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Tuesday, May 01, 2012

losing the post baby bump!

 

I took an unpremeditated spring break from blogging the past month and BOY have I missed it!

It seems the old cliché that you can’t have everything is annoyingly right. There just isn’t enough time in the day for everything I want to get done and when one of those things falls to the bottom of the priority list {like blogging lately} it might as well just fall off the list, because it just ain’t gettin’ done today.

 

Ya feel me, sistas?

 

In this new life of late, momma’s been workin’ on her fitness, eating clean and trying to get rid of this leftover baby bump… because my baby bump AFTER the baby is no longer cute.

Especially when my baby turned 8 months old yesterday {*sniff*} and the scale is still screaming at me that I have 15 pounds to go to get back to my start weight.

 

YES, 15 POUNDS!

 

I’ve never really talked about my weight gain and loss on this blog. Weight is such a tricky subject that comes with lots of judgment and sharp comments, but it’s one I’m no longer avoiding. I know there are lots of other ladies out there trying to find a healthier lifestyle, post-baby or not, and as always – if I find something good in this life, I share it, HERE!

 

So today, I’m going to break it down for you so you know just where it is I’m starting from on this journey

:

  • Summer 2010: we began planning and hoping for a little bundle of joy in our future. Earlier that year, I had begun working out and eating healthier after putting on 10 pounds since our wedding 2 years earlier when the fear of a too tight wedding dress was long since gone :)

I found these pictures a few weeks ago and it truly surprised me that my body had any amount of tone whatsoever just 2 short years ago:

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  • December 2010: Six month later we were elated to find out we were pregnant. At that point, I had gained a good 10+ pounds of weight back. I weighed in at 134 pounds to begin this pregnancy.

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  • After 40 weeks and 3 days of gestating the most beautiful baby boy on the planet, my total weight gain topped out at 42 pounds for my pregnancy, leaving me at 176 pounds on D-Day. I was hoping for 30 pounds total, but I definitely did not resist the urge to eat everything in sight, so I was actually pretty pleased that I didn’t gain much, much more! I was happy with my weight gain and felt confident about losing it after baby.

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  • When that beautiful baby boy was only 2 weeks old, amazingly, I found I had already shed 26 pounds of baby weight – down to 150 lbs. Granted, a lot of that included actually birthing a baby and TONS of fluid I had accumulated. But I was feeling pretty confident at this point that my previously high metabolism combined with the super powers of breastfeeding were going to make me the old Steph by the time my 12 weeks of maternity leave were over.

That was the plan.

 

Confession time: In this picture with Houston at 2 weeks old, I’m still wearing my maternity jeans – which is understandable, right? The fact that I STILL wear those maternity jeans and he is 8 months old is unfathomable!

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The weight hit an early plateau and I continued living in my dream land, waiting for the fat to melt away on its own while I continued to eat like I was 9 months pregnant with triplets and did little more to exercise than walking the dog from time to time.

When maternity leave was up, I searched the mall, desperate for work clothes to fit my larger figure. It was a hit to my ego but one that I continued to brush off since those 12 weeks at home didn’t quite lend the time to work-out like I had previously thought that they would.

 

I finally woke up from my dream land when my baby turned 7 months old and I envisioned myself at his one year birthday, STILL the weight I was when he was only 2 weeks old(!)

I can happily camouflage the leftovers of my pregnancy with the right clothes and a good pair of Spanx, but my closet doesn’t have too many options at the moment at this size and I definitely don’t feel like spending the money on a whole new, BIGGER wardrobe.

The evidence: still wearing a dress I wore when I was pregnant. Though, if we want to get technical, it wasn’t actually a maternity dress to begin with!

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It sounds a bit dramatic, but Pinterest seriously changed my life!

After pinning a few fitness routines and articles as well as a few healthy recipes, I was inspired to make the necessary changes in my life to become a healthier me.

Just a few weeks into this journey and I’m no longer obsessing over the numbers on the scale. I can feel myself getting stronger,my clothes are fitting much better already, my stamina increasing and the high of the endorphins coursing through my blood have put me in a daily, more positive mood!

 

I’ve added this workout to my daily walks/runs and I’m LOVING the results:

via

Pinned Image

 

Recipes like this have me planning ahead – the KEY to making sure I eat healthy!

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Refrigerator Oatmeal

 

By the end of summer, I plan on running my first 5K. This schedule is extremely doable.

I’m pumped!

Couch to 5k! Just what I need!

 

Hunger Games fans – how’s this for motivation?!

:):):)

 

I hope I can check in with you on a bi-weekly basis with my {hopeful} progress of a healthier lifestyle. Setting a good example by staying fit and doing better with the foods we buy and make isn’t just for me, but for my entire family.

 

Skinny is not the goal.

I want to be Healthier and Stronger.

and I will be :)

 

Now to figure out how to fit blogging back into this new, time-consuming, healthier lifestyle…

We’ll see!

 

XOXO

Stephanie

48 comments:

  1. You still look beautiful!! Remember all Mom bodies are gorgeous :)

    I think that healthy over skinny is the exact goal everyone should have. I know I've been there with my weight and running has signifigantly helped with health and with maintenance.

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  2. You look fantastic at any weight. Even at 176 you looked all belly and you must be tall. I can however completely understand if you aren't 100% happy with your body. I don't think anyone is. I've been petite my whole life and in my third trimester and after the baby I didn't like the way I looked and felt fat but nobody else could see it or understand.

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  3. So...for your fitness routine...do you do it all at once during the day or do you squeeze in a few jumping jacks here, a few lunges there? Interested to see how other moms make it work! Good luck!

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  4. I am planning on using the same running routine!!! Good luck!!

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  5. I'm so glad you posted this! First, you don't look like you could have possibly gained more than 20lbs during pregnancy! :) Second, It makes me feel so much better that I'm not the only one who is having trouble getting rid of the "baby weight" AND wearing some maternity pants because my regular ones still don't fit! I think Ill try your routine too! :) Good LUCK!

    PS Your little man is ADORABLE!

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  6. good luck girl! I've started Zumba 2x a week in addition to our nightly mile long walks...I'm thinking I need to add in those daily fitness routines as well!

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  7. Great post! I am on my way to loosing the baby weight. He is only 6 weeks and I can't stand it! I am on my way to being healthier...I have about 30 lbs. to go. Best wishes to you on your journey!

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  8. I can't tell you how much I relate to this post. Thank you soooooo much for writing this. I gained 42 lbs too. And lost all but 15lb by week 8 and well....I'm still there and Taylor turns 7 months old May 10th. And I do wear maternity clothes from time to time b/c I refuse to buy clothes in this size.

    Thank you. Thank you. I don't feel so alone in this journey. I've been working out 3 to 4 times a week and I've been trying to eat way better. I feel the nursing/pumping is actually hindering me a little b/c of my appetite, but I won't give that up.

    I'll definitely be following you in this journey!

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  9. Good for you girl!!! You can do it!

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  10. Great post, I think you look great of course, but everyone has their own "happy place" as far as weight goes. I have been making that same overnight oats for a couple of weeks now and we just love it! I even wrote a post on it I like it so much! Good luck on your healthy new lifestyle!

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  11. you are as gorgeous as ever! but great to hear you have a healthy exercise plan ahead! you will do FAB!

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  12. C25K is AWESOME! I've completed it twice. The first time in November & I ran my first 5k. Sadly, I injured my hip trying to run too fast & I wasn't able to run for 4 months. I started over & just finished it for the second time Sunday! You'll do great & I look forward to your updates.

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  13. For what it's worth, I think you look fantastic!! Both before, during and after. You must be tall because I never in a million years would've been able to guess your weight. You look so tiny! Best of luck! I'm on a quest to get in top shape before we start thinking about a baby and would love to see frequent updates from you on your fitness/eating routines!

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  14. Oh awesome! I want to do that Couch 2 5K this summer, how cool! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  15. It is really hard losing the baby weight and figuring out a new routine. It's a very delicate balancing act. I wish you the best of luck! You can do it. :-)

    P.S. Love the daily workout! I might add that to my routine too! Oh and Houston is adorable. He and my daughter are growing way way too fast!

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  16. Ugh...you are singing my song!! I've got 10 pounds to lose to get to prebaby weight which is still way more than I weighed at my wedding, so I've got a good 40 lbs I'd like to lose. I am having a hard time getting motivated, with on and off days. I've started the couch to 5K but it's hard to find time with the baby to run! Thanks for posting this and admitting that you still wear your maternity jeans...doesn't make me feel as bad!

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  17. You should be so proud of all that you have done so far-- and for setting these goals! I am at about 21 weeks right now, but I'm bookmarking your workout plan for after baby's arrival. :)

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  18. I am planning on running a 5K at the end of summer! Thanks for that last pic, I may use it to train! Good luck with you weight loss journey!

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  19. I'm not sure if you are still breastfeeding, but I hung onto about 10-12 pounds until I weaned my second baby at 12 months at within a month of weaning her, I dropped the remainder of my baby weight and lost an additional 5 pounds. If you are still feeding even some your body does hang on to alittle just in case.

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  20. Thanks for sharing. I lost the baby weight, and it was a lot....but I def need to tone it up!

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  21. First, you look fantastic! Second, we have literally the exact same pregnancy stats. :) I also was pleased that I only gained 42lbs after the way I was eating! Ha! But I honestly didnt lose my weight til I stopped breastfeeding, and honestly it took awhile (almost a year) to get back into my regular clothes. You're doing great girl! And you really do look beautiful. :)

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  22. I needed this today! Thanks for the motivation! My daughter is almost 13 months old. Within the past two months, I have stepped up my workouts, and this week I have started to eat like I should (now that my daughter's weaned). We all can do this!

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  23. Thank you for posting this! It seems that All the post pregnancy blogs I have read lately everyone's has bounced right back and even lost more than their baby weight. In the mean time I have hit a plateau and am still 5-10 ponds from the weight I though I would be by this time. I am trying not to obsess over the number on the scale but it's hard. Your post has been the first encouraging one I have read in a while in this area! I look forward to reading more!

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  24. One of my friends just tweeted me this blog post link bc she thought of me! Seriously, you and I could be baby weight twins. From start weight to D-day weight. Started at 130, ended at 176! Stuck at 145 4.5 months pp. I am still bf-ing so having a strict diet will limit milk supply but getting active will definitely help and thank you for the motivation!! You look FANTASTIC, nonetheless!! I literally just posted about this last week: http://www.oismeblog.com/2012/04/body-after-baby-part-1.html

    Glad I found you. New follower!

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  25. Yay for getting into a routine n attempting to make the changes you want! I recently joined the gym and am eating differently and it feels so good! I hope I can see some changes soon! You look amazing btw!

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  26. You have a beautiful blog with so many inspiring posts! Congrats on your work!
    Would you like to keep in touch following each other?

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  27. Good for you for getting motivated! I'm 4.5 months pp and still nursing, and I have a good 15 lbs I'd like to lose too to be back at my "happy" weight. I use My Fitness Pal to track calories so I don't go overboard on dieting while nursing, and I'm training for a half marathon in October too. The weight is coming off slowly, but I know I'll get there. Now if only I could do something about these stretch marks.... ;-)

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  28. I might have to try that routine. My baby girl is 5 months and I can't shake the weight either. It's time!

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  29. I'm right there with you! I have only 5 to go (15 months after having twins) but I'd like to lose 10 more total. I keep trying to tell myself that being healthier is best for me and them. Good luck on your journey.

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  30. Wow! You're a beautiful mom! I haven't been pregnant yet, but can't wait to be!

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  31. Hi - I'm visiting from According to Ashley (she married into my family!) and just wanted to say thanks for sharing. Losing it is definitely harder than I ever thought it would be and I've had two babies now. The challenge of finding the time and energy to lose it is one I face every day! You look wonderful. Go girl!

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  32. You were beautiful then AND now! Thanks for the motivation though. I'm pregnant and even though I love every bit of pregnancy and I'll be sad not to carry my baby around anymore, I can't wait to workout and get my body back (or at least close to it).

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  33. You look great, Stephanie!

    Good for you for wanting to be a healthier person! I'm jumping on the "get my college-day body back after two kids in two years" train myself. Keep up the good work!

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  34. Great plan, lady! I for one feel like my weight gets back relatively quickly, but it takes me a solid year to feel like the rest of my body shifts back to the way that it was before. And that is with running and working out during that year. Keep doing what you are doing! You look fantastic, I never would have thought that you were struggling mentally with your weight.

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  35. Hey girl, I'm missing your blog!! : ) Just wanted to say hi--hope you're doing well. Also, I just re-read this post, and wanted to add that I've found an awesome exercise tool....seriously. It's the Nike Training Club app for the iphone, and it's like having a personal trainer work you out. I'm LOVING it! Anyway, hope you're doing great!

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  36. What a fantastic post - I'm sure you have inspired dozens with this post, whether mothers or not. So happy for you making such a healthy progression, your son is adorable!

    xo Georgina (your newest follower)

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  37. So glad to have found your blog. I'm just a week away from due date and extremely worried about not returning to pre-baby weight. You really looked beautiful throughout all the pictures and I hope for the same results.

    Nice to see a blogger admit to not being perfect and needing to work on things a bit.
    You go!

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  38. You are beautiful!!!!!! You look really good now and pregnant!

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  39. Great post and very helpful! I'm doing the Couch to 5K thing now and I love it. You look great by the way and your blog is toooo cute!

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  40. We miss you!!!! Come back and blog!!!!

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I just shared my thoughts, I'd love to hear you share yours! {Besides, I'm tired of listening to the voices in my head.} I kid, I kid... ;)