The yummy mummy

Nadia Holland lost a phenomenal 30kg after the birth of her first baby – then put it back on – then lost it again, losing a total of 72 kilos. ‘My biggest mistake was that I treated my first pregnancy as a nutritional free for all’ says the Wellington author

THE YUMMY MUMMY
A nutrition and exercise toolkit for remodelling your post-baby body (RRP $29.99)
By Nadia Holland

Although I was slightly put off initially by the title, I was drawn in by the astounding stats of the Wellington author that took her from mummy-to-yummy.

Articulate and intelligent, with a Ph.D in Mass Communication, an MA in journalism and a BA in linguistics, Nadia Holland tells the story of how she lost a phenomenal 30kg after the birth of her first baby. She then put it back on – then lost it again, losing a total of 72 kilos, and giving practial tips including exercise plans and recipes to help other mums.

Nadia recognised after regaining all her lost first baby weight and then some, that her attitude towards diet needed to change; ‘My biggest mistake was that I treated my first pregnancy as a nutritional free for all.’ Instead of eating for one or maybe two, she was eating for a small family. This had to change, and did, and now with her wealth of personal experience she is advising women on post-baby weight loss.

Calling it a ‘tool-kit for real mums’ the book includes a meal plan and recipes written in collaboration with a registered dietician, with family-friendly and budget-conscious recipes. The exercise plan would be good for anyone post-baby or not!

I particularly liked the New Zealand focus and that all the ingredients are available here. It would have been nicer with photography rather than illustrations and I thought the pastel lilac pages were a bit girly girl. I liked the 70 top tips for staying motivated and losing weight, many of which would apply to anyone not just new mums. After reading it, I have made a pledge to not any eat more kettle crisps and to do weight bearing exercise three times a week. I hope I stay as motivated as Nadia!

By Megan Robinson, 23 May 2010.