While this post on What You Need to Know About Healthy Weight Loss in Your 30s was sponsored by NutriBullet LEAN via Socialstars, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. #ad #getLEAN
There was once a time in my life when I put my mind towards losing weight. I ate healthy, I worked out, and I lost weight fast. I was 21 and was able to lose 10 pounds a month and got to my goal quickly. After having Addie in 2014 though, I realized that losing weight isn’t as easy when you’re older. It takes hard work, even more dedication, and a strong mindset. I put together this list of what you need to know about healthy weight loss in your 30’s, because surely I’m not the only one in this journey, right? Where are my mom friends at?
Last year, I worked really hard on self care as part of my New Year’s resolution. This year, my word is “flourish” and I am striving to do just that. Having a baby really changed my body. I wasn’t able to be active when I was pregnant because I was constantly sick (I even got food poisoning!) and barely could get the strength to do my hair most days. I gained about 25 pounds during pregnancy and surprisingly enough lost a lot of it very quickly due to breastfeeding. They say you need to eat about 500 calories more whenever you’re breastfeeding, which to me, meant “go eat all the things!” and that wasn’t true at all. I gained it ALL back…and then some. Not only was I not taking care of my body by providing the proper fuel it needed, but I had incredibly high levels of stress from all of Addie’s surgeries and her hospitalization in general.
Once Addie came home and actually stayed healthy for a long while, I decided to focus on self care a little more and in the Fall of 2016 I dedicated myself to Camp Gladiator. I go 3 times a week at a location near my house, and it works well for me. I also made sure I was religiously using my emotional support essential oils because I needed to have the right mindset to lose the weight I needed. I was going to make it happen! But then…weight loss became slow for me. The scale became my enemy because I’d work out, count my macros, and it was all slow moving. It wasn’t until I did some research that I realized things weren’t like they were when I was 21.
Healthy weight loss in your 30s can be especially hard because many women are moms in that stage of life or have a strong career. Between working, cleaning up the house, feeding the family, putting kids to bed- they’re the priority, right? But making small changes can really make a big difference so you can have healthy weight loss in your 30s.
First, before you even start trying to lose weight, you need to make sure you block out time for yourself. Many women in their 30s say their lack of time is why they don’t work out or cook healthy meals at home. Develop a plan of action from those time-takers and figure out how to overcome them. Have your husband help with the kiddos so you can cook or workout, get a babysitter or find a gym that has childcare provided, menu plan with meals that take 30 minutes or less!
Next, you really need to understand more about your body before starting a workout program. Healthy weight loss in your 30s isn’t easy but it can be done if you know more about yourself. Go to the doctor and have your hormone levels checked. Then, go to a local fitness center and have a body composition test done. I got my body composition test done in October, and I’m taking another one next week, and I’m excited to see the difference! A body composition test will tell you about the amount of water weight you have, your dry lean mass, body fat mass, and even your muscle to fat ratio. The one I did in particular even told me how much each arm and leg weighed! From there, you’ll get your BMR (basal metabolic rate) and you’ll be able to figure out your macros to eat the proper foods for fuel. Then, you’ll be able to understand more about muscle and metabolism. Women in their 30s start losing muscle and unless you maintain that muscle with regular workouts, your muscle loss will slow your metabolism. Can’t get to the gym? Try a workout DVD at home! Instead of binging on Netflix, do that instead. I personally am a fan of Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. 2-3 times a week is a good starting place, and then build up when you can!
Of course, eating healthy seems like such a simple concept but it can also be quite daunting. Eating foods in the right amounts really teaches your body to stop storing fat and start burning it. To actually have healthy weight loss in your 30s, it’s really important to do this. I love tracking my macros on My Fitness Pal. Before workouts I’ll make a LEAN smoothie with my NutriBullet because of the easy guidelines on the cup. They call it “unlocking the weight loss code” and that’s really what it is. It gives the perfect balance of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats). It’s foolproof to make a healthy smoothie that gives my body what it needs to lose weight. The NutriBullet comes with an easy-to-follow plan that guides you through the week with healthy, nutrient-rich, delicious recipes. They call it their 7-Day Transformation Plan, but honestly, it’s just a good way to learn about healthy nutrition and proper portions. I never advocate for anything I don’t believe in, nor do I claim anything is a quick fix, but if you struggle with learning about healthy nutrition or having the proper portions for your plate, it’s such a good idea to start with the 7-Day Transformation Plan. You can do the “plan” more than 7 days, because what it really is, is a tool to help guide you through healthy weight loss.
Since combining these things, I’ve really noticed a difference in my day to day. My skin is more radiant, my body is stronger (and I can tell I’ve lost weight and also gained muscle- hence why I’m so excited to get my body composition done next week!), I have less cravings for sugary foods because I’m filled with the right macronutrients, and I’m not tired as often. Small steps make a BIG impact on your body. Taking time to work out, learning about your body, eating foods in right amounts- that’s where it’s it you guys. There are no quick fixes when it comes to healthy weight loss in your 30s but you can use tools like the NutriBullet to skyrocket your success!
. Let me tell you, it’s already made a world of a difference. At the grocery store, someone actually complimented me on my grocery basket- it was FULL of vegetables (and that wasn’t even all the veggies and fruit I bought!) Not only that, but I’ve found that I have SO much more energy. I took down Christmas, cleaned the kitchen, and even cleaned out our storage closet. Trust me, that’s rare.
