It's been a very long time since my last entry. There have been many days that I thought to myself, "Hey, you need to start blogging again", but I allowed the redundancy of my days to wear me down, using work, pregnancy, and family as my excuses not to write. Don't get me wrong, I was extremely tired and anyone would be quick to tell you that I probably over did it on many occasions. However, writing about this journey I've been on helps me to stay accountable for my actions when it comes to eating well and staying physically active. There were times (more often than I care to admit) that I fell short with my eating habits, more so toward the end of my pregnancy. None of the eating offenses were anything to really be ashamed about.Yet, I did feel twinges of guilt when I ate more than my fair share of pizza or ice cream in one sitting, even though those around me tried to convince me it was my God-given right as a pregnant woman to eat whatever the hell I liked. I was still trying to work out, getting in weight sessions, pool time and slowly jogging up until about 37 weeks. I even completed a 5K with my coworkers for a charity run, and they were impressed that at 9 months pregnant I dared to hit the pavement. The following week, I decided it was best to start walking.
Baby Shower in June
I worked full time fulfilling my physical therapist duties until June 27, 2014,the day before I had my second prince, Thaddeus. He was three days overdue! I probably would have kept working until he eventually fell out. I had a very good pregnancy and birth experience, for the most part, which I attribute to staying physically active. I was able to have a vaginal birth this time around, which many doctors don't like to attempt after a woman has had a cesarean birth. I did gain much more weight than I wanted to. I can't blame Thaddeus. He only made up about 5lbs and 13 oz of the weight I gained. A lot of the weight was fluid, because I did swell up a lot toward the end of the nearly 10 months of pregnancy. I also had something going on with my liver, brought about by the pregnancy. The liver complication prompted the doctor to get the ball rolling with my labor( which is an adventure I will share with you all at another time). However, I would say about 15% of the weight I gained was due to unhealthy habits. The evidence would become clearer after I had the baby, when all the swelling quickly disappeared and my stomach dwindled down, thankfully due to one of the great benefits of breast feeding. Now, you're probably going to think I'm crazy, but right now I have sort of this love/hate relationship with my post pregnancy body.
The pluses: 1. I am much smaller post pregnancy this time around than I was with my first baby. 2. I am quite proud of my milky boobs. Not only are they fuller, but they allow my child to sustain life, and I am amazed that I am capable of lactating. 3. I didn't gain any more stretch marks than I did the first pregnancy. The minuses: 1. My muffin top is back. 2. I gained weight in my arms, and my arms were my pride and joy this time last year. 3. There are only two pairs of pants I can fit right now( thank God for maxi-dresses and support garments)/mP8j6Mon9qI/s320/baby+004.jpg" />
Most people have said to me, "Girl, you look good!", one of those people being my husband and he gets major points for saying this. I know what my body is capable of. I know that the way I look now is not the best I can look. I know that the way I feel now is not the best I can feel. I need to do something about it quickly before my weight spirals out of control again. So, on August 1, I decided to officially start the next part of my journey, which I am playfully calling, "Pump It Up/Pump It Out". I have been taking daily walks since I had my little boy, but I really hadn't developed a fitness plan that I was ready to commit to. This one is simple and practical for my lifestyle as it is right now. Since this time around, I am determined to breast feed/pump as long as possible, my first step to this plan is to pump as much as I can 3 times during the day for at least 20 minutes, and exclusively feed from the breast at night. For those of you that don't know, when you breast feed, you burn a lot of calories and that is why it is so helpful at facilitating weight lost post pregnancy. There are so many other benefits to breast feeding, but we will discuss that at a later time. The second step is to work out at least 20 minutes, instituting a combo a cardio and weight training. I say at least 20 minutes because when you have a new baby, and other responsibilities, 20 minutes may be all you can spare during day. It may not seem like a lot, but an intense workout in a short period of time can yield some great results if done daily. If I am able to do more, I will. Even though I would love to run, for now when I have baby in tow, I have to walk briskly. The third step is to record my activity, and meals, even if I feel slightly ashamed about that subway chocolate chip cookie I probably could have done without out. I recently read a statement by Dave Ramsey,
"If you don't write it down, it won't work". Although he was referring to finances, this statement can also hold true for any plan you want to execute successfully.
Me, 5 weeks post partum
I recently tried to do a push up. I could barely lift my torso away from the ground. Last year I could do 10 regular push ups, which doesn't sound like much, but for a girl who could not even do one push up the year before that, it was a great victory. I want to feel strong again. I want to feel tight and not flabby. I want to be in my size 8/10 pants and dresses again! Waah, waah, waah, whine, whine, whine, yada, yada, yada. I know I probably sound superficial, but I have realized my weight loss goal before. I want to feel the euphoria that comes with accomplishing that goal once again. I know it will not happen overnight, but I am excited about taking a step in the right direction. My pastor, Steven Furtick, recently said,
" Beware of the temptation to give up what you want now for what you want most". Do I want that cookie now, with empty calories and the twinge of regret that comes with it? Or do I want to be back to my fabulous, fit self? Passing up dessert now doesn't mean I won't ever have dessert again. I just know that there is something better than that dessert that I want right now, and I have to work hard to earn it. Sundays I will allow
one cheat meal. Hey, even the Lord had to rest on the seventh day!
Every pound and inch that I lose, I dedicate to the loves of my life: Jason, David Anthony, and Thaddeus Isaac.
Starting Weight:205 Goal Weight: 150
