How I lost my first 20 pounds without losing any of my breast milk supply!

So, one of my reasons (ahmmmm...excuses) for putting off my fitness journey so long was I am an undersupplier already. This means that I have had to supplement my son with donor milk and formula since the beginning, I have never been able to fully meet his needs.

This has never stopped me from giving him what I do make however, and they say "Any breast milk is better than none"...but still I was so scared that I'd experience this huge dip in supply as soon as I started cutting calories and exercising.

I did NOT lost any milk though! And I want to share with you how I did that!

First off, let me say that I haven't done any 'get skinny quick' things such as wraps, pills, drinks, etc. I seriously have put the work in and am now seeing the results that I am loving! I don't believe in those things, sure a wrap might give you the illusion of losing some weight, but I honestly do not believe it melts the pounds away and keeps them off like tried and true diet and exercise. Also, I don't believe their is any 'get skinny quick' pill or drink that you can take..if there was our nation wouldn't be in this hot mess of obesity that we are in. 

That said, I did the old fashioned nutrition and exercise route! I started with a program called PiYo from Beachbody. If you haven't heard of it here is a quick little video that shows you what it is. Basically its Pilattes and Yoga mixed together into one awesome low impact  high intensity workout. What does that mean? There are no jumps or craziness, it mainly works on your strength and flexability. I had to personally start here because I was so out of shape. Here is my before photo on the day I started PiYo.

Here is my 'after' 8 weeks of PiYo and eating right!

So, how did I do THAT ^^^ and not lose an ounce of milk...here are my tips...

•  WATER WATER WATER!!! Yes, I know since pregnancy people say 'Oh just drink more water" But seriously, when you are exercising you HAVE to replace your water in your body. Not only would I chug water all day from a water bottle, but also ....tip 2...
• ELECTROLYTES !! I opt for 'Smart Water' or a 'G2'. I found out fast that regular Gatorade has way too much sugar and other crap in it! Replace those electrolytes and you will likely even see a boost to your supply!
• Shakeology!!! Shakeology is the nutrition drink that is the cornerstone of success with these programs. You can workout everyday and not see the full results if you're not eating healthy and filling your body with the right nutrients. Shakeology is what tells you body "I've got what I need, unload the rest" and you see the fat come off. This isn't a super pill that works by magic! This is a whole foods based drink that conditions the body to be strong and healthy while you exercise. You don't lose weight by starving your body of food but by only giving it the right food! In a nutshell, it staves off hunger, cuts cravings, and keeps you healthy during this journey 
• Nutrition!!! So this goes back to drinking the shakeology. If you aren't eating enough you don't make milk. Your body will stop your metabolism and that will not let your weight come off. YOU HAVE TO EAT! Just eat the right foods! The shakeology really helped my cravings and after about 2 weeks I was able to totally stop snacking and really felt amazing!
• SUPPORT! This is huge for breastfeeding moms in general, but add in exercising and omg its so essential!!! There are so many groups on Facebook for this but my all time favorite is called "Fancy Fit Life". Also and probably my biggest supporter is my COACH! Beachbody offers free personal coaching, for life, for free. Yes, for FREE! If you are interested in having a personal coach try this link HERE and you can join my journey with me!

I really hope these help! If you have any questions be sure to reach out to me, I might be able to help you! You can email me at ' taraeveland@gmail.com' or find me on Facebook even! I look forward to chatting with you!