach, and since adding a rotational fiber supplement before meals have noticed a huge increase in my elimination.

2. Selenium and your thyroid

Selenium is a mineral and a potent antioxidant, is very effective for detoxification, and according to leading hormonal experts such as Charles Poliquin a lack of it can be a leading cause of stubborn post-partum weight – and may even be a reason for post-partum depression. Jump on google and search ‘benefits of selenium’ and you’ll see that it’s recommended as an ideal supplement for anyone with an underactive thyroid. Your thyroid is the gland whose function (or lack thereof) basically controls your metabolism, and thus your weight. So it stands to reason that a poorly working thyroid would make it pretty damn tough to drop fat, even when you are eating well and working out. The good news is that many organic foods should naturally contain selenium – brazil nuts are known to be very high in it, and decent amount can also be found in butter, meat, fish, eggs, dairy and shellfish. The problem? The quality of organic food always depends on the quality of the soil (except for fish ), and Australian and US soils are known to be fairly deficient in selenium, even if organic. So I’ve been using a supplement these past few weeks, and I’m using the form of selenium known as ’selenomethionine’ – it’s the most potent. I’ve bought it in capsules and liquid (very bitter though) from my local health food store and am taking 600 micrograms per day, which I plan to do until 6 months post-partum. But if I hadn’t come across it until after that time had passed I would still put myself on it for a good 6 months in order to restore adequate levels.

3. Brain food for you and your baby

One of my absolute favourite foods is fish. It’s delicious when grilled with salad, it’s one of the lowest—insulin spiking foods out there, and it’s an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. You’ve probably already heard about omega-3’s for their heart health and fat loss benefits, but did you know that omega-3 (especially DHA) is considered one of the most powerful brain foods out there? And not just for you (goodbye foggy pregnancy brain!) but for your bubs development as well. In fact, I’ve even heard it suggested that a breastfeeding Mum break open a capsule and put the liquid on her nipple before feeding time.

So how much fish should you be eating if you want to meet your O3 needs and churn through some fat? Well here’s the catch. Unfortunately, most health experts recommend a pregnant or breastfeeding Mum limit fish intake to once a week due to the risk of mercury toxicity. Mercury inhibits thyroid function and has also been linked to ADD-type behaviours and to Alzheimer’s disease. So it’s definitely a no-no.

With this in mind it’s important to know that you’re choosing fish considered to have low levels of mercury. Check out this article that I’ve written on the topic. I choose fish from the safe list once or twice a week, and I also supplement  -  with both capsule and liquid Omega-3. The EFA Complete pX blend is my favourite due to the inclusion of Vitamin E.

I hope by now you’re realising that post-partum weight loss is a game that you too can win. It’s just a matter of knowing the rules. For myself and the Mums I look after it’s been incredibly invaluable to invest the time in learning exactly how our hormones change post-baby – and what needs to be done about it.

As a result I’m now feeling happy, confident, and back in control of my body. It’s been a slower process than the obsessive gym junkie in me would have liked, but from an educational point of view it’s been well worth it.

And the truth?

I feel I’ve learned more about my body by going through this than what a decade as an always-fit PT has taught me. Whether you’re just starting your journey as a Mum or if you’re at the point where you ready to try a different tack, then I guarantee you’ll feel the same as you take the time to work with your coach and put together your ideal back-in-shape plan. Coach Poliquin says that a woman should eventually find herself in the best shape of her life once she’s a mother, and now that I’ve been lucky enough to experience the truth about post-partum weight loss I’d have to say the same. I’m not there yet mind you, but I’m on my way!

And the really good news? If I can do this then so can you.

Body plus baby? Easy!*

Kat

*(We hope)

Are you currently on your own ‘body after bump’ journey? I’d love to hear from you. One of my main reasons for starting this blog (aside from keeping myself accountable) was to form a community of like-minded women. Women who refuse to become a dowdy mother figure and instead choose to embrace their new role with the exceptional health and energy that comes from being in control of their body from the inside out. If this is you then make sure you drop me a line in the comments section below!

Want to leave a comment? If you’re reading from RSS or email you’ll have to enter the blog to do this. You can do that by clicking on the title of this piece. ‘Post a comment’ is at the article end, right under the ’share this’ and ‘related posts’ options.

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The first weeks and months after having a baby are quite possibly the time when (if you’re even a little obsessive like I am) you’ll feel the worst you’ve ever felt about your body. Aside from those early months of pregnancy when you started wondering if it wouldn’t be entirely inappropriate to get a t-shirt printed with the statement “I’m not getting fat, I’m pregnant – what’s your excuse?” At least that time comes with the knowledge that we will soon look pregnant and all accusing stares can be apologetically returned to whence they came.

But after you give birth, and first allowing a little time for the initial glow of the joy of your baby to find it’s place, you start to dwell on a new hope. The hope of breastfeeding. After all, haven’t we all been taught that breastfeeding coupled with a moderately healthy diet and some moderate exercise will have you slim and svelte in no time? Possibly even more so than before you were pregnant? Exciting, isn’t it?! I know I started daydreaming about how good I was going to look within just a few days of giving birth. The fact that I lost 11kg in the first 5 days was – I’ve now decided – a cruel trick to make me think the rest would simply slip away. By the end of week one I’d decided I’d be fully firm and back in my bikini by 6 weeks max.

Well Alyssa is now 16 weeks and whilst I’m ok with wearing a bikini and acknowledge that I look pretty good for someone who recently had a baby, I still long for the day when I can just think “I look pretty good”. Full stop. And for me, that still means being pretty damn obsessive and it still means returning to something very close to my previous physique. If not better. In fact definitely better, considering that I (stupidly or courageously?) took on a bet with Charles Poliquin to get my body fat to a set point by early December this year. Nothing like being accountable to the world’s leading strength and conditioning coach and just the smartest man I’ve ever met to keep you motivated ….

So when you find yourself in such a situation (I’m assuming CP bet aside, except perhaps for L if you’re reading this?) what do you do? You’ve probably already realised that the whole breastfeeding weight-loss thing was kind of a crock (at least for the first few months) and that eating ‘healthy’, maybe even eating paleo just ain’t cutting it. At least not in the way you’d hoped. And it SUCKS, doesn’t it? I mean, even I can see that some value has been gained by being forced to realise just how much of a control-freak I’ve been about my body, and sure, I never thought I’d be comfortable wearing a bikini at anything over my previous body weight, so the whole thing’s definitely been a good lesson. If for nothing else than for being able to truly understand how tough people can sometimes find it to shed weight, even when they’re doing ‘all the right things’. But enough already! Lesson over!

So if you can relate to any of that even just a little bit then I’d like to give you a glimmer of hope. The whole p/p weight loss if it’s not working for you is not necessarily your fault. Well – we could go back and analyse your eating habits etc leading up to and throughout pregnancy, but I’m talking more about what’s happened since. Maybe you have eaten well, maybe you’ve done some great workouts, and maybe you’re even getting a decent amount of rest. But the truth is that none of that is gonna do you as much good as you’d think when your metabolism has ground pretty much to a halt over the past year or more and is now stubbornly refusing to move, much like an obstinate dog sitting in a puddle .

So here’s the scoop. Amongst the roughly 10,000+ units of information I’ve learned through my studies with the Poliquin Institute I recently gleaned a little nugget of information that I think you’ll find particularly interesting. I know I sure did.

Selenium is a mineral and a potent antioxidant, is very effective for detoxification, and according to leading hormonal experts such as Charles Poliquin a lack of it can be a leading cause of stubborn post-partum weight – and may even be a reason for post-partum depression. Jump on google and search ‘benefits of selenium’ and you’ll see that it’s oft-touted as an ideal supplement for anyone with an underactive thyroid. Your thyroid is the gland whose function (or lack thereof) basically controls your metabolism, and thus your weight. So it stands to reason that a poorly working thyroid would make it pretty damn tough to drop fat, even when you are eating well and working out. The good news is that many organic foods should naturally contain selenium – brazil nuts are known to be very high in it, and decent amount can also be found in butter, meat, fish, eggs, dairy and shellfish. The problem? The quality of organic food always depends on the quality of the soil (except for fish ), and Australian and US soils are known to be fairly deficient in selenium, even if organic. So I’ve been using a supplement these past few weeks, and I’m using the form of selenium known as ’selenomethionine’ – it’s the most potent. I’ve bought it in capsules and liquid (very bitter though) from my local health food store and am taking 600 micrograms per day, which I plan to do until 6 months post-partum. But if I hadn’t come across it until after that time had passed I would still put myself on it for a good 6 months in order to restore adequate levels.

I’m also doing a few sneaky things with fibre and probiotics but I might save that for another post – this one’s already well on the lengthy side!

Body plus baby? Easy!*

Kat

*(We hope)

Are you currently on your own ‘body after bump’ journey? I’d love to hear from you. One of my main reasons for starting this blog (aside from keeping myself accountable) was to form a community of like-minded women. Women who refuse to become a dowdy mother figure and instead choose to embrace their new role with the exceptional health and energy that comes from being in control of their body from the inside out. If this is you then make sure you drop me a line in the comments section below!

Want to leave a comment? If you’re reading from RSS or email you’ll have to enter the blog to do this. You can do that by clicking on the title of this piece. ‘Post a comment’ is at the article end, right under the ’share this’ and ‘related posts’ options.

If you haven’t yet subscribed to this feed, what are you waiting for? Do it now. You can choose either email at the top right of this page, or by RSS in the URL bar.

If you enjoyed this article please forward to your friends and tweet it. Thank-you!

(Revised) D-day plus two

Just playing the waiting game now. Oddly enough I don’t feel particularly nervous or on edge (that seems to happen at night). Really, I see no reason not to keep going about my normal activities, although I admit it was leaving things a little late to drive off and have the car capsule installed yesterday, one day past due!

And perhaps not the smartest idea to go to Bikram yoga class yesterday (although I did feel sooo much better for it physically) – what if my waters were to break? Would I even know it among all that sweat?! I guess if I were to think about others more and myself less I would just stay at home until it happens, rather than risk forcing someone else to deal with the, ahem, mess!

Anyway – my only feeling of nervousness relates to next week. What if the baby hasn’t come by Wednesday or Thursday? I really really really don’t want to be induced. So here’s the plan – today I have an ‘induction massage’ – not exactly sure what that entails, apart from specific pressure point work, but I’ll post on it after the event. If that doesn’t work, there’s a follow-up on Monday, although apparently they do have a pretty good success rate. And then, of course, there’s the list of things that all and sundry are wisely telling me to do -

• Have sex (well, the sex part isn’t as important as the orgasm part – it contracts the uterus. Which is fortunate, because a) E usually doesn’t get to bed until long after me, considering he’s not home from work until close to midnight having just opened his second restaurant, b) we both manage to sleep until we’re late for whatever we have on each morning, and c) 9-month pregnant sex is not exactly the easiest or most graceful sporting event. So I think that one will have to be more of a manual effort!
• Eat spicy food (I do that most days anyway)
• Go for a long hilly walk (well, I don’t walk much, but considering I did a weights session on my due date, and Bikram the day after I’m not sure it would be that much of a shock to my body)
• Walk sideways up stairs (I’ve never heard that one before, but my friend L tells me she was told to do it. What the?!)
• Take a wide-tooth comb and firmly press the spine of it into the palm of my hand for at least a minute
• Stimulate various acupuncture points (or have an acupuncture session)
• Bounce on a swiss ball (thanks again L!)

Hmmm. I think I’ll wait and see if this massage works first! Besides, I’m not too keen to try all of those so-called solutions just yet as E has kindly requested I don’t have the baby today as he’s very busy at work (ha!), and I really don’t want to have it tomorrow, as I don’t want my child’s birthday on Halloween.

Mind you, the sooner it’s out, the sooner I can work on getting back in shape! So let’s hope Sunday’s the day!

(And yes, I just realized how callous that second last sentence sounds – of course the sooner it’s out, the sooner I can bond with my child and start to enjoy being a mother. But that’s a story for a different blog )

Body plus baby? Easy!*

Kat

*(We hope)

Don’t forget to leave a comment before you go – if you’re reading from RSS or email you’ll have to enter the blog to do this. You can do that by clicking on the title of this piece. ‘Post a comment’ is at the article end, right under the ’share this’ and ‘related posts’ options.

If you haven’t yet subscribed to this feed, what are you waiting for? Do it now. You can choose either email at the top right of this page, or by RSS in the URL bar.

If you enjoyed this article please forward to your friends and tweet it. Thank-you!