I've decided to blog about my weight because I need extra motivation. I am about to embark on a 55 pound weight loss battle and I need all the help I can get. I've read in several places that women who return to work are more successful at losing weight than stay at home moms. The reason for this is because women who return to the work place feel more pressure to look good and to fit back into their old work clothes because they have an "audience." So, blogging will create an audience for me to help me stay motivated.
I was weighed as I entered the hospital and rung in at 220, YIKES. Luckily, or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) that is only 8 pounds more than what I started this pregnancy at. I am currently down 6 pounds which means I am only 2 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight. Funnily, I'm not very happy about that. Over the last 4 years of marriage I stopped exercising and eating poorly which these other 50+ pounds are the result. My goal weight is 160, which is still technically one point into the "overweight" category on the BMI chart, but when I was 160 I felt good, I think I looked cute, and all my favorite jeans are a size 12...so that is my goal. I also think it's very practical, I still have to lose 55 pounds to get there and that is a ton of weight.
I occasionally feel overwhelmed with the amount of weight I need to lose, but I know it's possible. I've also read in several places that a woman's body after pregnancy is the perfect vessel to lose weight, because it is the only time in your life that your body WANTS to lose weight. I feel like it's now or never.
My plan is to follow the "Body After Baby" book that outlines exercises and very specific eating plan with lots of yummy sounding recipes. I like this plan because it is tailored for breast feeding moms, i.e. the recipes are fast, easy, very nutritious, helps to maintain your milk supply, and good for the entire family. (So, with luck Brad will lose a few pounds too.) After 6 weeks postpartum I will also begin a more aggressive exercise routine. I'm not exactly sure what this will entail other than an hours worth of very active movement at least 5 times a week.
I feel really nervous about pushing that "Publish Post" button because it means that I'm really going to have to follow through with this. But I know that this is what I want to do for my kids but mostly for me. I want to be active so my kids don't have a boring, fat mom who can't play with them. But mostly I'm doing this for me. I deserve to look and feel good. I know that losing weight will give me confidence to do and try other things as well. As Denise Austen would say, "I'm strong, I'm beautiful, I'm fit!"
(Oh yeah. I posted the above picture because I was ridiculously excited that I could fit into those jeans. They are NOT maternity jeans, and I am 9 days postpartum. I am still wearing a maternity top so that my squidgy belly isn't as noticeable...but still, 9 days and I'm comfortably into pre-pregnancy jeans! Woo!)
