I’m now officially six months post partum, but I’m still eating as if I’m eight months pregnant. I started to try and eat a bit better back in March, but then our holiday to Bluestone came around, then it was Easter…and before I could blink, we’re in June and I’ve still not lost a single pound!
I’m lucky in a way that I dropped the majority of my baby weight in the first couple of weeks, but I am still 1.5 stones heavier than I was pre-pregnancy, but in all honesty, I would be happy to only lose 1/2 a stone as I was a little underweight before conceiving Felix. I’ve always had a fast metabolism and I find I can eat what I want without putting on weight, but if I go through a stressful period (such as when my Dad was ill), I lose weight rapidly and find it hard to gain it again. I’ve been the same weight now since the beginning of January, I’m eating whatever the hell I want, and my body isn’t punishing me for it, but obviously, I’m not losing weight either.
I have considered turning to a plant based diet, as I know this will be a quick win towards weight loss. However, before doing so I am keen to check my nutrition levels as I understand the importance of taking a test when first changing your diet. Fortunately, Health Labs offer a range of testing options including vegan testing and vitamin deficiency testing to give full peace of mind.
When you decide to start following a healthy eating and exercise regimen, of course you want to be able to track your progress so that you can see that all the hard work you’re putting in is getting results. Here are my four favourite ways to track weight loss. Don’t forget, I’m no stranger to this, I lost four stone after having my first son and I know I can do it again, with a bit of willpower.
Traditional Scales + My Fitness Pal
The cheapest way to track your weight loss is to buy an inexpensive set of scales from B&M Bargains or Argos and track your progress using a free app such as My Fitness Pal. I love how MFP lets you track what you’re eating and you can input your weight as often as you like. It creates a really motivating graph showing you how well you’re doing and always inspires me to keep going with my weight loss journey.
RENPHO Scales
A slightly more expensive option is a set of RENPHO scales which don’t just measure your weight, but also your muscle and bone mass, fat stores and how much water you’re holding. We invested in these scales and downloaded the app which gives us slightly more info. Sometimes it can be disheartening to see you’ve only lost a few pounds, but seeing that your fat percentage has reduced significantly, while your muscle mass has increased, keeps you motivated.
Fitbit
I was given a Fitbit for my 30th birthday and it’s been on my wrist pretty much everyday for the last three years. Again, Fitbit has its own app which tracks everything your Fitbit is measuring- steps taken, minutes of excessive done, heart rate and stairs climbed; but it also works with MFP so you know if you can eat a little more than your calorie goal due to any exercise you’ve done. I love how this little tool motivates me to keep going with my exercise goal and the app is fab at keeping me motivated too.
DEXA Scan
A DEXA scan (which is short for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) uses x-ray technology to determine your body’s composition of fat, lean muscle and water in your body. Similar to the RENPHO scales, but much more accurate. If you’ve been eating lots of fat burning vegan products, tracking your weight loss using this machine is a must.
What does a DEXA Scan involve?
The scan takes around seven minutes and you simply lie flat on a scanning bed while two safe and low dose x-rays pass through your tissues. A computer then determines how much of your tissues are fat, muscle or water and exactly where it’s stored. Once the computer has done its calculations, a professional will talk you through the results including your total body fat percentage, your total bone mineral density and your central abdominal fat measurement.
Where can I have it done?
DEXA Scans are currently available in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff within the UK at present.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $139.
How do you track your weight loss?