12 weeks later: I’m back to pre-baby weight

JUST 12 SHORT weeks ago, I embarked on my personal body-transformation challenge.

Like any normal person, I had some doubts. “Can you do it . . . do you really think you can get back to your pre-pregnancy size and shape?” I wondered. But I dispatched those negative thoughts with a firm “Of course I can.”

I am thrilled and delighted to share with Daily News readers that I have shed every ounce of the baby weight, slimmed down from a dress size of 10-12 to a trim 2-4. I am also stronger (I can do more pull-ups) and I’ve made peace with my sweet tooth. I’m still working on that wall-free handstand, though.

I’m so excited that I may even take my trainer/bodybuilder friend Tracy Hess up on her suggestion that I raise the bar and participate in an amateur bikini contest.

So here’s a recap of my 12 Mommy Makeover Tips and what I discovered over this shape-up journey:

1. Walking the talk. The first thing I did was clean up my diet by following the ABC plan: No alcohol, no bread, no cakes, cookies, candy, crackers or chips.

2. The five essentials. Weigh yourself every day. Maintain a food journal. Exercise most days of the week (strength, cardio or yoga). Drink 60-100 ounces of water every day. Ditch the junk food.

3. Kimberly goes raw. A friend challenged me to do a juice cleanse, and I agreed. Jennifer Richmond of Catalyst Cleanse (www.catalystcleanse.com) instructed me on a five-day raw-juice fast from Wednesday to Sunday. Initially, I thought, OMG, what about my morning coffee? During the cleanse, only caffeine-free herbal teas and water are recommended, plus the day’s worth of raw vegetable juices.

After the first day, things got a little easier. And the cleanse was working. Elimination was up, and by day three my energy was soaring. Every two hours I would have a vegetable juice, besides the caffeine-free tea and water.

By Sunday, not only was my energy boundless, but I had dropped a whopping 3.8 pounds. Skinny jeans, here I come.

For the next three days, I stayed on a juice and raw-food diet, drinking four vegetable juices and ending with a raw-food meal for dinner. Who knew raw foods could taste so delicious!

4. Music is a must. It’s been scientifically proven that music improves your mood and the intensity of your workouts, too. Therefore, my iPod Shuffle is an essential part of my fitness regimen.

5. Tight on time, no problem. Here’s a routine for busy moms on the move, or anyone who’s short on time:

10-20 Squats
10-20 Push-ups (modify on knees if necessary)10-20 Crunches
10-20 Wall sits
10-20 Planks
10-20 Side-to-side crunches
10-20 Alternating lunges

6. Satisfying substitutes. I have always been a pizza, sushi and chocolate aficionado. But I knew I would have to give those habits the boot if I wanted to successfully slim down. Necessity being the mother of invention, I discovered some satisfying substitutes:

Pizza: My favorite pizza is white spinach, which is loaded with a double-dose of fat. However, you can give up the fat without giving up the flavor if you try this. Pour three egg whites in a heated nonstick pan. Then add a handful of fresh spinach, 1 ounce of shredded, low-fat mozzarella cheese and 4 teaspoons of hand-dipped ricotta cheese. Mmm, it’s delicious, and a mere fraction of the calories of just one slice of regular pizza.

Sushi: I was duped into thinking sushi was healthy, low-fat eating. I was shocked when I found out that many of my favorite rolls were packing a whopping 500 calories each. Now, I just go for the sashimi (fish without the rice) and a little seaweed salad. A slice of salmon sashimi is only 33 calories. That’s a huge difference from a typical roll.

Chocolate: I have chocolate treat everyday . . . an Adora chocolate calcium supplement. Funny, I don’t forget to take this calcium supplement.

7. Get the kids in the act. Besides making the time for their own fitness, busy moms also need to make sure their children are getting fit, too. Ideally, you want your child to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. No, it doesn’t have to be a continuous hour of activity – short bursts of activity work just fine. I squeeze in a little playful activity with my son during commercial breaks of “Dora the Explorer” and “Blues Clues.” We do jumping jacks, run around, practice our down-dogs, hop on one foot . . . you get the idea.

8. Be patient. Nothing tests your patience like trying to maintain your weight-loss goals and a healthy lifestyle. Like everybody, I’m tempted to indulge in all sorts of forbidden foods at various birthday parties, graduation parties, anniversaries and holiday gatherings. For that reason, I generally bring my own little goody bag to these events so I can stay on track.

Nevertheless, sometimes you just want a piece of carrot cake. So go ahead and have a small piece and then get back to your normal routine.

Don’t expect things to change overnight. Just remember, small steps lead to big success.

9. Persistence pays. For those challenging days, I keep a copy of Calvin Coolidge’s poem “Persistence” on the fridge.

PERSISTENCE

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not;
Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not;
Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not;
The world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

10. Exercise consistently and correctly. Many new moms have no problem getting back to their pre-pregnancy weight. Often, though, they have an issue with cellulite.

Although general calorie counting is important for weight loss, to get rid of cellulite you also must consider the quality of foods you eat and the quality of your exercise routine.

The right combination of strength training, cardio and flexibility work is a must. Sorry, it’s not enough to just go through the motions of exercising, any more than it’s OK to go through the motions at your job.

Exercising to your optimal level is about giving your best performance and then besting that consistently.

11. Get bootylicious. Second to toned abs, many new moms are concerned about regaining a toned tush. Believe it or not, a better butt can be yours with this simple exercise: walking lunges. Walking lunges are one of my favorite exercises for strengthening and toning your quads (front of the thigh), hamstrings (back of the thigh), gluteals (butt) and calves.

The beauty is you can do them with just your body weight, or you can bump up the intensity by adding additional resistance using bands, dumbbells or a medicine ball.

To begin, stand tall, with your shoulders back and down, abdominal muscles engaged and feet together. With arms at your waist, take one giant step with your right foot, bending both knees, until your right knee is bent 90 degrees. Press yourself back up and step out with your left leg. Strive for 12-20 repetitions for 2-3 sets.

12. Preparation = success. I believe that 90 percent of success is based on preparation. That means 90 percent of getting back to your pre-pregnancy size is based on you being prepared.

Take for example a recent impromptu get-together at my in-laws’ house, and they asked my husband to bring pizzas. That’s right – plural. Three piping-hot plain, pepperoni and sausage pizzas teased me during the drive to their house.

What saved me from tearing open the box and devouring several slices was preparation, not willpower. Once I knew the agenda, I whipped out my cooler and packed it with a fresh garden salad. I made two vegetable juices with my trusty Vitamix and packed a green apple for dessert. (Good thing I did; there was a fresh box of doughnuts there, too.)

Happy and triumphant, I succumbed neither to the pizza nor the doughnuts. The moral of the story? Be prepared, and you’ll have a 90 percent chance of success in your efforts to slim down, too.