9 months to put it on... 9 months to take it off.

Well, what they say held true for me... "It takes 9 months to put it on and 9 months to take it off." Weight that is.  Pregnancy weight.

In my 37 weeks of pregnancy, I put on fifty (50!) pounds.  A little excessive, yes.  But, I will maintain that I was not a complete pig and that perhaps I am just one of those people who gains a lot while pregnant.  However, my only real craving was buffalo wings and I will be the first to admit that I did not exercise.  Honestly, I was a little too scared to exercise.  Having miscarried before, I was probably a little over-cautious and understandably so.  If something were to happen again... I did not want to have regrets  or to think for one minute that I might have contributed to it by exercise.  Irrational perhaps.  But, it is what it is.

So yeah.... fifty pounds.  I wasn't overly concerned.  My mom gained a lot with her second pregnancy and lost it (and more!) in no time.  I figured breastfeeding would help.  I didn't really feel as huge as the scale said I was... and my best friends still insist they would have never guessed that I had gained that much.  (Bless them.)

But when I came home from the hospital weighing only about ten pounds less, reality started to kick in.  I had a lot of weight to lose.  Some of it came off after the swelling went down.  For the first few months, I didn't do much exercise other than walking here and there.  I hurt for what seemed like forever and I was just a little too overwhelmed with being a new mom and "newborndom" to give much thought or energy to exercising.

When January rolled around, I resolved to lose weight and to practice more healthy eating habits.  I started cutting out carbs and trying to stick mainly to lean meats, fruits, and veggies.  I attempted exercising and started Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred...but the motivation just wasn't fully there yet somehow.  I didn't really get serious about exercising until around late April when I decided to start Couch to 5K.  My sister-in-law talked me into it.  A little history - I have always hated running with passion.  I used to joke that my body would go into MSOF (multi-system-organ failure) when I attempted to run.  Seriously, everything...even my gums... would hurt when I ran.  The farthest I can ever remember running was a mile - and that was while in high school because it was a gym class requirement.

By the time I started running, I weighed around 15 lbs. from my pre-pregnancy weight.  (I wish I had recorded everything exactly, but I didn't.)  I cannot say that I completed the C25K program in the 8 weeks that you can supposedly complete it in.  I didn't.  I took time off.  I got lazy at times and procrastinated at times.  BUT... I never quit completely.  I always started back up again.  I began to kind of enjoy the time to myself that running provided and the challenge and accomplishment of each run was very mentally rewarding.    I have now successfully run for 26.5 minutes straight...without stopping.  30 minutes is the end goal of the C25K.  30 minutes = 3 miles... but my speed is not up to a 10 minute/mile yet.  I have not technically completed the program because I have never run the full 30 minutes.... but I am confident that I could if I really set out to do so... and I plan to in the future.  26.5 minutes was approximately 2.3 miles for me.  I know that sounds like beans (and slow ones!) to many.... but for me to be able to run over 2 miles!?!?!  To run for 26.5 minutes straight?  Amazing.  Never thought I would/could do it.

And now, 9 months after giving birth... I have reached my pre-pregnancy weight!  (Actually, a little below it!)  Do I wish I would have lost it sooner?  Yes.  But am I happy and proud to have lost it now?  YES!  Am I stopping here?  No.  I was not really happy with my weight before I was pregnant.  I would like to lose another 10+ lbs.... and I believe I will get there!  My main obstacle at the moment is the miserable heat we are experiencing.  I need a treadmill or a gym membership... or I need to make myself do some other form of indoor exercise.  OR it just needs to not be so insanely hot! ;)

I am still trying to be conscious about what I eat and how much I eat.  I am still trying to stay away from carbs for the most part and I try to keep sugar at a minimum.  It isn't easy.  I love pasta and sweet stuff.  I allow myself to have some of each occasionally.  Occasionally is much different than "on a daily basis." 

I feel so much better now, mentally and physically.  If you are currently in the post-partum stage and feeling down about your weight... just know that you CAN do it.  You have to be really ready, mentally and physically... and only you can determine when that is.  When motivation strikes, go with it.  If it doesn't... try something anyway - maybe it will make you feel better and you'll want to keep doing it.  That was key for me - something just clicked and I was ready to work at losing the weight.  I finally had the extra mental capacity to take on the challenge and it doubled as a little break/"me time" which really helped me to want to keep doing it.

I hope to make conscious eating and exercise a regular part of my life.  I really want this to be a lifestyle change for me.  I want my children growing up with a healthy mom and a mom that is physically active with them.  I want them to see me modeling good eating habits and exercise.  Weight loss was my beginning motivation and is my current motivation.... but I think being healthy for, and active with, my kids will be the lasting motivator.
This guy was worth putting it on... and he is worth keeping it off. :)