My biggest motivation is to be healthier, look better, feel stronger for myself and my family because I realize that I cannot take care of them if I don’t take care of me.
~Ify
At Maternity Nest, we are always on the look out for mothers, who have successfully bounced back and are fit after having their babies.
We know it’s such a struggle to combine our FitFam goals with our busy mommy/wifey/work schedules; therefore we try to get all the details on how they are able to achieve this, so as to encourage other moms and moms-to-be who may be in need of inspiration/motivation to stay fit after pregnancy.
Our searchlight beamed on Ify; a mom of three. She recently welcomed twins and we are amazed at how quickly she lost all the baby weight in such a short time. She is definitely a source of inspiration, and you would surely love her helpful tips. Enjoy!
Tell us some more about Ify?
I am a customer care assistant by profession. Most importantly, I am a wife and mother of three adorable kids. I have a beautiful princess and twin boys. They are the center of my world and I love them to heaven and back and back to heaven again. Lol. My daughter is 3 years old and the boys turned 1 on June 5, yay!. I enjoy quality time with friends and family, I love to chill and run around with my kids, reading books, LIB, and shopping of course!
There’s a lot of body shaming and pressure on women to lose weight after giving birth. How do you feel about this?
It is wrong. Nobody has the right to shame anybody for their body. Much less a woman who just had a baby! She housed and fed another human being(s) for 10 months. Come on! On the other hand, we choose how we react to them trolls. For the sake of health, we need to loose that weight right? So why not take that away? And it looks and feels better so hey…
How much did you weigh by the end of your last pregnancy and how much weight have you lost so far?
By the end of my twins’ pregnancy, I was weighing 116kg. Imagine my 5 ft and 4 inches frame. I was huuuuge. My doctor said ‘congratulations on attaining the weight of a heavy weight champion’, and I had them at 36 weeks o! I have lost about 41kg now and I am still going. I weigh 75 now but my target is 69.
When after childbirth did you start your fitness journey?
I started immediately. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and needed to bounce back fast. I immediately dropped all the soda and ‘soft drinks’ , baked goods, chocs etc. Well the craving stopped as soon as I had my boys so I got on water. I drank and drank and I still drink. Healthy meals, veggies, nuts, fruits.
What/Who is your biggest motivation to keep pushing?
My biggest motivation is to be healthier, look better, feel stronger for myself and my family because I realize that I cannot take care of them if I don’t take care of me.
Tell us every detail of your weight loss regimen.
I do healthy eating and exercise. That is all really. I eat a lot of fruits,vegetables, waterrrrr, like a lot! I exercise at least 3 times a weeks, even if its just squats.
On a typical day, what is your meal plan like? How many times in a day do you eat, and what do you eat at those times?
On a typical well planned day, I could have oats and fruits for breakie, lunch would be a wrap of homemade moi moi, lots of snacks like garden eggs, fruits, nuts, crackers. Dinner could be okro soup and a fistful of eba. An apple few hours before bed. I don’t do rigid plans but I watch my portions.
Do you think you will continue even after you’ve hit your target weight?
Yes, I will definitely continue. I realize that its a lifestyle and not a quick fix. I have weaned from the love of junk food and only do it in weddings and dinner nights . *winks*
What are the main challenges/weaknesses/ temptations you face and how do you overcome them?
My main challenge would be weekends. I tend to relax with everything on weekends. My hair is down, no make up, no weight watching. I just roll on the ground with my kids and eat whatever I feed them…lol. Office birthdays is also another culprit, but self control gets stronger everyday as you exercise that muscle. So yea, I’m able to say ‘No’ to a lot, and it gets better.
How are you able to incorporate your fitness regimen into your daily work/ mommy/ wife schedule? Where do you find the time and energy? Any practical tips to share?
I believe that where there is a will, there is a way. It is not easy but it is doable and I’m worth it. The struggle for me is mostly in my mind and I try to win it one step at a time. The energy is from the person in the mirror. I visualize what I wanna see and I work out right there in front of my mirror, and watch the fat ‘scream! That feels good and empowers me. The result is also another great motivator. The endorphin from the workout feels good and you are walking on sunshine all day! My advise would be to never quit. Weight loss is hard and needs consistency to see results. Start slowly and increase intensity. I would squat with my 10kg babies some nights and that would be my workout for the day, and everyone is happy.
For you, what are the best things about losing weight/staying fit?
The best thing for me would be that I feel healthier and I believe I look better. That makes me happy and more confident and that is enough for me!
Finally, what is your advice to other moms battling with the baby weight and want to be like you?
My advice is to just start. Start with your next meal. Eat dinner by 6. Find a support system. People with similar interest will motivate you.
Thank you for sharing these useful tips. We really appreciate it.
You are welcome!
Have you been able to lose that excess baby weight? How did you do it? Interested in motivating other women by sharing your tips and regimen? Get in touch with us by sending an email to features@maternitynest.com with the subject “my post-baby body”.
Do you need support and motivation to lose weight? Join other moms in the Postpartum weight loss challenge forum. Let’s struggle together! See you there!
Keep it up sweetie. Proud of u!