An Unexpected Resource for Weight Loss

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you all to a new blogger and a dear old friend of mine.  She goes by the name of FoodLove Girl and her blog is about her love/hate relationship with food.  FoodLove Girl writes inspirational posts several times a week that are guaranteed to help you in your journey to find your "happy weight". She also reminds you to love your self just the way you are right now. I hope you will read more about her journey on her blog, www.foodlovemefoodhateme.com.

Workout Wednesdays

Doctors orders! At my annual physical last month my doctor said she wants me to drop the guilt of leaving work, baby, dog, husband behind and take time for myself, once a week, to go to the gym. I have been going constantly for four weeks because I always go on Wednesday- it's easy to remember, "it's Workout Wednesday"!

One Year Postpartum

My body has now had over a year to recover from pregnancy and childbirth. I would say that it's in a much better place, but some things will just never be the same.

Mentally, I still experience some postpartum OCD, but it's much less. I get anxiety and stress like most new parents. I haven't cried much this year and sometimes I wish I had cried more, to just let everything out. I have had a tendency to let things build up and I have to remind myself that it's not healthy. So every once in a while I have a good old breakdown and open the flood gates...

Emotionally, I love being a mom. More than I imagined. Having Keira in my life is just amazing. Watching her learn and grow and change is like seeing a miracle first hand. My capacity to love has grown and she's made me more compassionate and forgiving just because I want the world to be a better place for her to live in. I like holding her close to me and still love walking with her in the carrier...

Lessons Learned

Every so often I think of something I would do slightly differently if I could have. So in order to remember these "constructive criticisms" for myself, I'm noting them in this blog post. Maybe they'll help some of the new moms out there at the same time!

(Note: We plan to have another baby some day, but not right now, hence why I need to write this stuff down, it might be a WHILE! I want to give my body a bare minimum of 18 months to recooperate)

- Be better prepared for labor. My labor progressed VERY fast before I could even get to the hospital. I had no idea what to do since I was just counting on my epidural to get me through. I did not think about what to do before epidural, but next time, I will be prepared.

- Have someone take pictures of YOU with your baby. We had many visitors come to the Hopsital and they all of course wanted pictures with Keira, but we only got a couple of us with her. Put yourselves first, parents!

The (Baby) Weight is Over!

As they say- nine months on, and nine months off...

Today was the day that I finally reached pre-baby weight!

Two and Two

I lost two pounds in May and have two more to lose to be back at my pre-pregnancy weight. Maybe it's true that it takes nine months to put it on AND take it off!

I've been eating healthier, cooking more, walking tons, and wearing baby. I wore out my sneakers- there are actually holes in them. 

Five Months passed, Five Pounds left

It's been a little over 5 months since Keira's birth (and my most dramatic daily weight loss!). The pounds have been slowly coming off since then but I still have 5 left to lose.

I just joined an awesome group called Moms Run This Town (MRTT)- it's a Facebook group for local moms to get together and walk and/or run. I haven't got back into running yet but I did go for a 4-mile brisk walk with two other moms this week. I am hoping that this group will help me get my weekly exercise up.

I've also started doing a little bit of weight lifting at home. Keira thinks it's hilarious and some of the other (non weight) exercises even include her! 

I'm also still dairy free (Keira has a sensitivity in it that may last up to 9 months). This has helped not eat junk food because most baked goods and a lot of processed and bad-for-you foods contain dairy. 

My goal is to be back at pre-pregnancy weight (135) by the official start of summer- mid June. I definitely need to fit (comfortably) in my work clothes by September because I will be working again and refuse to buy new work clothes!

Hopefully I will get back into the 130's soon- I miss seeing that on the scale. Soon enough!

12 Days Postpartum

12 days later and I'm almost feeling back to normal, well it's a new normal - one that includes sleeping only in 3 hour (maximum) segments, and learning to make oatmeal while breastfeeding - but it  is my new normal and I like it.

My body has changed drastically in the past two weeks-

Pounds lost: 19

Pounds left to lose: 9