As you may know via Instagram I gained 55 lbs when I was pregnant and I still have about 20-25 pounds to lose. More on the pregnancy weight gain here, if you’re interested.
Anyway, for me weight isn’t just about vanity & the way I look. I feel more confident and at my best when I’m lighter than I am right now. I have more energy, agility and am overall just more confident. But that’s just me.
In saying that, I know I can’t just snap my fingers and have the weight fall off. So there are some things I’ve been wearing that are comfortable and also help flatter my body right now because I’m definitely not wearing the same stuff I was wearing before. 1: I can’t fit into them, and 2: they just don’t look the same.
That means I had to adjust. These are 5 things that have been making me feel more confident in this period of being 20 lbs heavier than usual.
The Skinny Confidential Guide To Flattering My Post-Baby Body:
♡ Black sweatpants.
The first thing is a great pair of black sweatpants. You just can’t go wrong. They’re in style, go with everything, and when I’m having a bloated day they look cute with a black or white tank ( coming up in this list ). Simple. It makes me feel styled. And you can never go wrong with black.
I tend to go for men’s sweatpants because they’re just super comfy and have a cool, loose look. These ones are perfect and I got a medium.
♡ A good spray tan.
A spray tan makes me feel 10 lbs lighter, right away. My best tip is to always go for violet tones because it makes the whites of your teeth and eyes look whiter. When I was pregnant I switched to organic, natural spray tans and loved it. It’s a bit more pricey but you can be sure that it’s non-toxic and better for you than your average spray tan.
While we’re here we may as well go over all the best spray tan tips again:
SHAVE & DRY BRUSH BEFORE.
Ok this seems rather obvious but let’s go over it just in case. Shave everything you need to shave BEFORE you spray tan ( I like to shave the night before I go into the spray booth ). Dry brushing is what I live for, seriously it’s life-changing, so I can’t go too long without it. I always dry brush RIGHT before I spray tan to exfoliate & ensure the tan goes on evenly.
Also, I wait 2 days to dry brush again after a spray tan which makes me cry because I love dry brushing SO much but hey, beauty is pain.
GET A MANICURE AFTER, PEDICURE BEFORE OR DO THE ‘CLAW.’
This one’s a weird one but if you’re getting a manicure, get it after. But if you’re getting a pedicure, get it before.
Here’s why:
Manicure after because the spray tan sometimes ruins it or makes it chip faster.
Pedicure before because the massage ruins the tan & makes it look like half of your leg is tanned and the other half is pale. Can everyone picture this?
Also, for the record, I do this weird thing because I’m always running late ( & it’s more cost-effective): I get something called a polish change. Basically it’s $5 dollars for hands & $7 dollars for toes. My nail salon guy will just paint my nails instead of the whole massage, file, etc.
It’s so quick & perfect if you’re constantly on the go. Ask your nail salon for a polish change if you’re interested.
SO. This makes it fine to do a pedicure AFTER because I’m only getting a paint job. If you’re getting the full on pedicure, do it BEFORE.
If you’re like me & getting a paint job toe job ( I made this phrase up ), get it after the spray tan. Because there’s no foo-foo massage.
Am I making sense?
NOW, if you’re in the predicament of already having your manicure, do the claw. Yes, the claw. Like claw your hand so your nails are clawed under. If you guys need a picture of this, SNAP message me. But I’m assuming you don’t want to see me butt-naked in a spray booth with a shower cap on? Just assuming though?
PUT A TOWEL DOWN UNDERNEATH YOUR FEET.
This is my ride OR die TIP! Always request a little towel if you’re in a spray tan booth. Put it under your feet BEFORE you step in ( before because sometimes there’s like old spray tan residue which is highly annoying ).
The reason I do this is because the tanning solution gets all over the ground of the booth & makes the tan go on the bottoms of your feet which is just not pretty. At all. Just use a towel.
Trust me, Michael has made fun of me more than 10382574 times for forgetting.
WEAR A LIGHTWEIGHT MAXI & SOME FLIP-FLOPS ( OR SHOES THAT AREN’T CRAMPING YOUR TOES IN )
Here’s another tip…always go into the tanning salon prepared. I wear a lightweight maxi. I wear a dress just like this when I’m running errands & spraying because it’s really ideal to just throw on.
You don’t want to wear like a tight sports bra with suffocating leggings & tennis shoes. Why? Because after the tan when you put on super tight clothes, it makes marks. Nasty marks. Trust me on this because it’s happened to me five million times. Wear something light weight.
ALSO:
♡ Always make sure the tanning product is by Versa Spa or Mystic Tan.
♡ Remove all lotions, make-up, & jewelry before the tan.
♡ The neck area needs extra patting.
♡ Keep the spray tan solution on for at least six to seven hours before a shower.
♡ Do not wear white clothing after the tan.
♡ Wash your hands & feet after. Honest baby wipes save me here.
If you can’t do a spray tan then you can get a good sunless tanning lotion. @sivanayla makes a great one that people are going crazy for. You can stalk her lotion @luxunfiltered. It’s called No. 32 and is vegan, cruelty-free and non-toxic.
♡ Black boots.
There’s nothing better than a nice black boot. These ones are faux croc and I feel like the heel really elongates my leg. Goes so well with black sweats and a black tank top. These boots are cute, fun for a night out and don’t make me feel frumpy.
These boots are one of my go-tos and they’re not crazy expensive. Plus, I’ve worn them so many times that they’ve already been worth it.
♡ Oversized men’s flannel.
Oh how Kourtney Kardashian of me. But I just love an oversized flannel. There are so many different things you can do with it. You can put it on and a pop a shoulder which is so slimming, tie it around your waist to accentuate your waistline, or wear it as a dress if you get a really big one. I’m all about tones here. I like one with gray tones, opposed to orange and yellow tones ( they bring out the wrong colors of my spray tan, LOL ). This is one of the best ones I’ve found in the men’s clothing section of Amazon.
♡ Classic black tank top.
Top Shop has these tanks right now that I’m loving. They’re form fitting and cover the bit of boob fat I have in my armpit. I bought these in black & white and will probably go back for more colors because they’re so flattering.
How fun that you can rock your spray tan and put this whole outfit together? Your oversized flannel can hang off your shoulder while you’re comfy in some stylish black sweats and high-heel boots.
If anyone is postpartum and struggling with weight let me know below. I’m on a journey to tighten up and I want to be super transparent about it. I can’t lie and say I’m 100% happy with my weight because that’s just not where I’m at.
Lately I’ve been doing Pilates, P.volve ( check out the founder, Stephen Pasterino, on the podcast ) and using the TSC BBG guide to tighten up. They’ve been helping a lot and don’t raise my cortisol, which we love.
Let me know if you have any questions below.
x, lauryn
+ check out these 10 fitness tips for isolation.
++ still into inulin coffee every morning, scope the tutorial here.
SHOP THE POST:
I’m almost 7 months postpartum, gained 70 lbs, SEVENTY, and still have 20ish to lose too. Love the tan and flannel recommendation!
thank you!! & you can do it! xx
I’m 8 weeks postpartum and still have 15-20 lbs to go. It’s tough some days but trying to embrace the whole process snd how strong our bodies truly are! As well as the need to buy a tummy control one piece swimsuit.. ? Please keep posting diet, workout, hormone, etc tips for postpartum!
oh you know we wil!! thank you for the support <3 you can do it!
I LOVE YOU FOR THIS POST! I have been struggling, about 20 lbs over where I feel confident/ good (I’m ashamed to say I’ve been here for a few years due to stress, kids, and a job that requires a lot of sitting). I have been at my whits end trying to feel cute again. Being able to join you on your weight loss journey has been such an inspiration! I feel like it is possible again – XOXO (bear e-hugs)
<3 <3 <3 thank you for the support!
I’m 13 months postpartum and still have about ten pounds to go after gaining 65. The struggle is real and I totally relate to the not feeling like your best self at a higher weight. I’m naturally impatient so it’s been tough to drop at such a slow rate but just keep chipping away at it. For me the combo of walking and intermittent fasting gave me the best results out of everything I’ve tried so far.
Yesss get it girl!
Great post! Thanks so much for sharing. Those spray tan tips are great. I have never thought to put down a towel before I step in, genius!!
-Kate
https://daysofkate.com/
thanks for reading !
Great post! Love your transparency. You can do it! My nutritionist said consistency is key! Which is hard with weekends and socializing etc… keep doing you! Xo
thank you for the support <3
You look fab now, but I totally get what you mean about feeling better & having more energy when you are at a lighter weight. I am not post partum (no kids) but I am having the same issues with weight retention due to an IUD. No matter what I do – I’ve gone plant based, upped exercise, watch what i eat, etc – I can’t get the weight off. I am totally uncomfortable & know in my gut (lol) that this is not normal for my body. Do you have any experience or resources in finding the right birth control for your body? As women we get no assistance with finding a BC that will work for us. Its just trial and error, over and over. I’ve probably been on 20 different types. I only opted for the IUD because of the convenience.
thank u for the support and for sharing !! xx
consult more docs & research on the BC question!
7 months postpartum and gained 60 pounds! Still have 20 pounds to go as well!! You go momma! We got this
Totally feeling the postpartum weight. I’m 6 months postpartum and have about 20 extra pounds. Struggling to feel comfortable in clothes especially with the summer heat! Any Recs on more warm weather items? What brand jeans are you wearing in these photos?
Thank you for sharing! My daughter was born on NYE (first baby) and I gained 40lbs before I stopped looking at the scale in my final month. I had a C-section and therefore was unable to work out for months. My body still craved a lot of fruits and craved a lot of carbs. I’m currently holding onto 15 pounds I’m hoping will fall off once I stop breast-feeding. I appreciate you being so honest about your journey social media sucks when you’re scrolling and looking at skinny moms it feels so unfair sometimes. You look amazing and thank you XOXO
Hey there! My name is Codi and I’m almost 13 months postpartum with my 3rd boy! That’s right 3 kids 4 and under in age! My first two boys were Irish twins (born within a year of each other: 10 months apart to be exact!) anyways I’m also on my postpartum journey and had a big bomb dropped about 4 months after giving birth to my third son. Earlier this year I got diagnosed with postpartum cardiomyopathy. Basically my heart was weakened and only functioning at 40%… so on top of having 30lbs to lose I have to take medicine that “cause weight gain”…. I’ve tried everything between fasting 16hrs, south beach diet, working out 6-7 days a week, etc. I read your last podcast and am very interested in seeing a hormone specialist. Once this COVID situation is over I’m def going there first! Because of my heart condition I haven’t been anywhere not even the grocery store in 4 months and doesn’t look like I’ll be going anywhere anytime soon! I’m still working on my weight loss but have come to realize that I need to be patient and accept this is where I’m at. After my first 2 I was able to use some over the counter diet pills to get my body back but not able to do the easy fix this time. Anyways I love your blog, podcasts, instagram etc and think you’re beautiful and love that you’re being real and raw about the struggles! You’re an inspiration! ?
Thank godddd for sweats!! I’m 7 months postpartum and still have about 3 kg to lose (after gaining 20kg) – it’s not much but my whole body has changed (Bye bye any kind of tightness) and I just can’t wear the clothes I could wear before. Thanks for being transparent about the struggle. It feels like such a vain thing for me to be sad about but when you don’t look like ‘you’ anymore, it’s tough. We’ll get there!
Love this! Also on the postpartum journey and have similar goals. I can’t wait to feel like myself again.
Almost 1.5 years postpartum and 30 pounds to lose. Been working on trying to get hormones and vitamin levels checked like you mentioned. Thank you for being SO REAL!
Not postpartum but struggling from weight gain caused by an SSRI I was on for about 7 months. During that time I gained 20 lbs. My doctor was V unsupportive staying that technically I am within a healthy BMI at my new 20 lb + weight. I was devastated. Like you mentioned above, I just did not feel like “me”. I tried all of my usual tricks (increased exercise, watched what I ate, increased activity level throughout the day) but I kept gaining. So I discontinued the medication and I’m now 7 months off! I still have about 10 – 12 lbs to lose. Like most other commentators I’m learning to accept that this weight loss journey is a marathon not a race. I am focused on developing “keystone” habits to increase my overall health. For instance, steady supply of water, 1-2 alcoholic bevs a week (yikes I know), eating more plants less meat, walking a TON, running some, stretching/yoga, trying my best to not eat past 7, etc. Btw – you look great! Keep doing you, you’ll get to where you want to be!
Thank you for sharing this! I’m about 6 months postpartum (we had our babies a week apart) and I have been struggling with the last ten pounds for a while. I have Recently weaned off breastfeeding and pumping and I noticed an immediate loss of 5 pounds. I also stopped working out and I also noticed any time I stop working out I am way less bloated and definitely always lose weight from that- somehow I don’t think working out agrees with my body (and my mom is a personal trainer ?)
You got it girl !! Can’t imagine what it’d be like to have a personal trainer as a mom LOL