Happy Friday! With Keenan’s birthday on Wednesday, this week has flown by! Since I still have lots to do for his party tomorrow, I’m going to try and keep this update short and sweet. Let’s get to it, shall we?
I can’t believe it has already been a month since my last update and Mirella is already 6 months old! I seriously would love to find a way to freeze time! Anyhow, I have to be honest with you, I’m a little disappointed that I don’t have a lot of progress to report this month. I have hit a plateau with my weight and even with my strength in some ways, that I haven’t seen any changes on the scale or with my workout performance. We were on vacation last week and I have to admit, I didn’t workout at all, unless you count a few long walks on the beach. I also snacked more (and on not-so-healthy items, i.e chips, caramel popcorn, sweets), so I know that took me a step back, but that was only one week. Since returning from vacation, I’m back to my healthy eating routine and working out daily (5 days a week), which feels good, but I’m at a loss on what I need to do in order to push myself further towards reaching my goals.
I know I should not dwell on the scale (which I constantly tell myself not to do), but it’s so HARD to not think about it, especially when I still have a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans that are too snug. It probably seems ridiculous that I’m worried about losing these measly last 8 pounds when there are many people out there struggling to lose 50 or more pounds, but it is just plain frustrating! Regardless of whether someone needs to lose 5 or 50 pounds, weight loss is not easy. It is hard work and takes a lot of determination and willpower. I’m working hard everyday to get back into my pre-pregnancy shape, but it must not be enough. Maybe I need to push myself even harder? Or, is it the breastfeeding that makes my body hold onto the weight? I plan to nurse Mirella past a year like I did with Keenan, but even while I nursed him, I was able to get back to my pre-pregnancy shape. Is it my eating…portion sizes? With breastfeeding, I always seem to be hungry and I when I sit down for a meal, I have to slow down to make sure I don’t overeat, but maybe I need to look at my meals a little more carefully. We eat healthy, but maybe I’m taking in too many calories. At the same time, I don’t want to cut calories, because I don’t want it to affect my milk supply.
Either way, I’m not going to lie, I’m not happy with my progress. But, do I let it get me down and stop working towards my goals? No. It makes me even more determined to work harder and push myself further in my wods. But, am I going to drastically cut things out of my lifestyle, like drinking a beer or having a glass of wine at night, or working out 6-7 days a week? No. I believe healthy living is a lifestyle and you just have to find the right balance that works for you without cutting things out that you enjoy. I believe everything in moderation (within reason). I look forward to sitting down with my husband at the end of the day once the kids are in bed and catching up over a glass of wine (or two!) or beer. I still want to enjoy life while working towards my goals.
Since my stats are the same as last month’s update, I didn’t take a picture this time, nor did I feel like taking one…
Current weight: 126
5 Months Postpartum: 126
Final pregnancy weight: 156
Pre-pregnancy: 118
There you have it. Sorry for the rant, but hopefully I’ll have some progress to report next month.
Have a good weekend!
Questions:
If you breastfed your kids, did you have a hard time losing the last few pounds while you were nursing? Was it harder with baby #2 or 3, 4, etc? When did the weight finally come off?
Any advice/suggestions on losing these last pounds?
Hi, Melissa. I am one of those who needs to lose 50, but I want to give you some encouragement. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Your body may me holding the weight for your breastfeeding. It may be taking a little while for your body to adjust after your vacation with salt and sugar. I would go back to your pre-vacation rourine, being watchful, but not obsessive. Now I have two children, but no pregnancies, so I can’t speak from experience. I have a friend who was a working professional before she gotmsrried. After she had her daughter and she lost her baby weight, she found that she couldn’t fit into her fitted suit skirts. Pregnancy does move your bones around. This may contribute to your jeans being too snug. My brother said something to me about trying to loose the last 10 pounds. Try to lose 20, then the 10 should be easier! Probably too simplistic. Enjoy your wonderful family and go a little easier on yourself.
I first knew Drew when he was about Keenan’s age and it is amazing how much Keenan looks like Drew! It is fun to see Drew raising “Drew”. I am so happy for your family.
Jan
Thanks, Jan! I’m definitely my worst critic, and as Drew says, I definitely need to do a better job of letting things go and not get so worried about the number on the scale.
With each baby I had, it became increasingly more difficult and took longer to take off the 30 additional pounds I gained from pregnancy. And I’m like you–I ate well, I worked out, and I breast fed. I figure it takes 9 months to put it on, it should take that to take it off. And I have. And you will too.
I have never been able to lose all the weight while breast feeding… my body prefers to hang onto an extra 5 pounds, so I’m expecting that this time around as well. But you’re doing a great job modeling healthy living for your kids- eating well, in a great workout routine- isn’t it silly that the number on the scale can leave us so frustrated?
It’s comforting to know that you have also not been able to lose all of the weight while breastfeeding. My body must want to hold onto it, but yes, that darn number on the scale is very frustrating!
I think that you have done a great job!!!
I’m struggling these days but I know it is just time to make more changes – I try not to blame it on age but every few years I have to make some changes because I start to put on weight even with mixing up my workouts.
Thank you, Kim! I’m going to push myself a little harder, cranking up the intensity to see if that helps, but other than that, I’m trying not to stress about it. Maybe stressing about it is also helping to hold onto the weight??
I know how frustrating that can be, but I agree with Laura that you probably have to blame the BFing. Your body is in mothering mode, but it won’t be forever! 🙂 Hang in there, you’re seriously doing great!
Thanks, Kim!
I”m still baking #2 right now, but my advice would be to not stress. With my first I had the highest expectations of myself and when reality did not meet my perception it made me so mad (damn celebrities and what I felt at the time was everyone else losing all their baby weight so easy). I kept on a good 10 pounds while nursing and unfortunately hadn’t weaned prior to #2 being started so I don’t really know. Even this pregnancy, I’m being lenient on myself for the weight gain and afterwards to for the weight loss. Yes I would love for it to magically drop off, but I am not expecting that this time around and going to give myself a complete year before getting mad at myself.
Thank you. I’m trying not to stress about it and just keep on doing what I’m doing, and hopefully the weight will come off eventually. It did take 9 months to gain all of the weight, so I need to at least give myself 9 months to lose it, right?
Melissa,
I am obviously no fitness expert, but I did have a thought: were you doing Crossfit right after you had Keenan? It seems like Crossfit has quite a bit of weights and high intensity workouts, and I’ve heard that muscle weighs more than fat. So maybe if you want to lose pounds you might want to switch to longer, less intense workouts (like long walks on the beach for example! :)) I know you love Crossfit because you can get a good workout in less time and it seems counterintuitive to not work so hard, but it was just a thought I had. I think you are amazing and admire you for your hard work and determination to take care of your body!
Thank you, Juliette! You are so sweet! I didn’t start CrossFit until Keenan was a year old, so that could have made a difference. But, either way, I know it probably has something to do with breastfeeding and probably that she is my second child, not to mention, I’m older, too. I just need to accept the fact that it’s going to take longer to lose all of the weight this time around and to stop stressing about it (as Drew says!).