Yeah none of that happened. I ate just as much, barely exercised and I gave into everyone of my cookie, ice cream, m&m cravings. With Miller I gained 40lbs and this time around I gained 38lbs. I have about 11lbs left that I've been hanging onto since 4 weeks after Matthew's birth. I hung on to ten extra pounds after Miller's birth until I quit breastfeeding and once I quit I took off around 17lbs rather quickly. I gained about nine of those back before my pregnancy with Matthew.
The number on the scale is actually not what I'm worried about. Prior to getting pregnant I never even owned a scale!! My entire life from 18-30 I have always stayed in a five weight range so I've always just gone by how my clothes fit.
My goal is to get back in shape and lead a healthier lifestyle. I want to be able to exercise at the level I did pre-kids and I want to feel good in my body.
Here are my three starting off points:
1. Eat Healthier
- Step 1- Cut out desserts for January (to see if I can do it and then add back in sparingly)
- Step 2- Lower carbs starting in February
- Step 3- Add more fresh vegetables and fruit
2. Add Exercise into my routine
- Gym 2-3 times a week
- At home exercises 2 times a week
3. Get into Yoga
-try to attend 1 yoga class a week
I plan to make yoga "me time" to relax and regenerate for the week. I also need to work on flexibility.
I've decided not to give myself a time frame for when things must happen. Since I've been pregnant or nursing a baby since September 2012 I really just want to take this year and focus on slowly getting my body back in the shape it was three years ago. I know this won't happen over night (I wish it could) so I know I'm going to have to be patient with myself and not beat myself up if I fall off track.
And the best motivation of all... pre-baby selfies of yourself in 2012 (when you thought you were fat and clearly you weren't!!) to remind you that you want to fit in those clothes again.
So I would love to hear from everyone- what's your go-to workout these days? What are your favorite workout songs? Anyone have a must try diet or exercise?
I'm right there with you girl!! It is so motivating to look at old photos! Ha! Please share how you make time for the gym bc now that I can work out again, I'm finding it so hard!
ReplyDeleteYou got this girl!!! You have the steps that you want to take and really a will to do it which is often the hardest part!!! xo, Biana - BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteYou will be back to pre-baby weight in no time! I'm still trying to lose the Greyson weight, BUT I swear by Advocare and Barre. I was super surprised how much both did for me. Honestly, in your pics you do not look like someone who just had a baby, let alone her second!
ReplyDeleteWay to go for making a decision to get healthier! I've never been pregnant so I don't have personal experience but I have heard it can be challenging! But you can do it! The best thing I have tried so far has been the 21 Day Fix, it's a clean eating plan and exercise and I lost 20 pounds last year on it!
ReplyDeleteI'm a runner. If you asked me two years ago if I would get up at 3:45 AM to meet a running group and start running at 4:30, I would have said HECK NO! I've been doing just that for the past 17 months and love it. It's truly the only way I can fit it in. I have been following Whole30 since October and it has made a big difference. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteWHEN I cut out dairy, sugar and carbs I feel my best...too bad I LOVE food too much. Get a spiralizer for your veggies. So many good recipes and it's kind of like eating pasta.
ReplyDeletegreat goals!! after you do a few yoga classes check out jillian's michaels yoga it's a realllly good workout that uses your own body weight. xo jillian - cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteHa, I thought I was chubby before pregnancy too! You'll get back to that point though, it sounds like you're not far off already! I'm super impressed if you can find time to get to the gym that often with two babies. Yoga is a great stress reliever, you will love it!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it!! It is hard to carve out that time for yourself but feels really good once you finish. And it will be much easier once Matthew can do gym child watch. Maybe try barre classes - they combine weight lifting and stretching and I found that my flexibility increased dramatically with just this one change! I'm not a fan of "cheat" days but maybe just save treats for real special occasions like date nights or parties.
ReplyDeleteSo with you! I'm so impressed on cutting out sweets - when I had to go soy and dairy free while I missed them like crazy in the beginning, I stopped missing them so much by the end (and I felt amazing). I have so much trouble finding time to work out with the kids - especially a baby. I hate using weather as an excuse but I do. Each nursing weight loss was different for me - maybe you'll find that too. With my first it took 9 months to get to prebaby weight, with my second I was five pounds under at 6 months and with this one I'm at prebaby weight (but not under) and have been since about four months... and honestly I've done nothing different any time. I've started yoga as well, I need some deep breathing :) sometimes my 4.5 year old does it too (he needs deep breathing as well :) ).
ReplyDeleteI think you're in the right mindset of things to really make a change! Last May I decided to make a change -- it's been a slow one, but I've really seen results (lost about 14 lbs). I started tracking my calories on My Fitness Pal and finally started going to the gym on a regular basis and now go 3-4 times a week. I try to do 30 minutes of cardio (elliptical on an incline or walking at 4.5) and either do the weight machines or some kettlebell works (swings, squats, abdominal twist). I also downloaded the 7-minute workout free app to do at home on days I don't feel like working out and it's surprisingly a great full body workout. You can even specify how many times you want to do the circuit and it counts down for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat always worked for me was switching up the exercise routine and going to classes. Spinning class burns SO many calories!
ReplyDeleteI am currently on a crazy diet but I just want to lose these extra holiday pounds as quickly as possible. I am usually pretty good about moderation/exercise. I am going to start doing the classes at Golds. Usually I just run but I want to see if I can get "into" a class or two.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I LOVE that red dress.
ReplyDeleteGal, you look amazing! You are so lucky that you were in such a great "weight" place when you found out you were pregnant with Matthew. You could have easily had 10lbs still left to lose from Miller when you got pregnant again. I love looking back at these old selfies of you pre-baby! So cute. I know you will knock these last 11lbs off in no time. I hope you can carve out some me time for you so you can find some yoga time!!
ReplyDeleteI don't go to the gym because I would have to go either at 5am or at 8pm and I'm not doing that so instead a few times a week I will use a workout DVD or I've discovered workout videos OnDemand (I have FIOS), they have a wide variety ranging from 10 minutes to an hour so I will switch off between pilates/yoga/core conditioning and ballet barre workouts.
ReplyDeleteLooking hot, lady! Your goals are super realistic. You can only do so much - especially with 2 kiddos now - but I know you'll get where you want to be. Love the motivation you're tossing my way ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, you're in a much better way to start off than I was! I had nearly 20 lbs more to lose than you after this 3rd pregnancy...she's 8 mos now and I've still got 10 to go...so yes, I've lost a lot and worked out very hard in that time, but MAN, these last lbs are killer. Sounds like a great plan you have there, keep at it!
ReplyDelete-Morgan
California To Carolina
The Gym Bunny
You can do it mama! To be honest, I haven't worked out AT ALL since moving so no advice there other than I need to hop back on the exercise wagon, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat starting points, very realistic. My husband and I lowered our carb intake (lowered and paid attention, not completely cut out) and started working out 3-4 times a week and we've each lost 45 lbs. Paying attention to carbs and finding workouts we love are the 2 things that changed out life. We do cardio & weight train 3 nights a week at the gym together and I'm doing Pure Barre, I feel like I've found my balance. And find whatever motivates you, for me it's health & fitness blogs and IG accounts :) You got this!
ReplyDeleteYAY I love workout and health posts :) I just love seeing what everyone else does and hearing what works! Im hoping to get back to some health and fitness posts myself next week! I always find that when I make my weekly goal "more of ____" rather than "less ___" or "can't have any ____" I am 10x more successful. I'm never going to be able to cut out foods entirely….. I even struggle daily not having some kind of "treat" so thats what works for me! I workout at home using Tracy Anderson workouts on Youtube or her DVD, Tone It Up workouts, or the treadmill downstairs. You look so great already you will do great!!!
ReplyDeletexo
www.itsthelittlethingsblog.blogspot.com
We've been eating dairy free, gluten free every night at home and I've lost a few pounds. Mainly in my stomach where weight likes to gravitate to. I wish I had more motivation to work out. It's just not me. So it's going to be a wake up call once I have kids! Good luck with everything!!
ReplyDeleteAlly - Life as I know it