The Swedish Method to Lose that Baby Weight!

A big issue for moms (everywhere, I think) is losing that post-baby pregnancy weight.  Granted a ton of it comes off after delivering your baby, but I see posts in magazines and online about moms who just can't lose those last 10-15 pounds.  One thing I noticed upon arriving to Stockholm was that all of the moms here are stick skinny.  Aside from their comfort breastfeeding in public (no La Leche League here needed!), they all tend to look like they never gave birth.  There's no "mommy pouch" in front and they are all carrying <2 month old babies around.  Why is this? How can so many magazines be making money on telling you their tips when these women just seem to do it so effortlessly?    Is there some secret that they know that we don't?

Nope -- here are my main two observations:

1. They walk a few hours every day
2. They don't own cars (the main reason for point #1)

It's actually very easy.  At first I gave all of the credit to their Viking-genes and just thought Swedes were "naturally thin."  No, they are "naturally" fit -- their lifestyle and societal norms make it (somewhat) expected to get out of the house and walk around everyday.  During your parental leave, you push a large stroller, often through snow, for several hours a day.  If you've ever pushed a stroller with a child in it for just 1 hour, you will quickly realize what a workout it truly is.  Now, put that stroller into 4 inches of snow and you'll very quickly be winded, tired and sore. (Walking through snow is essentially like walking on the beach -- you have no traction and each step seems to be 'in place' rather than propelling you forward).

Combine ALL of that with the numerous hills that comprise Stockholm and it's absolutely no surprise at all that Swedish moms lose all of that baby weight without having to even think about it.  They just live their lives -- a normally active one -- and the weight falls off.  Breastfeeding plus walking for hours and lugging a huge stroller (and baby) up stairs, escalators, buses and trains means that calories expended greatly outweigh any conceivable caloric intake.

Deep snow makes for tough pushing

Not owning a car means that you have to walk everywhere (duh). It also means that when you go to the grocery/liquor store, you only buy what you can carry.  This means that you can only really carry enough food for 2-3 days max before you have to go out again.  This works out your arms and also means that you are only eating what is absolutely necessary.  You're not stocking up on food to snack throughout the day and you're not wasting food (and money) because you eat everything before it expires. What a life!

It's that easy folks!  So there is no "secret Viking gene," just good old fashioned exercise and a reasonable diet.

One major difference is that the moms in Stockholm do all of the above and they still look fabulous.  Their hair and makeup are perfect and they wear heeled boots (why I don't know).  For me, personally, I'm about comfort and warmth so I look more like this:

Hajah what? Another hill??

 and less like this:

So in conclusion, you too can do "The Swedish Method" to lose that weight -- ditch the car and walk to the grocery store every 2 days. Push your stroller outside for a few hours every day (go up every hill) during your maternity leave and I guarantee you will be back in your pre-pregnancy jeans before you go back to work.

Find the right jogging stroller for you!

"Daddy" means everything

...and I mean that in the most literal sense!  At first, he just attributed the word whenever he saw dogs, so we thought he was trying to say "doggie."  THEN, he said it very slowly (daaaadeeee) in front of Jon and we rejoiced with pride that he had correctly attributed the word to his actual daddy.  Then we started to realize that he was saying daddy when he was looking at me too and it started to dawn on us that he is just calling everything, and everyone, daddy.

Fashion Flubs in Trendy Stockholm

Being out of touch in the fashion world is nothing new to me.  I have my solid colored shirts, jeans and I'm good to go.  I've been living in the same walking/hiking shoes/boots for the past 10 years or so (much to the horror of my fashion conscious friends).  I will constantly opt for comfort over fashion, so I was hesitant to comment AT ALL on fashion in Stockholm which is notoriously unique in its stylings.

Personally, I find some of the fashion here to be absolutely hideous and trashy.  Jon thinks that "trashy" might be overstating it a little but I think that's because he enjoys watching these young Swedish women prance around in short shorts.  I can't blame him really either.

A few things to note -- the older people here (i.e., senior citizens) really know how to dress snappy.  Their clothes are always clean and pressed and have that old timey feel to them.  Kind of like when women used to get dressed up to go to the bank back in the 1950s -- except they still do that here.  It's like we never left the 50's -- well, for them anyway.

Ok, onto general fashion trends...

Stripes/Nautical 

This makes sense because we are surrounded by water.  People wear boat shoes around but most people opt for bare feet on their boats.  These are my kind of people! I can get behind the striped look. It's pretty cute.  Also, most women here range from size 0-4 so they can get away with stripes every day.

80's attack

I was just a newbie when the 80's fashion was in full swing, but I distinctly remember bright neon clothing, Molly Ringwald flowered hats and blousy shirts and high-waisted pants.  Not only have Stockholmites decided that the 80's should be relived but they have apparently brought back only the most hideous styles.  I saw a woman wearing a neon blue windbreaker today...not kidding.  Just when you thought it was safe to go outside, you run across a pair of stirrup pants! Shriek!

Booty shorts with black hose

If you are anyone besides a professional MODEL, you CANNOT pull this off.  Some of the teenagers at the high school across from our apartment have decided that ripping giant streaks in their black panty hose makes them look rebellious.  Instead, they look quite trashy.

Visible underwear

I thought the point of undergarments was to hide them beneath your clothing. Instead, bras are a new accessory and feature prominently through your very-thin-I-can-see-your-bra shirt.  Clearly, this is a summer-only type style here in Stockholm and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I'm leaning towards trashy but depending on the outfit, it can come out looking quite cute.

Sweatpants

I'm not sure who told these ladies that sweatpants were acceptable to wear anywhere except a college campus at 8am, but they should be informed immediately! I'm all for comfort but there is a limit people!

Hammer time pants

It's Hammer-Time! This is a fashion-don't if I ever saw one.  Nobody's crotch should ever become a walking hazard.

Mom Jeans (high waisted AND tapered)

OK, ok, Stockholm has probably the highest density of moms per capita, so you would think that they could get a free pass on this one.  But NO! I've seen very very young non-moms sporting the mom jean look causing my jaw to gape open in amazement.  You mean you are wearing these intentionally and not by some oversight because you were distracted while raising your family for the past 2 decades???!?!? What other excuse is there?  No 17 year old young lady should be wearing mom jeans at the beach! For heaven's sake! Have some sense of decency!  And mom-jean shorts...well, just forget about it!


So, that's it for now. I'm sure there will be more fashion atrocities that I find humorous in the near future.  Walking around Stockholm is interesting (to say the least) and the people watching is entertaining for hours.  Who needs to read books or listen to music when you can watch the most interesting fashion choices stroll by, smoke cigarettes and push baby strollers.

Other Moms in Sweden

I'm not the only mom in town blogging about the fun family times had in Sweden.  My friend, Emelie, has a super cute blog where she talks in generous detail about the open preschools and fun activities around Stockholm.  Her daughter, Ania, is super cute and Calvin has kissed her at least once so you know she is cool :-)  She also posts really nice pictures and I think pictures tell the best stories.

Check out Emelie's blog here:
http://thelittlestpollard.wordpress.com/