The Post-Baby Chronicles-Weight Loss

Ok. So, here is another part of what I am now calling The Post-Baby Chronicles.  This is my adventure to losing the baby weight (and let's be honest, losing "the before I got married, been overweight my entire life" weight) and continuing to adjust to being a working mom of 2 kids. Blogging about my common and normal life is more cathartic than anything else.

SIDE BAR: While I'm typing this at Starbucks, there is an Obama look alike sitting right next to me snacking on a sandwich. If it really is him then he really needs to chew with his mouth closed.  Anyway...

Weight Watchers is going really well.  Because of a new budget we are living by (I'll post on that later), Jared and I discontinued our online membership, got the books, and are going to do this on our own.  It will take a little bit more discipline, but I have the determination and the loving support of my handsome husband. I have also developed a spreadsheet that we can use on our phones that can help keep us on track.  I'll post a link to it in the next post.  My only complaint to WW is why in the world do men get more points than women?? Jared comes home from work, and I ask how many points he has left. He replies with a 100, and I have like 2. So frustrating. I'm gnawing on carrots, and he's downing a bowl of chicken Alfredo.  It's all because Eve took that first bite of apple. Thanks, Eve. 

For the past 3 days, we have done some sort of exercise.  Both Jared and I are basically starting from ground zero. Two days ago, we worked out to my favorite DVD... Zumba! Oh yeah! Even though I look like an idiot because I have no dancing skills, I have so much fun with it.  And the bonus is watching my honey shake his hips :) 

Last night, we both did a workout using our Gain Fitness app while watching an episode of 24 on Netflix.  My arms are definitely feeling the joy today.

So, here is what I suggest.
1. Join Weight Watchers...it really works. (www.weightwatchers.com)
2. Do a different and fun workout everyday so you won't get bored. I enjoy Zumba and Gain Fitness (link to the app: Gain Fitness) 

Cheers for eating right and shaking your hips! 

If you weren't a super model before, then...

Last night, as I was deep into the world of Pinterest researching post baby workouts,  I started to get discouraged and just flat out annoyed. All the workouts I came across had titles like "How Jessica Alba lost the baby weight" and "Find out how the Victoria's Secret model...."....blah, blah, blah.  And then it hit me! A revelation so freeing. 

If I wasn't a super model before I had kids, I am sure as heck NOT gonna look like one after...no matter how hard I work out.  

Man! Hallelujah! I have been freed from the stress of obtaining a flat belly and for trying to fit into a bikini. Good heavens!

Now, don't get me wrong. I have not taken this revelation and turned it into a free ticket to eat as much junk as I want. Or to not exercise.  

I'm gonna bust my tail! And I've actually been looking forward to it.  Shortly after coming home from the hospital, I reinstated my Weight Watchers Online subscription (side note: I hate those commercials...cheese!) and I am already 1 lb away from what I call my Pre-Post Pregnancy weight...pre-Quin, but post-Cayden.  And just this week, I was cleared by my OB to get back to normal life.  

Last night's epiphany is a big deal to me because I can't lose weight like everyone else.  I battle with hypothyroidism and have probably since college. I have a great endocrinologist, but there are many things she never told me about the disease. In the past several years, I have done a great deal of research.  What I have discovered has helped me tremendously.  For example, there is a huge list of foods that I have to avoid if I want a fully functioning thyroid. Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and soy are just a few of these.  

Also, with Weight Watchers, everyone is aware that you are given a certain amount of points.  Well, for me, because the disease slows down my digestion, I have to eat the majority of the points during the day to give my body enough time to digest.

And because of that, the best time for me to workout is at night when my food has had a chance to metabolize and I have more energy.    

I'm excited to get back at it again, and hopefully, this post can be an encouragement to all my mommy friends who have average Jane bodies. The best thing that you and I can do is to try hard and pray that cheesecake will have health benefits. 

**Disclaimer: If you do have the body of a super model, especially after childbirth, we are no longer friends.** :-) just kidding! 

So, here's to eating right and exercising, running around with my 2 year old as I carry my 5 week old, start a load of laundry, pay the bills, take a shower, change diapers, and everything in between. 

What a year!

This year has changed my life dramatically! Even four years ago, I never thought this is where God would have me. I married my prince in September 2010, had our first son in August 2011, found out we were expecting our second September 2012.... And became a family of four with our second son on May 6th.  

Quin weighed an awesome 9 lbs 11 oz! For some reason, my body makes giant babies. Cayden was 8 lbs 13 oz... But now he's barely on the charts. He's holding steady to the 8th percentile for weight for his age and height. So I joke that I make giant babies and really tiny children.  Making big babies makes sense for parents who are short and stocky, but when they turn into tiny toddlers, I wonder what happened. Oh well. We will find out later if my kiddos grow into their "stocky" genes.

Having big babies definitely took a toll on my body.  So much so that Jared and I have called it quits on having more children.  I have medically shut down the baby making factory. Both Cayden and Quin had to be born via c-section because of their size.  The doctor referred to them as macrosomias (aka "big ass baby"-as explained by my OB). It's been 3 weeks since I had Quin, and I'm still trying to recover. The slow rate could be because, oh, I don't know, I'm trying to keep up with my 20 month old. Possible. Oh! And did I mention that my hair got darker with the pregnancies so at one point I had 3-4 different colors on my head? I looked like a calico kitty! 

Even though my body was taken over by macrosomias, nosebleeds, water weight, cankles, and 32 lbs of stretch mark causing goodness, I have never been happier. 

I look at my sweet little family and thank God for loving me enough to gift me an amazing, hot:) husband and two beautiful sons. What else could I possibly want or need? 

I know there will be difficult days ahead and frustrating moments, but I will accept those with open arms because I have these amazing people in my life. And because I no longer have to worry about getting cankles! It's a win-win!