The pregnancy weight is finally gone. Hallelujah!!! It is still sort of hard to be terribly happy because even though the scale may reflect those old numbers I used to love to see, the mirror does not reflect the body I used to love. I don't hate my body now, by any means. I am actually quite proud of it in ways I never imagined. It's awesome. It grew a beautiful little baby girl, and it continues to almost 100% nourish her to this day. How is that not amazing?!
I'm squishy in places I no longer want to be squishy in anymore, primarily Olivia's old home. But how to fix that?! The bigger question is, when?! We eat pretty healthy, but I know my diet can always improve. Also, I started walking a bit this weekend with Olivia in the stroller and I hope to make it a regular habit in the evenings once it cools down a bit. I would also love to start possibly training for a race; I'm looking into getting a jogging stroller.
I know in due time (likely in time to get pregnant, again) I will get back to where I was, but for some reason this past weekend I got impatient with the slow process it has taken for me to bounce back. So although, I'm giving myself a little pat on the back for (finally) losing the pregnancy weight, all 55 pregnancy pounds, I'm also trying to give myself a kick in the booty to start getting back into shape.
Hey Amanda, I'm glad that you posted about your body transformation. I feel guilty thinking about this (literally daily) but I just can't get over how different I look. I worry that I won't be able to bounce back to my weight pre-pregnancy or if I'll ever be able to fit into my regular clothes. I plan on exclusively breastfeeding and assuming that all goes well, that should help with the weightloss. Do you have any tips or suggestions you did to lose the baby weight? Did you have to exercise like crazy to get the weight off? I think it's different for girls like us because we're short so our weight doesn't stretch out as conveniently as it does for taller pregnant women. I'm 38 weeks and 3 days now and I can't wait to hold my little girl! These last few weeks just seem to drag on forver!
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean Amanda. I lost the weight as well but am squishy and saggy in places that I would prefer not to be anymore. My body is without a doubt different and I feel will forever be different. I am at the same point you are at, on how to finish getting rid of the squishyness...I just started running again (which is a big deal cause i haven't run since high school!) I am hoping that will help tighten things up.
ReplyDeleteBridget, I exclusively breastfed up until a week ago when Aubrie decided to refuse it and I didn't exercise like crazy. I walked every day sometimes twice a day just to get out of the house and get fresh air and over time between eating right, nursing and walks the weight disappeared. I am so excited for you and can't wait to see pictures of beautiful Rory. By the way LOVE the name!
It took me six months to loose all my pregnancy weight, I even had 12 lbs less than before getting pregnant and it felt great. Breastfeeding and watching what I eat helped a lot. The irony of expecting our second only a few months after being the thinnest I had been for years, lol... I´m back to growing large...
ReplyDeleteBridget, surprisingly the weight did just slowly come off. I wasn't one of the lucky breastfeeding moms where the weight melted off quickly, but it did come off over time. And right now I'm actually about 5 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight, which I'm assuming is likely a lot of muscle weight as well. The key for me was to eat healthy stuff. I had zero energy to even think about working out in the beginning. And even at this point, 7 months later, I've only "worked out" a handful of times. You will likely be VERY hungry in the beginning when you start breastfeeding. I was hungrier for the first 4 months of breastfeeding than I ever was when I was pregnant. I tried to fill up my calorie needs with the good stuff, and occassionally a cookie, but oatmeal cookie, because it's better for you, you know. : ) I have found that there is so little time to work out, but now that our lives have adjusted more with Olivia, I think I can start working out, again....maybe.
ReplyDeleteAll that said, I am still exclusively breastfeeding and Olivia hardly ever takes any solids or food, still. So I know I will have to be careful not to eat too little and work out too much, otherwise I won't be able to produce milk the she needs. I promise it will happen for you, Bridget!!! I can't wait to see pictures of Rory, either!
Amanda, have you completely stopped bf'ing altogther? I know some babies go on "nursing strikes." I really don't know much about them, but have heard of them before.
Jana!!! Congratulations! I meant to comment on your blog when I read that you are pregnant, again. When is #2 due? So exciting!!!
Thanks :-) Baby is due sometime in November, they will be exactly 1,5 years apart with Fanda. We´re so excited!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks girls for the tips. It helps to hear it from you that it does come off and to not be so concerned with exercising. Before I got pregnant, I did religiously exercise but since getting pregnant, I have literally stopped. In the beginning, I was so worried to do anything that may cause a miscarriage or overstress my body so I didn't work out and then by the time I was in my 2nd trimester, I was too out of shape to want to work out. Having an energetic dog really does help as I go for long walks every day with him, usually twice a day, and I plan to keep that up once Rory gets here. Before pregnancy, I ran 5 miles a day and lifted weights and was pretty tough on myself. I was also more strict with my diet and didn't "give in" to the bad stuff as I tend to do these days... I'm just past the range of healthy weight gain for pregnancy (I'm up 36 lbs at this point) so who knows how much more weight I'll gain before she gets here. I'm just ready to be done and to finally be a mama!
ReplyDeleteI have heard about nursing strikes and she had done that before but she would skip one feeding then eat before bed. This is completely different. She refuses to latch on and is completely uninterested. I tried everything. She finally started biting me cause she was sick of me trying to nurse her. At this point she hasn't nursed for days and my supply is pretty much gone. My goal was to try for a year but I feel like she is telling me she is done and everything I have read and heard said don't force it because you can create bad eating habits.
ReplyDeleteAlso what you said about being so hungry at the beginning when you start nursing couldn't be more true. I didn't know real hunger until after Aubrie was born. I have never put food away like that in my life!
Jana, congratulations on baby #2! that is so exciting!