Losing Baby Weight Safely as a Vegan

Postpartum weight loss is on a lot of mama’s minds. I know it was definitely on mine – especially on the days that I didn’t quite feel myself – but it does not happen over night. It shouldn’t happen overnight. It took you 9 glorious months to grow a HUMAN BEING! Your wonderful, beautiful, strong body created life. And yes, you have some extra weight, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have it forever. Losing weight safely after having a baby is important. It is a natural loss, and will be a slow and steady journey. And if you don’t get back to how you used to be… well, to be honest, your body is not going to be identical ever again. That is something you have to come to peace with! Your body changed for the better. All you can do is work to feel your very best again. Not the same. Just your new best self. Hey, it may even be better than before baby! Each and every one of us is different, and our postpartum journeys will vary, too.

As a vegan, I found that losing weight after baby was not as bad as I imagined it to be. Without meat, dairy, and other fattening foods in my diet, I was already halfway there. But there are definitely a few other tips and habits that can help you. I think it is important to note that I never once counted calories (or ever plan to). I ate until full and satisfied, but I just began to eat the right things and eliminate the things that did not make me feel good.

In the past, I discussed my entire weight loss journey here – including numbers and timeline of loss – so check that out if youa re interested. But today, I am focusing on the tips that led me to my goal.

If you want meal plans and recipes that helped with my weight loss, I share them in my e-book.

Note: I am not a doctor or nutritionist, so please always speak with a professional about your goals. But I am just sharing what worked for me. I hope some of these tips work for you, too. Each and every body is different!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that I’ll receive a commission if you purchase from this link. This will not change or increase the cost of your purchase. This extra income provides for my family and keeps The Friendly Fig running strong.

#1: Nurse for as long as you can, if possible. This won’t be a tip for everyone, but I am including it because it definitely contributed to my weight loss. I actually exclusively pumped for 7 months, until my supply dipped. I still pump twice a day and give Willow what I can, while supplementing with organic soy formula. I’ll be pumping until I run dry… and until then, I do believe this helps with my weightloss. Still burning calories!

#2: Take a walk a day. If weather permits, grab the stroller or baby-carrier and get outside. It won’t only do wonders for your mental health and well-being, but will get your heart rate up. Just a brusk 30 min walk a day is enough.

#3: Stretch your body. I take a couple minutes each morning to just stretch my legs, arms, torso, etc. This may not mean a lot fo weight loss, but it does keep me feeling limber and much better. I’m all over the floor with my kiddo all day, so this is important to me!

#4: Drink water exclusively. Just keep drinking water, even when you think you’ve had enough (especially if you are still nursing). I cut out pretty much all other liquids, with the exception of almond milk in my smoothies and oatmeal. If you need a new flavor, try adding different fruits to your water (strawberry lemon is delicious).

#5: Baby-wear around the house and out and about. I can’t express this enough. I use my ergobaby carrier at least once or twice a day. The extra weight of your baby while you walk, clean the house, or cook is a workout in itself. Plus, you get some snuggling and bonding time being so close with your babe. Willow gets SO excited when she sees the carrier now. I usually use this on all our walks and toward the end of the day during her fussy times. It makes her happy and I am able to get so much done… and break a sweat.

#6: Eliminate processed food. Up until about 6 or so months, I was eating whatever, whenever. Lots of processed, quick foods to grab. But once we really got into a groove and Willow was more independent, I gradually stopped relying on the frozen Gardein patties and frozen fries. Opting for whole ingredients – fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts/nut butter – has not only satisfied my love of cooking, but contributed to losing the last bit of baby weight I had. Do your very best to eat whole foods. It helps me to stop buying the easy processed foods. What isn’t in your home will not tempt you!

#7: Cut processed sugar from your diet. This one can be hard, but once you get past the initial week or so, you won’t even be craving it. White sugar is just horrible for you – we all know that. But I went a step further and cut out any sugar that has been processed. Instead, I turned to fruit and dates for a sweet treat. I actually wrote a whole post on how I use dates as a sweetener (in whole form and as a syrup). That alone really helped. I KNOW cutting sugar helped with my weight loss immensely.

I definitely notice that when I do treat myself and cheat, the weight creeps up. It just doesn’t work with my body, and doesn’t make me feel good. So if you have the will power, consider cutting it.

#8: Limit refined oil intake. Oil in liquid form is doing nothing for your weight. It is a ton of calories for just a tbs… so it doesn’t even go a long way. Instead, choose nourishing healthy fats – like avocado, nut butters, and nuts. You’ll most likely notice a change right away. I felt less sluggish and don’t miss it at all.

#9: Refrain from snacking at night. This was such a tough one for me, but as soon as I started to do this, I noticed less bloating in the morning and a better night’s sleep. I stop eating around 7 PM (we have dinner around 6:15-6:30). If I get hungry, I will usually make myself a cup of tea and that does the trick.

On the weekends, I tend to break this rule, but I feel it in the morning. It’s crazy what a difference it makes. Your body needs time to digest your food before you shut down and sleep. Keep that in mind and give it a try to see how you feel!

So there you have it – these are the things that helped me with natural postpartum weight loss as a vegan. I hope that some of these will help you, too. At the end of the day, just remember that your body created life. Celebrate it. There’s no rush to lose weight – just small, healthy habits will add up. xo bianca

In this e-book, you’ll find 40+ pages of:

• 28 of my go-to weight loss meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack recipes over the course of 7 days)
• Weight loss tips I swear by
• The ultimate healthy vegan diet shopping list
• Snack list
• Recipes made with whole ingredients – no processed food, oil, or sugar
• Vibrant food photography
• Clean layout

If you need ideas and a boost of inspiration on the vegan weight loss front, I hope you’ll invest in your health for under $1 a day. It’s just $6!

Thank you guys for your support, always. xo