When I found out I was expecting, I was pretty satisfied with my weight and fitness level. I was training for a half marathon, felt amazing in my clothes, and ate a pretty well balanced diet. Well, there something about a pregnancy that can just really throw you off your game. Maybe it was the nausea, exhaustion or the extra weight in my chest, I just really wasn’t motivated to hit the pavement or the gym. After the first trimester, I started to feel a little better and resumed my fitness classes at Orange Theory. I was able to keep that up until about 35 weeks. After that, I was barely able to get myself in and out of my car let alone keep up on a treadmill! I gained about 45 pounds in total and was scared I wouldn’t be able to lose it. All that work I put in last year, wasted.
Me the morning before getting induced.
Fast forward a few months, and I have a six month old and 9 sad, stubborn pounds left to lose. At first, I was incredibly motivated to lose the weight. I would get up early in the morning and try to run or walk, I did PiYo in my basement during Joy’s naps, and I was hyper aware of every calorie. Then, I got tired. Burnt out from the sporadic workouts I was able to squeeze in while being a new mother.
I’ll be honest, I was really upset with myself. I have done this before (remember Amp Camp?) Why is this time so much harder. It didn’t help that I had Joy within weeks of two other women I’m familiar with and they were BOTH in bikinis less than a month after giving birth.
Getting back in shape! Still a ways to go.
Well, at Ladies bible study the other afternoon, we got on the subject of grace. Then it hit me, why could I extend grace to everybody but myself? It’s not like I was sitting on the couch eating all day. In fact, I forgot to eat lunch some days. Joy was still waking up to nurse in the middle of the night, laundry was never ending, and her reflux made me change her up to 4 times a day. It was then I decided to loosen up, train when I could, and seek a healthy body instead of my “old body”. I should celebrate the 36 pounds lost as opposed to beating myself up over the last few remaining. I went and purchased some clothes that fit now instead of agonizing over my old wardrobe. It was an instant mood lifter.
Now I am looking for a new regimen. I set a goal of 3 good workouts a week and need to increase my water consumption. I was hoping to be back to pre-baby weight by the end of the year but that’s what sweaters are for right ; )
My friend talked me into a 10k.
If you or someone you know just had a baby and are going through a similar struggle, send them this post and make a point to encourage them in their new role as a mother. It’s hard. We need to support each other because I’m sure we are all doing our best!
If you have any tips or methods be sure to share in the comment section.
Marissa A
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