Now that the baby has arrived, I figured it would be a good idea to get a log started here. I managed to gain 33 lbs during the pregnancy, but I've already gotten 23 of those lbs back off again. I'm hoping to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight by the time I hit my 6 week check-up (though I'm not restricting calories right now since I'm nursing). Then I can focus on getting the real weight--the 100 lbs or so that I've been carrying around for years--off of this body.
Why:
I've spent too much time making excuses for myself. It was through bad habits and bad diet (ok, plus a little bit of influence from medication and side effects, but just a little) that I managed to eat myself to this weight, and I'm sick and tired of it. I have three beautiful girls who deserve to have a mommy who is healthy and happy. I have arthritis already, and the extra weight only makes that worse. The best thing that I can do for myself and my family is to get this weight off and start living the life that I'm meant to live. Imagine what getting the weight off could mean--I could end up going into remission and not needing the biweekly injections of Humira. I could go shopping in a regular store and not be embarrassed about picking up the big sizes. I could go swimming with my girls and not be embarrassed about the size of my ass. I could run around and play with the kids because I'd have more energy since I was carrying around less of myself. My kids deserve better. My husband deserves better. Heck, I deserve better!
How:
Well, before I found out I was pregnant with Miss Molly, I was following Leigh Peele's suggestions from FLTS. I stopped the insane 2 hr workouts in the gym, I stopped working out every day of the week, and I stopped pushing myself too hard and aggravating my arthritis. Instead, I focused on my food and on getting that right. I started weighing and measuring everything and eating at a little over 1000 calorie deficit. Instead of lifting heavy and running on a treadmill (which only served to screw up my knees more), I took lots of walks and increased my NEAT. I'd love to get back to lifting again, and hope to, but I need to get some of this excess weight off first to make life easier on my old arthritic joints.
The Plan:
For now (until the end of June and my 6 week post c-section checkup), I am going to focus on eating good healthy food. I am going to start tracking my food again so that when I'm cleared to start back with the deficit (which can't be as extreme since I'm nursing), I'll have a good handle on what I'm already doing. Once I get the all clear from the doc, I'll have a conversation with Leigh about what I need to do next.
So there you go. I'm making myself accountable to myself and to anybody who happens across this. I've got a long road ahead of me, but I know that this time I'm armed with the knowledge to do it right and reach my goal!
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
__________________ It all starts with the mind, but the thoughts, the intention aren't enough. Action needs to come next. Dream it, believe it, plan it, execute it, celebrate it. - Wendy
I'm down 24 lbs today. yay! This week I've been focusing on getting my water in. I let that slide after I got out of the hospital, and I need to get my water intake back up. It hasn't affected my milk production (God knows, there's enough there to feed the neighborhood! lol), but I don't want it to create a problem when I go on a deficit.
I'm going to add in the walks this week, too. We'll start slowly and see how it goes.
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
Deficit starts today. Because of the arthritis (and advice from Leigh), I'm going with more protein and fat and less carbs, though not quite keto. I'm a bit high in carbs already today, but I figure the macros are a learning curve and I'll get there.
I still haven't managed to add in the walks. Between the 3 kids and the freaking scorching heat we've had lately, I just haven't found it in me. I'll dig up the energy for that soon. Slacker, I know. Little steps, though. I am getting a decent amount of NEAT, though, just from all of the laundry. I always forget just how much laundry a tiny baby generates!
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
I suck. The baby has had a bad bout with reflux (basically, she wakes up screaming about 15 min after she finishes eating and her little face is all squished up in pain and you can nearly feel the gas/acid rumbling up and down her esophagus--poor little thing!) and it's been everything that i could do to just maintain between dealing with her and my other two kidlets who are at home for the summer. Apparently the best way to avoid the reflux pain (or at least some of it) is for me to hold her, so I end up with a baby in my arms for a good portion of the day.
I started my shots (Humira) again, but rather than the initial flare that was starting up getting better, I've zig zagged the other way and hit a pretty harsh flare that's really affecting my knees. If it doesn't ease up a bit in the next week, i'm going to have to call my doc and see if maybe I've got some fluid in there or something. Not great.
So I'm full of excuses. Hey, at least I've not been gaining, though! I'm getting back on the train. I can't keep carrying this weight around forever!
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
Hey Sinead, good to see you back! Sorry to hear your little one has reflux. That's so hard to deal with. Hey, as long as you're not gaining i think that's a great thing. You can only do so much at a time right? Do you put Molly in a sling when you carry her around? I used to walk all over the place with my little guy in a sling when he was little...he loved it.
Sorry the reflux is so bad. I remember counting the minutes down in the middle of the night so that I could hold Samantha for exactly 15 minutes after I fed her and then race back to bed.
When baby Luke is born we're headed to the mommy/baby store to pick out our sling...I used a bjorn with both of the previous two, but can't wait to try out a real "sling" sling.
Take care of yourself and cut yourself some slack. You'll get to where you wanna be.
When baby Luke is born we're headed to the mommy/baby store to pick out our sling...I used a bjorn with both of the previous two, but can't wait to try out a real "sling" sling.
Thread hijack in progress....
Jamie, after going through about 4 different slings I finally found this one. It was great!
Peanut Shell sling. Available in a bunch of adorable colors too!
Thanks, Anne. We're good. We (Molly and I) are both looking forward to yhe end of the summer when Maggie and Katie go back to school so that we can get a routine going, and I'm planning to add in some walking with her once it cools down a bit. Of course, I get plenty of walking around with the pacing that I have to do for her (talk about NEAT!), but that's at a slow, calm rocking rate rather than anything that's going to burn any real calories.
Jill, I've got a sling, but I try not to put her in it more than once a day or so because 1-it tends to hurt my back if I wear it too long, 2-she gets all hot and sweaty in it (we're in Alabama, so it's pretty hot here this time of year), and 3-I don't want her to get too used to sleeping while being held. It sure does make doing anything else while holding Molly easier, though!
You know, I was thinking about this the other night. My oldest (Maggie) was a demanding/intense little baby, and she preferred to be held and came to want to sleep being held (who wouldn't, right?). We struggled to get her to sleep by herself when she was a bit older and until just a few months ago, she's struggled with sleep issues (not wanting to sleep in her own bed by herself all night, etc.). When Katie came along, I made sure that I nursed her and put her down. I'd pick her up to play with her and cuddle with her, but she spent the majority of the time down in the bassinet or bouncey seat or wherever. I had to--Maggie was still glued to me. As a result (I thought), Katie was always a great sleeper. She found her thumb when she was a week old and I could put her down in the crib wide awake and within minutes (and no crying), she'd go right to sleep. I patted myself on the back and felt like such the superior parent; like I'd learned the lessons from Maggie and made better choices this time around with Katie. Yeah, right. lol Clearly it's all about personality. Katie is MUCh more independent than Maggie ever was. Katie is much more content to just hang out and play with whatever by herself, coming by from time to time to say hi or snuggle or whatever, while Maggie is constantly wanting an audience or interaction. Along comes Miss Molly and she's got a much more dependent personality, something that isn't helped with the reflux issue. hehehe So much for my superior attitude. Oh well, I'd already learned that kids like to throw you curve balls. Maggie was a difficult baby but a wonderful toddler and fairly good (though pretty dramatic preschooler). Katie was such an easy baby and has been hell on wheels since she started moving around on her own. She's not afraid of anything and is into everything; everything is a task that must be attempted and conquered. lol Wonder where she gets that.
Oh well...kiddos are funny. I just wish I had a few extra pairs of hands and maybe some more energy. It'll come. Maybe when they're 18 or something (God, 3 girls...I don't even want to THINK about high school!), but it'll come.
Off to feed the oldest two dinner and hope that Miss Molly naps a bit. I hear her stirring, though, so I'm thinking I'll end up having to put her in the sling. Enough rambling from me! I need to get into the habit of posting here more. I also need to clamp down harder on my food, but that'll come, too. I'm doing ok but I'd rather start losing so that I can start to head in the direction that Anne's going in. Congrats, by the way--I saw how much progress you've made! You're so consistent and dedicated. Way to go; you should be proud of yourself!
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
Jamie, I hear ya! Luckily, Molly takes her meds in the evenings, so the reflux isn't bad at all at night. I just make sure to burp her really good, and that seems to take care of her. It's the daytimes that are endless. But she's sleeping (we get a good 5 or 6 hr chunk right now, followed by 2 and 3 hr chunks, so that's pretty good for 2 months!), so I shouldn't complain too much.
I have an Eddie Bauer sling that came from Target and it's got a nifty little velcro crotch strap in thing that gives me a little more security when I'm moving around and doing stuff. A friend loaned me a Maya sling (the one with the fabric and the two little rings holding everything together) and I was so intimidated by it. My SIL used a Peanut sling and was very happy with that. The Bjorn really kills my back, so I try to avoid that thing like the plague.
How much longer do you have now?
Jill, oh, you're right! That's what my SIL had. I meant to get one of those but never did, and my mom just picked up the Eddie Bauer thing from Target. It's boring and ugly colors, but it does the trick. I'm going to get an Ergo carrier here in a few weeks once her head control is a bit better and I'm looking forward to that.
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
So there's this store in Houston that I love love love! It's called a Woman's Work and when I thought we were done, I would drive past it and cry because of all the memories of warmth and love and help they gave when Samantha was so little (sounds a LOT like Miss Maggie...intense and needy). They have suggested that I bring Luke in after he's born and we try out slings together (he and I). I will certainly keep that Peanut one in mind!!
Everyone's been telling me how horrible it is/will be going through the "whole summer" pregnant, but I have to tell you...I'd rather battle the Houston heat pregnant than with an infant!! I just feel like it's easier for me to be busy and up and around in the heat (drinking plenty of water) than it would be to have to tote him around in a sling or a baby carrier (I hate that thing).
Anyway, I have about 6 or 7 weeks left if I go to term...which I've never done before. So, we'll see. The kids got their new bunk beds tonight, so when Michael gets home tomorrow from traveling for work we'll pull the crib outta the attic and finish putting the baby's room together. Then I'll pack my hospital bag and start washing hand-me-down clothes. Anything I get done beyond that will be icing on the cake.
Speaking of head control, I put our baby seat in the van last night and although the level detector thingy says level it just seems sooooo too steep for his little baby neck. I'm gonna have to take pics and post because maybe it's just been so long since I've done this that my internal gage is wrong???
That store sounds awesome! It's a great idea to try the things out when he gets here. Yeah, I'm with you. I think I'd rather have a fall baby than a spring baby. My other two were born in November, so I had pregnant summers, but they were easier than lugging around a little one. I'm always worried now that she's going to get too hot or sunburned, and I've had to work around some outdoor time with the two bigger kids because I don't want to put Molly at risk.
Hehehe You sound like me. Once I got the crib together, I was cool with whatever else got done or didn't. That crib was a biggie for me, though.
If the seat is at the wrong slant for the level detector, you could try putting a pool noodle (or part of one) in the bottom part of the seat (where it meets the seatback) and resting the bottom of the carseat on that. There's an article on Edmunds.com about installing a car seat safely, and here's what it says:
Quote:
Check your instructions to see if your seat has an angle adjuster; if so, use it. If not, a small piece of a swimming pool "noodle" wedged under the seat is the safest way to get the same angle. Why a noodle? Well, you can also use a tightly rolled towel, but towels compress over time, whereas the material in pool noodles does not. If you use a towel, check it occasionally to see that the angle has been maintained.
__________________
"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
I might not be doing much in between holding the baby, etc., but I did spend about 2 hours outside today working on cleaning up the front bed. It was totally overgrown. I cut out some of the low branches of the big crepe myrtle, pulled a heck of a lot of vines, and I've just gone out and weedeated the monkey grass border down to the ground. There was way too much regular grass mixed in with it and it looked awful, so I figured clearcutting it was my only option. That was a nice little bit of activity.
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
Whooohooo! I put up a shelf in my laundry room to help get it better organized. Now I just have to finish putting everything back where it belongs. Slowly but surely I'll get this house organized if it kills me!
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"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
It comes and goes. Apparently my Humira shots are only good (meaning, the effect only lasts) for about a week right now instead of for two weeks like they're supposed to. Add into it that I sometimes sit in funny positions when I'm nursing Molly (like half Indian style with the crossed knee angled up so that she's not lying flat to help with the reflux) and I seem to make more work for myself. I probably need to talk to the doc about trying one of the other meds, though. I was on Enbrel before this and responded much better to it. We'll see...
__________________
"Do you choose to simply know the path, or do you choose to walk it?"
Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down...
SINEAD!! Why didn't you tell me that you had started a log?? I've been kind of absent around here lately, but am getting back to logging again myself. You CAN do this, you know. Don't make me come to Alabama. (Not that I wouldn't want to see you again, but ykwim!) Thanks for lending an ear the other night.... you know I appreciate your advice even when I don't follow it LOL. I'm OK though. First appt. is Monday.... looking forward to it.
Sorry that you're having a flare up.... and good luck with the organizing. I haven't made much progress this summer, that's for sure. You know what they say about good intentions......
"As far as (healthy) eating, either do it, or don't. Same issues repeated over and over is just insanity. We either commit to the endeavor or pay lip-service to it. This is the hardest part of the whole process, and it needs to be practiced more than the actual physical training. It's mind training." ~ Matt Thorne
"The reason that most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment."
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