Eat wholesome food to get your tone and figure back
A poor diet will make you feel bloated and run-down, and could easily undo all the good work you’ve done exercising and using your abs belt. Eat well for even better results, advises nutritional therapist Gabriela Peacock, founder of GP Nutrition.
“Complex carbohydrates such as brown rice or barley are bursting with B vitamins, which are essential for energy production. And as they’re rich in fiber, you’ll feel fuller for longer. Combined with carbohydrates, protein releases sugar into the bloodstream more slowly, keeping your energy levels balanced. So top your toast with hummus, oily fish, lean meats, cottage cheese or sugar-free nut butter for a protein hit.”
Use your Connect belt and your own body for an even flatter tummy
According to wellness expert James Duigan, founder of the Bodyism system, an easy way for busy mothers to reconnect with their abdominal muscles post-pregnancy is to do pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegels followed by a series of planks (stay in plank position for ten seconds, building this up to one minute).
What’s great is that this is something you can try to fit around baby’s nap times and that can be done whilst wearing the Slendertone belt, helping reach fitness and toning goals even faster.
A strong body is a rested body
Being a parent often means having erratic sleeping hours: “Eat foods that are high in tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin – the brain’s feel-good hormone that also aids sleep. Turkey, seafood, bananas and cottage cheese are great options. Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, Swiss chard and spinach are rich in magnesium, which can help with relaxation,” says Peacock.
She also recommends avoiding caffeine after 4pm: “It disrupts blood sugar levels by stimulating the adrenal gland, which might keep you awake at night. And as it’s a stimulant it’ll give you a false sense of energy; once it wears off you’ll feel even more tired. To feel really rested, add a few lavender drops to your pillow or your bath,” she suggests.
Work out at home, with your baby
Every new mother needs to appreciate that any transformation that happens in their body happens in their mind first, says Duigan: “Don’t rush this process as you risk hurting yourself. Understand that carrying your little one around is exercise in itself; just try to sneak in a couple of squats along the way.”
Prepare nutritious snacks for you and your baby
Avoid salty or sugary snacks and stick to whole foods such as natural yoghurt (for protein and calcium) and fresh fruit and vegetables, says Peacock. And make some baby friendly snacks that you’ll also be tempted by: “Chop up some vegetable sticks to eat with hummus, a filling, protein rich dip. I also love mashed avocado on rice cakes, or mixing together some bananas, apples and oats for some naturally sweet flapjacks,” she adds.
Tips like these are simple but effective. Avoiding snacking on sweet, processed foods and squeezing in short (but intense) bursts of exercise when your baby is napping will help you earn back that pre-baby tone faster while juggling busy demands.
