Exercise Update

If I had to pick one piece of advice for pregnant women (or women who will one day be) who want to eventually get back into shape and back into what remnants are left of what formerly was their pre-baby body, it would be this:

Don't gain a ton of weight your first tri.

I'm not a doctor or anyone with the credentials to have their opinions taken seriously, but it makes sense to me. See, as soon as the fatigue of the first trimester hit me, my physical activity took a huge nose dive. Also, when I realized that constantly eating kept my nausea at bay, I didn't really hold back.

"Hello, KFC amazing bowl? Meet, Momma."

Hahaha- I just found that image via an article called, "6 Fast Foods That Look Disgusting, Even in Their Professional Photos". Awesome.

I digress. Anyways, at this moment in time I weigh exactly the same as I did at 13 weeks pregnant. You know, right outta the First Tri. I have 5 lbs to go until my pre-pregnancy weight.

13 weeks

Umm, I remember thinking I was HUGE here. However, now I wish I looked like that at this weight! Things "settle" quite differently after the whole baby producing experience. Ugh.

From there I have another 6 or so until I am back at goal, wedding weight. D says that might be too much. I promptly awarded him a "Husband of the Year" trophy, plaque, and other fancy prizes.

What I have learned so far is that post-baby weight loss is slow going. It's not all "breast feeding makes the weight fall off". That didn't happen for me. In fact, I lost 3 or 4 lbs the week I stopped breast feeding. For me, it's taking time...making time for working out AND to pack lunches and make dinner. The weeks I see little or no progress? Those are the weeks that I decided to pick up pizza as a quickie meal solution or the ones where I sham out on workouts for other obligations. The ones where I do really well and see a teeny, weeny one pound difference on the scale. Frustrating. But progress none the less.

As for my Shredding? I suck. I did it for 9 days in a row and then stopped. It was right before I traveled for work and I lost motivation. I did lose a couple pounds and had inches lost in my measurements. I think the shred works, I just don't have the die hard attitude for it right now. I'd rather run outside while its in the low 80's before our summer heat wave hits. I have upped my runs from 2.5 miles to right about 5. I try to do that about 4 times a week and then hit the gym 2x for cardio and weights.

My goal is to lose 5 by the end of April and decide where to go from there. Right now I wouldn't want to put on a bathing suit and I have a little girl who is SO ready to have her first pool experience. If that isn't motivation right there, I don't know what is!

What are you doing as far as an exercise routine? What works for you?

xo,
H