Body After Baby: FooD Plan
Posted: January 4, 2011 at 12:00 pmMorning my pals! Time for another Body After Baby post! Currently this series catalogues my plans and ideas for getting back in shape once baby B makes it outside of my apparently-super-cozy belly. I have already shared goals and how I plan to track progress. Now, it’s time to share a little more specifically how I plan to reach those goals. I warned you all yesterday, in my Blog Changes post, that I would discuss food and fitness a bit more often. Here is a glimpse into what to expect with the food. The fitness section is coming soon, as I don’t want to overload this post with too much content.
The Food
My biggest goal is to get back to my roots – back to my normal preferred eating style. In the year or so before getting pregnant with Braedon, I had found a balance of eating that suited me perfectly. I ate a variety of wholesome, quality, nutritious foods that gave me energy and that I enjoyed. I never felt deprived and could easily dine on some of my not-so-healthy favorites without concern. I didn’t go overboard one way or the other – not too restrictive and obsessive over what I put in my body, but not a free-for-all either where I didn’t care for my health.
The balance easily fit the 80/20 “rule” of choosing the nutritionally dense foods 80% of the time and “treats” or “indulgences” the other 20%. I don’t care to classify food that way, but in reality that’s what it ended up looking like. I ate in a manner that fit my tastes, lifestyles, love of feeling healthy…and naturally came to that 80/20 place.
I raise my hand in admission that, while I certainly do my best and focus on having balance in my nutrition, I currently do not eat in a manner I feel comfortable with for long-term health. I know my intense pregnancy sugar cravings will not bode well when hoping to achieve balance and a greater sense of health. I must make changes. I plan to do so in the following ways:
- Cook one new recipe each week that includes quality ingredients – lots of veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, etc. – and share it on the blog.
- Balance treats more. I refuse to give up treats, because I know my sweet tooth won’t disappear. However, I can find more balance between natural goodies (fruit, yogurt, etc) and the cookies/chocolate.
- Plan meal & snack ideas for the week. I do this anyways, but I want to plan more variety…like new breakfasts and lunches each week. I know I can get in ruts where I eat the same thing over and over and over for months.
- Post about my food. I won’t eat something simply for the sake of the blog, but I do know sharing more regularly can help hold me accountable to my goal of establishing better habits for myself. I won’t post my eats every day, but look for me to share recipes and possibly do a weekly post series that catalogues my regular day’s eats. Other random fun/delicious foods will appear in the mix too.
- Make room for veggies & fruit. I love fresh produce. I certainly want to incorporate more – especially veggies! I like them! Why am I not eating them more? That doesn’t mean I will start eating bowls for lunch and dinner every day like it seems some bloggers like to do…but carrot slices with hummus at lunch, for example, can certainly make a reappearance more often.
- LOOSELY keep track of food/calories. Okay, this one may come as a shocker to many of you who know me. I refuse to use a scale. I don’t like numbers for tracking my “weight loss” progress. So WHY would I even consider thinking about calories? Well, even though I won’t rely on a scale to tell me my progress, I WILL be trying to lose weight. I will also (hopefully) be breastfeeding in the process. I will need to find a balance of food intake that suits both of those processes.
I won’t track every morsel that crosses my lips by using a tracking program. I won’t hold off on eating something when hungry because it doesn’t “fit into my daily calories”. I won’t shoot for processed or packaged items for their lower calorie content. I will, however, loosely determine how many I’m eating here and there just for a general reference. I want to be sure I’m eating enough for breastfeeding, but not going overboard in portions or choices to where I hinder my personal goals either.
It will be more of a broad tally in my head some days (not every day) to check in with myself. And if it ever feels obsessive or like its leading me down a restrictive path, I will stop. Loosely tracking food worked well for me when losing weight after Makenzie, so I plan to try the same this time. I don’t think counting is bad as long as you can still listen to your body and appropriately feed yourself. I also won’t continue the practice once I reach my goal and enter maintenance.
I know I want to accomplish the above with my dining. Some other things may come up as I go along. Eating healthy should be fun. It may take some time, but I have faith I will work back to a place that I enjoy and that improves my quality of life.
Question of the Day – What things do you strive for in your eating?
Tags: calorie counting, healthy eating
definitely for balance! im pretty sure most of my meals are carb heavy though…need more veggies for sure!
I follow the eighty/twenty guidelines too! It’s definitely all about balance!
I’ve been trying to get more into balance after the holidays and way too much sugar. Carrots n hummus is one of my favorite snacks!
Loose tracking is definitely the way to go. For way too long, I was so precise. Now, I don’t write it down at all and just strive to eat a reasonable amount at each meal. It works so much better.
I thought for sure little FFF would have arrived by now. So excited for you!
Great approach, as always Tina! I think the 80/20 rule is crucial. As you probably already read on my blog, my main focus food-wise this year is on eating mindfully, slowing down, and enjoying the taste of what I’m putting in my mouth. Over time I’ve become so used to wolfing down my food in a rush to do other things and I want to take more time to enjoy the process of actually eating.
That’s something I have to practice too. When teaching, I had 5 mins for snacks between classes and about 15-20 mins for lunch. Now, with M, I find myself rushing with some meals because I have to get back to her. I really try to take time and pay attention though.
Love it! That’s what I do with calories too… Loosely plan and sometimes tally but I cannot keep track or I feel like a raving hungry lunatic! This plan look awesome!
This is great!
The best thing you can do is have a plan for this. Im sure that most mothers just try and wing it but fail as there has to be some type of loose structure.
Good luck!!
I love your plan! I think having this plan in place will greatly help you once baby B actually arrives. I’m looking forward to seeing some of your fun new recipes!
These are great goals Tina!! You have a balanced and healthy outlook and I’m positive you will achieve them 🙂
Great theory/post! Im going to have to bookmark this for the future!
a very smart and sane looking way of going about things! awesome plan 🙂
I strive for:
– DRINKING MORE WATER
– Eating healthy snacks so I don’t grab crud when I’m too hungry later
I am striving for more fruits and veggies too! And I like them as well, so I am trying to figure out why I don’t eat them more! But you gave me a great idea, hummus! I love hummus and I can dip my veggies in it!! I also made my own sweet potatoe fries the other day and they were better than the frozen kind. I want to do that with all veggies!
i am really striving to make healthy choices…which sounds so cliche, but when it comes down to it i KNOW what mac and cheese tastes like…and i know how i feel after eating it. i also KNOW what a great salad tastes like, and how much better i feel after eating it. so knowing those things and taking them into consideration rather than just feeding my immediate wants is what my goal is with eating 🙂
You have a wonderful approach to your diet, so balanced. I think a healthy diet has to include the occassional indulgence, food is for pleasure too! You just have got it so spot on. My sister is due her baby boy any day now, I shall forward her the link to this post!
At the moment I’m striving for balance. I want to be able to maintain my current weight but I’m finding that balancing act diffcult, in the last few months I’ve lost weight and I don’t really want to lose any more but at the same time I’m scared of gaining. I’d love to be able to ditch the scales completely but I’m not quite there yet x
It’s a tough thing to adjust to. Maintenance is SO hard! It’s a whole new way of eating, thinking, etc. You can do it though. I’m sure you will find that balance.
And how exciting for your sister. I hope he comes soon…for both of us. LOL
One of the prettiest and most balanced food plans after a baby I have ever seen! 🙂
In the past few months especially when I’ve really started to come into my own with intuitive eating I’ve noticed that my “pattern” of normal eating roughly looks like an 80/20% with 80% fresh, whole foods and 20% everything else. I think that is what our body’s crave- a lot of freshness to nourish and give us energy plus a decent chunk of sweets or salty goodness to satisfy the need. It’s brilliant what your body will do when you allow it to naturally BE.
I honestly think that anyone who values their health knows roughly how many caloried a day they consume. I don’t count calories and I don’t know exaclty how many I consume each day. But I do look at calories and I know about how many are in certain foods…so at the end of the day I can give you a ballpark number and usually I am within about 200 of what I thought. So I think being mindfully aware of the calories going in is a good tool for getting your body back to its happy place.
I try to eat enough fruits and veggies over the course of every day, and to listen to my body’s hunger and fullness cues. And not eat too much sugar- my “rule” (which is not super strict) is to avoid treats during the week, and have a few dessert on the weekends or on special occasions.
My natural cravings tend to lean towards the carb-heavy so I try to keep that in check by incorporating a lot of vegetables and fruit for more balance.
I don’t think keeping an eye on calories is a bad thing. I think that in weight loss it is a good thing to be knowledgeable about. It’s sad because since so many people have a history with being calorie obsessed (me included), it’s gotten a bad stigma as a giant DON’T.
I recently rejoined Weight Watchers, and my natural inclination is to eat lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. WW is causing me to get more low-fat/non-fat dairy into my life, make sure i’m getting healthy oils each day (olive, canola), and also making me measure a lot of things so I can relearn portion sizes. As someone who has struggled with their weight for their whole life, I’m not really at a point where I can just trust myself and listen to hunger cues fully. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be.
I think you will be eventually, but yes…when working towards a healthier weight its important to know proper portions and how to get that balance. Tracking, without obsessing, is a great way to work towards that.
It’s so hard to find a balance with food, and I especially feel for you–being pregnant DURING the holiday season would put me overboard. I think you have a great plan (that doesn’t seem obsessive to me) and I look forward to continue reading about your progress!
this is great Tina! I actually get stuck in ruts often, and then I forget about foods that I love that I haven’t eaten in a while (like avocados with eggs!) planning ahead and adding a variety is a great idea. looking forward to your new journey-almost there momma!
I strive to get in a variety of fruits and vegetables per day, protein and drink lots of water! I’m listening to my body’s cues. I know when I’m super thirsty, so it must be working!
I think you have a great plan! I’m excited to see how this goes because I’ve honestly always been worried about the weight I would gain when I got pregnant.
I usually stive to plan ahead for my meals, so I’m not going out to eat frequently and I don’t have to do lots of prep. Monday to Friday I typically eat the same things from Breakfast through to my pre-workout snack- and save any creative meals for dinner. Simple works for me!
That is how I do things too. I plan and shop for the same breakfast, lunch, and snacks…then mix up dinner. It keeps grocery bills down and makes it easier for me.
This looks like a great plan for you and your goals!!
I think you’re going to do GREAT after you have baby B! Honestly, I don’t track calories, but I could tell you every nutritional stat for almost every food out there after years and years of it. I never have one of those “oh that’s too many calories, I can’t eat it” moments which is awesome for me!
With my diet, I kind of just eat what I want… and what I want is whole clean foods with a variety of colors and textures!
Great goals Tina! Mine are very similar, trying to plan out meals and snacks more and look for new and healthy ideas. Also making a plan for treats so I don’t feel deprived 🙂
Except for that “tracking calories” thing, those are the same things I want to do this year …
Then again, I should probably be doing that, too.
I always try to fill my day with food I love that is nutritious and filling. Usually it is a mix of grains, yogurt, fruit, veggies and lean meats. Oh, and the occasional glass of wine, piece of chocolate and something salty.
I try to strive for a great balance of delicious and satiety. And I strive to keep a stocked pantry so I don’t resort to eating the roommates Cheez-Its (although as far as chemically-laden foods go, those have a special place in my heart forever, lol!) 🙂
Haha! I love that last bit about them having a special place in your heart.
This sounds like a good plan! I am aiming for more local and seasonal eats this year! I already kind of do this with my veggies through the CSA box I receive every 2 weeks, but I will try to expand with more fruit from the farmers markets and most importantly with grains, dairy, pasta etc. I know that I cannot go 100% local, at least not yet but it is very important and will be an interesting experiment!
I love picking foods that My mind will tell me that I full and I know that I am not consuming to many calories. Tina, Congrats on your baby getting closer!!! I hope you are kicking butt and taking names during the last few days. Ashlee and I had twins 10 months ago and have both worked really hard with our bodies, our babies eating the right amount of food and the right kind of foods. Our Babies ate avocado as their first food (http://ashandlewplus2.com/2010/08/27/left-overs-are-yummy) because of how good it is for them, even though it is high in fat! We cannot always be scared of Fat, sometimes it is great for you. have a great day
Lew
My little girl had avocado as one of her very first foods too. She LOVED it!!
I’m a new reader and I’m loving your blog so far!!
Quick question for you: are there any good sculpting dvds that you recommend for pregnant women? There so many dvds out there and I’m just not sure which is a good one or not.
I never got pregnancy specific DVDs, but I have used the Slim in 6 DVDs from Beachbody easily enough during pregnancy. I also will just do light weight workouts with basic moves that don’t have me lying on my back. I have an example one under the workout section of my “Top Posts” tab. It’s called “At Home Circuit”. I have done that one a lot during pregnancy, even the later stages.
Great plan. I struggle with indulging and not being strict with myself. I need to be less strict with my eating habits. It’s always a work in progress.
The plan sounds great! I love that you HAVE a plan- I think that’s a huge part of acheiving goals!
Your take on calorie counting is great! I think it is kinda taboo almost in the healthy living blogworld, so it’s nice to hear this point of view. I don’t do it, and it wasn’t healthy for me when I DID do it (deprivation), but I definitely still think that it is necessary sometimes and that, done in the right way and for the right reasons like you, it will give great results.
You are SO going to get back to your healthiest and happiest place! 😀
I think you are definitely getting on the right track with this. I love that you are so excited about health and fitness after B is here. I wish people that fear health and fitness understood that it can be so much fun!
Balance! Aaahhhh! I am a work in progress still. It can be hard, but I still feel there is always room for improvement with me and balance. I hate to measure food as well. I still measure my oatmeal on the scale, but that is about it. 🙂
In a few weeks or months I will start meausring more, but purely from a performance based perspective! I am an endurance athlete and I am trying to fuel properly etc. It will be annoying, but I am up for the challenge. 😉
Great topic and post! Baby B – be nice to mommy! 😉
LOVE your plan!
I try to do 90/10 but in reality it ends up looking more like 80/20. (I love pizza what can I say!) I don’t pay much attention to calories (although I know what has high calories and doesn’t so portion accordingly…love butter but I don’t slather for instance). I pay lots of attention to quality of food. I want everything to be as close to nature as possible and I buy very very little processed foods not for weight but for health.
I’m excited to see new recipes you try – Billy and I are about to start a more regimented meal plan – to save money and to be sure I’m getting enough protein and he’s getting enough veggies. I strive to eat as much fresh food as I can but we’re also on a budget so I look for deals on produce and Billy often chooses the fish or meat that’s on sale. I’m really hoping that we can save money with meal planning and start to eat more of the same meals…many nights we eat completely separate meals.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your eats on here!
I completely agree, Tina! I am a big believer in the 80/20 rule (or okay…sometimes it’s more like 70/30). 😉 I don’t ever want to deprive myself of my favorite foods, so I strive *most* of the time to eat wholesome, “real” foods. I read Michael Pollan’s “Food Rules” (LOVED it), and the one thing I took away from it the most is “Don’t eat foods your grandma wouldn’t recognize.” I try to eat a lot of veggies, fruit, dairy, beans, etc., and *try* to stay away from the processed stuff as much as possible.
When feel my best when I eat things that feel good during AND after eating them. Like they are yummy but leave me feeling good and energized afterwards.
[…] Tina at Faith Fitness Fun recently shared her “Body After Baby” eating plan. I’m not trying to lose weight after having a baby, but I love, love, love her action plan […]
Can’t wait to see all of the recipes! And I think 80/20 is a great balance!
I feel best when I eat a lot of veggies, fruits, and get a lot of protein and moderate complex carbs. I feel like I’m dragging when I eat a lot of sugar!
I strive for FLAVOR!
As long as there is some good flavor, I’m a happy girl! I hate blah.
sounds like a great plan! achievable, realistic, and healthy. go you!
How funny, one of my 2011 Goals is to make one new recipe each week!
I am trying to eat more protein (I already eat a lot of vegetables, whole grains, and fat) and more small, balanced meals each day.
I’m hoping to explore more veggie options as well as more vegetarian recipes. It’s so easy to get stuck in the rut of eating the same things over and over and for me that eventually leads to burnout. Part of this goal will be financial as I want to be able to set aside some money each week so that I can experiment with new recipes.