Week Three

Another week down, another pound lost. This should make me happy, I know. I'm making progress, I'm moving in the right direction, I fit into the next size down of my transition jeans.

And yet...

I'm not making progress quickly enough. I'm not as far along into the right direction as I wanted to be at this point. I only barely fit into the next size down of jeans, and I have to wear really, REALLY flowy tops to disguise that fact.

I just keep reminding myself that I am further along in this weight-loss process at this point post-pregnancy than I was after I had Brigid. And most days, that works.

Most days...
Week three weigh-in Weight, as of 1/7/12 (initial BBL weigh-in): 175lbs Weight as of 1/28/12: 168lbs Weight lost: 1lb this week, 7lbs overall

Week Two

Someday, I tell myself, I will get back to a regular schedule of posting here, and every post won't be a weight loss check-in.

Unfortunately, today is not someday...

Week two weigh-in time!

Weight, as of 1/7/12 (our initial BBL weigh-in): 175lbs
Weight as of 1/21/12: 169lbs 

Weight lost: 1.5lbs this week, 6lbs overall

This week was interesting. I'd made a deal with other BBLers that I wouldn't step on the scale until our weigh-in on Monday morning, but I was feeling terrible, and I was tired of not seeing any progress from a clothing-fitting-better perspective, so I checked in a little early. Like...Thursday and Friday and Saturday early. And it seemed like I was gaining weight. So...that sucked.

But, I didn't gain weight last week. And I actually ended up losing some. And I'm happy about that, truly. I just wish this whole process wasn't such a mind screw for me. I just wish that I could watch what I eat, start working out some, and be back to my normal weight in a week or so.

I mean, that's not too much to ask for, is it?

Anyway, because I am determined to be positive about this process, I'm going to focus on a few things that DID work for me this week...

1) Yoga Studio: This is probably one of the better yoga apps I've been able to find for the iPad, and I've been searching for a good one for a looooooong time. It's $1.99, and I generally try to stick on the free side of things, but so far, I think it's been worth it. There are a bunch of app led classes, in three different experience levels (beginner/intermediate/expert), with multiple points of focus (balance/strength/flexibility), and I've only used those so far, but there is also the option of building your own classes from a laundry list of poses, if that's more your style. I find the flexibility classes to be my favorite, as running seems to be making my muscles even more tight than usual, if that's even possible.

2) Ease into 5K: Well, now, apparently this app is $2.99. But I know I didn't pay that for it when I downloaded it, so I'm assuming that's something new. But outside of that, I LOVE the C25K program. I did it for the first time when I was trying to get back in shape after having Brigid, and I'm doing it again while trying to get back in shape after having Caitlin. I only hope it sticks this time, so I'm not stuck doing it a THIRD TIME to get back in shape after just gaining a bunch of weight. I'd like to make running an ongoing part of my life, instead of something I just do when I need to fit into my clothing again.

3) Scrambled eggs with bananas: Ok, these aren't actually billed as scrambled eggs with bananas, they're listed as more of a substitution for pancakes, but basically? They're scrambled eggs with a banana. Anyway, I found this recipe on Pinterest, and even though it sounds (in theory) kind of gross, I thought I'd give it a shot. And you know what? These were actually pretty good. Bananas tend to mask the flavor of anything else you mix in with them, and the texture didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought it would. I added some PB2 chocolate powder to the mix, and drizzled some honey on top, and honestly? I could almost convince myself I was eating pancakes. I will definitely be making these again.

Any tried and true 'get healthy' tips or tricks that I'm missing? I'll take all of the help I can get!

Healthy Goals

I put on a ton of weight when I was pregnant with Caitlin. This wasn't exactly a surprise to me, since I did the same thing with Brigid, but that doesn't make me any more excited about losing the 35-40lbs I need to lose all over again now that the pregnancy is over. To up the motivational ante a little bit, I joined a group of my online friends in a Biggest Blogging Loser weight loss challenge over the next twelve weeks, with the winner (based on percentage of weight lost) taking home something like $500.

Between that and my desire to fit into more than the one pair of (normally) two-sizes-too-big jeans in my closet, I'd say my motivation to eat well and exercise has NEVER been higher. But, just to keep myself honest and on-track, I've decided I'm going to log my progress on this blog, as well.

So...the stats (and keep in mind that I'm only 5'2, ok?):
Weight, as of 1/7/12 (our initial BBL weigh-in): 175lbs
Weight as of 1/14/12: 170.5lbs

These are the easy days, comparatively speaking, when the weight comes off in larger chunks, because my body doesn't generally start fighting the process until I get closer to 150lbs. So, even though the number is still really high, I'm happy with a 4.5lb loss in week one.

And anyway, it's a good thing the scale responded as well as it did, because yesterday I was running on about four hours of sleep after my dear, sweet, lovely children decided between the two of them that 4:30am seemed like a good time for me to start my day, and ALL I wanted to do was sit around and eat the entire plate of chocolate chip cookies for lunch that my neighbor had dropped off on Sunday night, but I went with a salad and a grilled chicken breast instead, because I didn't want to undo all of the progress I'd made the week before.

I'm still a little bitter about that decision, honestly. Proud, but bitter.

Those cookies looked good, man...

(Ok, FINE. I did go ahead and have ONE with my lunch. AND IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT!!)

(Did I mention that 4:30 wake-up call? A little sugar was needed to make it through the day...)

Always Be Prepared

When I was pregnant with Brigid, I ate nothing but Oreos and ice cream for almost nine months straight, and my weight gain reflected this. So when I got pregnant with Caitlin, I swore that this time would be different. I wouldn't eat ALL F THE SUGAR IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD! I would eat healthy foods. I would work out. I wouldn't have to lose 20% of my body weight when I had the baby.

I would do this pregnancy right.

Then, I discovered soup. And not the clear broth, lots of vegetables kind of soup. The thick, creamy, nothing but cheese and whole milk kind of soup. And all of my resolve flew the coop.

So, once again, I find myself needing to lose an excessive amount of weight. And since clothing seems to be my primary motivation for doing so (meaning, I miss my favorite sweaters and skirts!!), and since most of my workout clothes are absolutely ragged, AND since the Gap outlet was offering 30-50% off of all of their Gap Body clothing, with an additional 40% off on top of that, well...
Guys! I got two pairs of boot cut compression pants, a pair of flared compression capris, and a pair of compression leggings, plus two tank tops with built-in support (which, combined with a sports bra, is the only way I can get enough support for the girls when I run), and two long-sleeve running shirts (with thumb holes! to keep the sleeves from riding up! my favorite!) for less than $80. I am all kinds of excited about this haul, over here.

Now, if only it were January 9th, when Brigid starts back to preschool, so I could actually find the time to start that Couch to 5K program I'm so excited to do again...

The Year to Come: 2013

Yesterday, I posted my final status around all of the goals I'd set for myself in 2012. And, really, I did a terrible job of following through on my list for the year. But I accomplished some of those goals, AND I had a baby, so I'm still going to consider it a successful year.


Now, it's time to move on to 2013, and I, for one, am excited for what the new year will bring.

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1) Lose the pregnancy weight.

2) Give up meat for a month.

3) Complete the Couch to 5K program.

4) Run an organized 5K.

5) Clean/reorganize my closet.


6) Take a belated anniversary trip with Steve, a long weekend somewhere without the kids.

7) Make a meal entirely on my own (I don't cook, so this might be the biggest one of the year!)

8) Create an art wall in my staircase.

9) Organize a workspace for me.

10) Attend The Blathering in Charleston.

11) Read at least one book a month.

12) Take Brigid and Caitlin to South Bend for a weekend (preferably a football weekend).

13) Research/practice meditation.

14) Find a yoga studio and start taking classes regularly.

15) Find a 'mommy and me' class of some sort for Brigid and I to attend.

16) Write something, anything, not blog related.

17) Take one lunch break a week, even if it's only 15 minutes, to sit somewhere quiet and recalibrate/reflect/replan the next few days. (when I go back to work...)

18) Start taking outfit photos again, in an effort to wear everything already in my closet instead of shopping for new items.

19) Be more consistent in updating my family blog, because my parents give me a hard time when I let it lag, and my personal blog, because I'm not as happy with myself when I let it lag.

20) Start reading my favorite blogs again, since I haven't even LOOKED at my reader feed in months, and I miss keeping up with it.

21) Find a general practitioner and get a physical.

22) Throw Brigid a NYE party next year, complete with hats, noisemakers, and fun food, since she was really excited to stay up until midnight this year, but I was so tired from the baby's schedule that we faked midnight for her at 11PM.

23) Send more mail...thank you notes, birthday cards, and 'just because' messages.

24) Try a juice fast/cleanse.

25) Decide, once and for all, what I want to be when I grow up, and formulate a plan to get myself there.