body after baby | Through Heather's Looking Glass

Body After Baby: Two Years

October 13, 2016 by Heather

Note: This post is about body image, weight loss, and eating. If this may be a trigger for you, please feel free to skip this post and come back another day!

I know it may seem a little odd to do a body after baby post so long after giving birth, but for me personally it has taken this long to really feel good about myself. I wanted to be sure other women know that if it doesn’t happen in 3, 6, 12 or 18 months, IT’S OK. Slow progress sticks around better for me anyway as opposed to a quick fix, and I much prefer lifestyle changes instead of “diets”.

For a quick refresher before we dive into the now, let’s take a look at what I looked like one month postpartum below:

and then again six months postpartum below:

and now (2 years postpartum) below:

Also here’s a shot from the day I had Emma Kate (9/24/14), and then from August of this year:

When I was 12 months postpartum, I was one pound over my pre pregnancy weight, so I weighed 151. At the time I was happy with that, but what I didn’t realize then was that I wasn’t in the best shape when I got pregnant…so getting back to my pre pregnancy weight still wasn’t my “happy weight”. I wanted to be stronger and have more muscle. I wanted to feel better, to be the best mom I could be.

I am now sitting at 143 pounds, so I have lost eight pounds since probably about mid June (yes I sat at 151 from last September until this June, fluctuating a pound or so here and there). So what changed? Well, a couple of things.

(The above photo was taken on day FOUR of eating out at restaurants for every meal. If only I had been able to take photos at the beginning of the trip!)

1.) I amped up my workouts. I was doing bootcamp 3-4 times a week and running 1-2 times a week while resting 1-2 days. It just wasn’t giving me results as fast as I would like, so I moved up to bootcamp 5 days a week and running once a week, sometimes twice. I also started running stadiums on Wednesday mornings before class. Some weeks I do take off two days, but I aim for only one day of full rest. My current schedule looks something like this:

Sunday: OFF

Monday: Boot camp

Tuesday: Boot camp

Wednesday: Stadiums and sprints at the track, HEAT class (like Orange theory)

Thursday: Boot Camp

Friday: Boot Camp

Saturday: Long run

As much as I enjoy racing and will continue to do so, it just isn’t working for me right now to run tons and tons of miles to get faster for longer distances. I would much rather be strong than fast, so it is what it is.

2.) I cleaned up my eating. I seriously loathe counting calories, but knew I at least needed an “idea” of how many calories I was eating in a day, so I counted calories for a week or so (as well as macros) just to get a good starting point. What I realized is I don’t get enough protein, and I was eating too many carbs and fats, as well as overall calories. Lots of snacking folks! After counting on My Fitness Pal, I felt like I had a firm grasp on my hunger cues, and about how much I needed to eat a day to still be able to workout hard and not feel weak.

So what happened? I started eating foods that filled me up more to fuel my tough workouts instead of empty calories. I stopped eating late at night, and I was just more mindful in general. Do I still eat candy and drink alcohol? Heck yes! But for example…if I know I’m going out with friends that night, I am more careful during the day and the day before. It’s seriously all about planning ahead and meal prep these days, and it really does pay off (I talk about meal prep more in my book!)

After a couple of weeks, I started noticing that I could SEE my muscle more in my arms, abs, and legs. It was under there the whole time, it was just hidden. Smile

I have been able to go up in weight when doing a lot of exercises, and I don’t tire out near as easily. It’s such a good feeling to be able to add that 25 pound plate at the squat rack, or use heavier dumbbells for bicep curls or kickbacks.

The beginning of November marks one year of boot camp, and if you look back and read my 12 month body after baby post, you will see I was just about to start boot camp and had a “we’ll see what happens” attitude towards it. Never did I think I would end up falling in love with it and making great friends at my gym.

I started really PUSHING myself at boot camp this summer, in spite of having been going since the end of 2015. I began not just doing the bare minimum, but really pushing myself to my limits and taking it seriously. I work out way too hard to ruin it with a bad diet or injury, so I am more careful with everything I do now. I have lost fat, gained muscle, and still managed to lose weight in the process. I honestly am not as concerned about the number on the scale though. I just want to feel good in my clothes, and have energy and confidence.

I want to be a good role model for my now two year old daughter, and teach her to work hard for the things in life she really wants. I want her to learn discipline, self love, and respect for her body. I want to run races with her, teach her how to lift, and help her find her passions.

To all the new mamas out there or mamas about to have babies, I know, I KNOW, it’s so much easier said than done, but you can get to where you want to be. Don’t get bogged down in a timeframe. Enjoy your baby, and get back to working out when YOU feel ready. It may take you two years, it may not. Don’t let the amount of time it took me scare you. But just know if it does take two years, that’s ok. Do the best that you can, making small changes one at a time. Make your health a priority, and please don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t do it all on your own. We are all in this together, and other moms understand the best just how stressful it can be, so lean on each other. If you don’t have someone who supports you wanting to get healthy, FIND SOMEONE. In real life, online, at the gym, at church, etc. Find your people. You can do this. Be BRAVE! You can have a great body after baby!

So what’s next for me? Sadly, this round of my beloved boot camp ends November 4th, and then I move to Tampa. I’m sure things will be up in the air for awhile until I find a new gym home. I hope I can find a new boot camp class as awesome as the one I have here, but it’s highly doubtful any group can compare. Smile I look forward to having more racing opportunities in Florida, and making new workout friends. Who knows what’s next? It will be a fun ride to find out.

QOTD: How long did it take you to get your body where you wanted it after having a baby? What worked for you? What hasn’t worked for you?

Filed Under: baby, blogging, fitness, health, Mental Health, motivation, pregnancy, running Tagged: body after baby, boot camp, fitness, pregnancy, running, weight loss

Body After Baby: 12 Months

September 30, 2015 by Heather

Note: This post is about body image, weight loss, and eating. If this may be a trigger for you, please feel free to skip this post and come back tomorrow. I have an exciting announcement for that post!

Well, here we are. I had a baby a year ago. Today is actually my due date, but we all know Emma KAte was a week old by the 30th last year! The excuse of “I just had a baby” can no longer be used. trust me, I milked it as long as I could. Honesty moment: I always used to roll my eyes when people said they can’t get rid of the baby weight. I mean really, it can’t be THAT hard right? Well, it IS hard, but it is also doable. I have realized you have to really want it more than those chips and queso, and honestly, sometimes I just really want the chips and queso, yall.

In the beginning, the weight came off really fast. I got cocky, and thought I would be back to my old weight in no time. I think I lost something like 17 or so pounds in the first few days. (I gained right at 30).

One month postpartum

I stopped breastfeeding after a month, and I know that didn’t help matters. Between November and March I actually GAINED weight while marathon training (I always gain about 3-5 pounds marathon training), so that was really frustrating.

end of March 2015, 6 months postpartum

I looked at myself in April/May and was not happy with my progress and knew I needed to get serious if I wanted to see changes. I had a come to Jesus meeting with myself after I got back from Disney in May and had gained weight again. I was 8/10 pounds from my pre pregnancy weight, and 15 pounds form my “happy weight.” I knew it was my eating, because I was working out plenty, but I also knew I wasn’t doing the right kinds of workouts.

I decided right then that I was going to be more mindful of my eating . There have been some ups and downs since then, but overall my attitude towards food has greatly improved. I thought when we bought Orange Leaf, that I would gain a ton of weight eating frozen yogurt every day, but I actually LOST weight because in the beginning I was working 13 hour days at the store 3-4 days a week, running back and forth, on my feet all day, with no time to snack. So yeah, froyo was my lunch some days, but there was no mindless snacking all day long. However, because of my crazy work schedule, I have only been working out 3-4 days a week since August. My half marathon training plan got completely derailed, and I started just kind of floating through the weeks.

September 2015, almost 12 months postpartum

My new plan is to continue running 3 days a week, but I am also going to sign up for a special 6 week HIIT class at my gym that starts the beginning of November. I think the accountability will be good for me and just what I am needing right now. Between now and then I plan to do some strength training on my own 1-2 days a week as time allows. I don’t really have much of a “plan” other than that right now. We have a lot of personal things up in the air at this moment so I feel I’m not in the best place to make concrete plans far out in the future. I know I’m rambling a bit, I guess I’m just lacking focus an direction at the moment, but I know it is just part of it, and that it will come back to me.

12 months postpartum

With that being said, I am currently ONE POUND away from my pre pregnancy weight. Of course I would love to be AT my pre pregnancy weight, but close enough, right? However, when I got pregnant I was about 5-8 pounds over my happy weight, so I still have a little bit to go, and I’m hoping the HIIT class will give my body a nice shake up and be just what I need. I want to gain MUSCLE and be STRONG. (PLEASE note, that I understand it’s not all about the scale. I could stay at this exact “weight” but have muscle mass and fit into my clothes better and be perfectly happy, I am simply giving a range based on the past.) I am happiest with myself when I feel strong, and I think that is what I have been missing since having Emma Kate. Sure my arms aren’t that bad from picking up my 24 pound child, but I feel quite flabby. I’m not after being skinny, I’m after being ripped! I think that will help with my running, too.

So, here we are, one year later. On the right path, but not there yet. I plan to “check in” again in a few months, maybe 3, maybe 6, I’m not sure yet, to check on my progress. I hope you will follow along with me. I have a lot to learn and a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I’m excited for it! Time to get stronger and faster!

QOTD: Have you ever been in a fitness rut? Do you struggle more with food or working out?

Filed Under: baby, blogging, fitness, food, health, motivation, pregnancy, running Tagged: body after baby, fitness, Health, running, weight, weight loss

Body After Baby: 9 Months

June 24, 2015 by Heather

Well, it’s official! Emma Kate has been in this world for nine months today! When I was pregnant, I always heard people say to go easy on myself as far as weight loss goes, that it takes nine months to gain it, so it takes nine months to lose it. I had always given myself this “deadline” to be back at my pre baby weight, but yall…it’s hard.

A few observations. I am still about 5 pounds from my pre baby weight, HOWEVER, I have a lot more muscle than I had in the months leading up to getting pregnant. I am more going by how my clothes fit than the number on the scale. Don’t get me wrong, a LOT of my old clothes still don’t fit me. My body is shaped differently now, which is still weird to me, but not much I can do about that one!

I’m still not where I want to be, but I actually feel like in the last two months I have made some progress! It feels good to feel like you can see tangible evidence of change, so I wanted to share what has been working for ME the past two months.

1.) Running less. I know, weird, but I think my body is so used to running I’m just not seeing changes with miles on top of miles on top of miles. My body needs something to be mixed up a bit.

2.) Lifting and cross training more. I have been doing random You Tube videos and lifting at home. I just haven’t felt much like going to the gym lately. I either do HITT workouts, abs, arms, or legs and I alternate days.

3.) Drinking A TON of water. I feel like I’m drowning, but I think it’s helping me to not eat as much. I think a lot of time I was really thirsty and not hungry. Plus it’s getting so hot here the water helps keep me from feeling sluggish and getting headaches.

4.) Mindful eating. This is the big one for me, and what has caused the most change. I am great at justifying dessert or junk food, but lately I have been really THINKING about my eating decisions. I do a lot of mindless eating, so I have been trying to really just PAY ATTENTION, and after every bite, think if I am full or if I want to eat some more. I don’t NEED dessert after dinner every night, and I don’t NEED to order sweet tea when I go to my favorite restaurant. These little changes have been adding up, and I know I am headed in the right direction. I have even been eating a handful of salads (gasp!). Also I have been making a ton of smoothies with fruit, greens, and protein powder for breakfast or lunch, which are filling and healthy. I am buying a lot less junk so it’s not even in my house to tempt me. However, this past weekend with my birthday party and family in town I didn’t eat so great, but getting back on track now!

I still want to firm up and drop a few more pounds, but I know it takes time, and slow and steady is the way to go. I refuse to deprive myself of ALL yummy treats, but I am working on the definition of moderation right now. Smile

I feel good, and I am getting a lot of sleep which is also SUPER helpful for me. It’s not fun, but I force myself to go to bed between 9 and 9:30 every night so I get adequate rest. It’s worth it to me!

I will check back in at the one year mark and see where I am. Hopefully I am stronger and still proud of myself. I just want to keep working hard, and making good choices.

QOTD: Did your body shape change after you had kids? Did you build more muscle?

Filed Under: baby, blogging, fitness, running Tagged: body after baby, muscle, running, weight, weight loss, workout

Body After Baby: Four Months

February 5, 2015 by Heather

Hey guys! Sorry this month’s update is a little late, but I wanted to get it written. After this month’s post, I will skip month 5 and do a 6, 9, and 12 month update. Progress is much slower month to month now, so there isn’t as much to say, but here we go!

I am now 4 months postpartum, and January was a tough one. Coming off of the holidays not really losing any weight, and the cold made for slow progress. Also, I dove head first into marathon training, and when I do lots of long runs, I eat. When I marathon train I typically gain a little weight because I am hungry ALL THE TIME, so this has been a tricky balance.

I joined the gym, but am not happy with their childcare situation, so I’m not sure what to do about that one. So, because of this, I haven’t gone as often as I would like. I have been going on Tuesday and Thursday when Emma Kate is at daycare for part of the day, but then that cuts into my time to work so it has been difficult. I try to make it at least one more time, whether it be when Bobby comes home from work or on Saturday when Bobby can watch EK, but, I also need to long run on Saturday so again, haven’t really found a balance yet.

My weight fluctuates a lot, but I am pretty sure I only lost .5-1 pound this past month. I’m not sure what to think of it, except hopefully it will be easier once the marathon is over and I’m not running so many miles. Since I have such limited time to workout, I have really only been running. I run 5 days a week as opposed to my ideal which is to run 3 days a week, and cross train/strength train 2-3 days a week.

I still feel much “thicker” in the middle, and have about 9-9.5 pounds to go to be where I would like to be. I feel like my body has shifted where my weight is held, and I am just shaped differently now. I would be lying if I said looking back on old photos didn’t irritate me a bit.

I successfully ran my first post baby half marathon, and am looking forward to running the runDisney Princess half marathon at the end of this month. I am running with Jen, and we are running for fun/stopping to take lots of character photos etc., so thankfully there is no pressure.

I am still taking my Advocare products, the Catalyst and Spark seem to give me an extra boost in my workouts so I don’t feel as tired, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to eat all the things after. I have recently started taking another one of their products, called Fibo-trim, that will hopefully help with my portion control.

I FEEL good which is really important to me, and I have been sleeping well, but I know if I can get a few more pounds off it will help my running and my confidence. I can finally fit into my old runningskirts.com athletic skirts (they are cut a bit bigger than the running skirts) so that was a nice surprise, I was able to wear one under my tutu at my race in New Orleans. I have a ton of cute workout clothes I am dying to get back into, so hopefully soon!

Be looking for another update at the end of March for my 6 month progress, and hopefully I will have more to report by then!

QOTD: When you train for a race and log a lot of miles do you eat more/feel more hungry?

Filed Under: Advocare, baby, fitness, health, motivation, running, Running Skirts Tagged: body after baby, gym, half marathon, motivation, racing, running, weight loss

Body After Baby: Three Months

January 1, 2015 by Heather

Time for my three month body after baby update. Again, feel free to skip if this isn’t your thing. Keeping track helps me stay motivated through tough months (like this one). Has anyone ever tried losing weight between Thanksgiving and Christmas? It’s crazy hard!

I’d safety say I lost between one and two pounds this month. I’m still not a member of the gym, so my only means of workouts have been running. I ran between two and three days a week in December, and will be finally able to join the gym in January since Emma Kate will go to daycare for five hours a day two days a week, woo hoo!

I am still about 10 pounds or so from my happy weight, and now that all the holiday temptations and excuses are over, I feel like I will better be able to focus on my health.

Also, I mentioned yesterday on Instagram that I was invited by ASICS to run the LA marathon in March. Surprise! I will post more about it later, but for now, just know that I am terrified about running a full marathon less than 6 months postpartum! I know I can do it, but it’s going to be tough work getting my mileage back up by March. Luckily I have a great coach. More on that later, too!

Side shot, not sucking in. Still have some belly fat to firm up, but I knew that would be the hardest part!

I went ahead and allowed myself to indulge and have fun with food around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but now I am buckling down. I am doing the Advocare herbal cleanse, taking my Omegaplex and catalyst as well as spark and every other day I drink a meal replacement shake for lunch. (You can purchase from my advocare store from the link above). I’m still trying to decide which spark flavor is my favorite, but I’m currently loving fruit punch!

My hair is still coming out in huge clumps, and now I understand what moms meant when they said they thought they may go bald! Luckily I had very thick hair to begin with. Other than that, I am feeling pretty good. I think my body is more “back to normal” this month as far as how I feel. When I run I can tell there is still extra weight on my body, but that is to be expected. Now that I am going back to lifting weights again, I am excited to see myself get stronger.

With the LA marathon thrown into the mix now, I will have to do some very long runs which will be tough to schedule because of the baby, but at least it’s just for a couple of months and will hopefully be a good motivator for awhile. My longest run to date is 10 miles which I ran the day after Christmas. I have Rock ‘n Roll New Orleans half marathon coming up in less than a month, and I am excited and nervous for my comeback!

QOTD: How did you handle eating during the holidays? Strict? indulge a lot? In moderation?

Filed Under: baby, fitness, health, motivation, pregnancy, running Tagged: 3 months after baby, body after baby, marathon, postpartum running, postpartum weightloss, running, training

Body After Baby: Two Months

December 5, 2014 by Heather

I know I am a little late, but better late than never! I can’t believe another month has come and gone and it’s time for another update. I know these updates aren’t liked by all, and that’s ok. For me though, I found body after baby posts SO helpful when I was pregnant. If I had not read what other bloggers had to say, I would have had very unrealistic expectations of what to expect from myself. I wouldn’t have known that a lot of weight comes off at first but then slows down or stops completely. I wouldn’t have known that it would take a long time for me to feel like myself again physically, and I would have felt very alone.

I take my workouts seriously, and while some people think I should spend every waking moment staring at my new baby and not worry about running, the reality of it is I NEED to workout to get out of the house and get away from her for a bit. #KeepingItReal. I have only been running 3-4 days a week, so I have plenty of time and days to spend with her, but mama needs some alone time, too. Smile

So, it is my hope that maybe talking about my progress and struggles will help someone else going through the same thing.

Just over two months. Also the day after Thanksgiving. Not the smartest time to take a photo!

I still have a belly pooch, but I feel like last month it started up at my ribs and went down to my hips, and this month it is just above my hips. Progress, people!

Month two’s progress was a lot slower than month one. The scale says something different every day, but I think it’s safe to say I lost around two pounds this month. This puts be about 7 pounds away from my pre pregnancy weight, and about 10-12 from my happy weight. It’s a really difficult time of year to try to get back to the way I was! I have not joined a gym yet because they don’t have childcare until the babies are six months old, but I’m thinking in January I will join anyway because I really want to start firming up again.

My running has been going pretty well. I am up to six miles as my longest run, and I will bump up to seven tomorrow. I’m still behind where I wanted to be by now as far as mileage, but as long as I can complete Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans, I will be happy. There won’t be any PR’s but that’s ok. I have been struggling a bit with my IT band and the neuroma in my left foot, but I am managing with foam rolling, KT tape, and ibuprofen.

I haven’t been very strict with my eating because of the holidays, but I figure as long as I am making progress and taking baby steps then I am happy. I did the Advocare fiber cleanse, and I have been taking Omegaplex, Catalyst, and spark. (You can purchase any of these products from me here.) The spark is especially helpful in giving me energy when I REALLY don’t feel like working out.

Other post baby changes going on with my body are not so fun. My hair is falling out in HUGE CLUMPS! Luckily I have super thick hair so I’m not worried about it getting too thin, but it’s really weird and there is hair all over my house. Also, my face that was so smooth and clear during pregnancy is now breaking out like I’m 13 again. My linea nigra is still there but fading, but I am overall feeling more like myself.

Confession: I still cannot fit into any of my pre baby jeans/pants, so I pretty much wear yoga pants every day. Thank goodness it’s winter so I can wear tights and long tunics as well. Smile

My goals for this next month are to make it through Christmas without gaining a bunch of weight, and to keep upping my running mileage. Also, injury maintenance is a must. I am doing more stretching and foam rolling to help my body recover well. I am pleased with my progress, and it’s neat to think that just two months ago my body did something really amazing and now I am out running longer distances again. I am quite proud!

QOTD: Did you have a reality check post baby as far as weight loss or workouts? How do you stay healthy during the holidays?

Filed Under: Advocare, baby, fitness, health, motivation, running Tagged: body after baby, fitness, post pregnancy, running

Body After Baby: One Month

October 29, 2014 by Heather

I posted Emma Kate’s one month update last week, and now it’s time for my update! I know these types of posts can be kind of touchy, so please keep in mind 1.) I have been cleared by my doctor for running, and 2.) These are MY personal feelings on my body, my progress, etc. Everyone is different, some people don’t care about working out again after a baby or losing the weight, but it is important for me to have goals and milestones to keep myself going.

I lost 17 pounds in the first ten days post partum. I was feeling great about myself and thought “hey, this isn’t so hard! I am still eating like I am pregnant and not working out, this is great!” But then..I stalled. From day 17 until now I have lost exactly one pound.

I know this is normal, but it can still be frustrating. But, as they say, it took 9 months for me to gain it, so I just need to be patient.

It’s not as much about the way I look, but more about the way I feel. I am chafing in places I never chaffed before, feel heavy on my feet running, and can’t fit into any of my pants or shorts which makes me feel uncomfortable. I’m back in most of my regular tops, but still in maternity bottoms (and stretchy forgiving capri pants to run in!)

For month two I am going to focus more on what I am eating. I know I formed some bad habits while I was pregnant and I need to break them. Right now my biggest issue is time. I am so busy with my job and the baby I am having a hard time fitting in anything else. Working out is something that keeps me sane and calm, so when I don’t get to do it I am even more stressed. I am home alone with her all day, and sometimes Bobby works odd hours which can make it difficult to get a workout in other than walking the baby in the stroller.

So how exactly are my workouts going? Slow, but I am doing more at this stage than I thought I would be doing which makes me proud. Last week I ran four times. Well, run/walked. 2 miles twice and 2.25 miles twice. Yesterday I ran/walked 3 miles, a new post baby PDR. It’s slow, but I am building my base back up for my upcoming races that I cannot wait to run, I miss it!

QOTD: When did you go back to working out after you had a baby? Do you struggle more with workouts or eating right?

Filed Under: baby, fitness, health, motivation, running Tagged: body after baby, fitness, Health, running, weight loss, workout

My Post Baby Shape Up Plan

October 16, 2014 by Heather

Now that I am three weeks postpartum, I have started thinking about my post baby shape up plan. Even though I had a pretty good tear during delivery, my doctor gave me the ok to start going on slow strolls when I got home, and slowly resume workouts after two weeks if I felt up to it. I went for one walk a week and a half after Emma Kate was born, and then another two days ago, for one hour with her in the BOB Revolution SE.

Be looking for a full review of this awesome stroller in the next month. I am loving it so far, and luckily Emma Kate loves going for walks! It’s really easy to maneuver and is so smooth, but more on that later.

Up until about day 19 I was seriously questioning my ability to get back into workouts. I was still not feeling “normal” from the delivery physically, and was experiencing pain and pressure, but I can honestly say I just woke up and turned a corner the other day, and now feel more confident in my ability to get going again. So, here is my “plan” to SLOWY get back into shape. Please keep in mind I am in no hurry, am not frantic about losing the weight, but I do feel if I don’t have a true plan outlined I will just kind of flounder around not really getting anywhere, so here goes:

1.) Cut back on the junk: My very sweet friends from church and my family have been bringing us meals for the past three weeks. This has been SO wonderful, but now that it is ending I am going to have to get back into cooking again, and not eating so much junk during the day. I cut myself slack the first three weeks because I was sleep deprived, still learning this whole mom thing and what not, but it’s time to stop making excuses. I can still be sleep deprived and eat healthy!

2.) Walk every other day until four weeks post partum, then start walk/running 2-3 times a week: Going on my one hour walk on Monday really boosted my confidence. Granted, it was a SLOW walk, but I was pushing the baby in the BOB. I plan to continue to walk, especially since the weather is nice this week, and am hoping next week to start a Galloway-type run/walk/run until I am strictly back to running and not walking. I do have some races coming up in early 2015!

new shoes make getting outside a lot easier!

3.) Join a gym at the beginning of November: When we first moved back up here in the summer, Bobby joined a local gym. I was getting to the very uncomfortable stage of pregnancy where all I was doing was walking, so I thought I would save some money and wait and join the gym after the baby came. By 4 weeks post partum I think I will be ready to start doing some light weight lifting and cross training. It will feel good to be back at a gym again!

4.) Keep track of my progress: If I don’t keep track of what I am doing to where I can see my progress, I am more likely to give up. I have been using my Aria wi-fi scale to track my weight, and will continue to do so and plan to go back to wearing my fit bit to help me keep track of what I am doing during the day.

QOTD: Any tips for getting back into shape post baby?

Filed Under: fitness, health, pregnancy Tagged: body after baby, fitness, Health, post baby, running, workout

Getting Back to It: Exercise After Baby

September 3, 2013 by Heather

Hey guys! Please enjoy another guest post! I come home tomorrow, and have so much to share with you. I cannot wait, so stay tuned!

Well around here it is Back to School time. I have watched the kids all summer having fun sleeping in and enjoying the break.

As a mom with no school age kids living with me I have yet to experience how hard it is to get your kids back into school mode. I can relate in another way though.

I call it Body after Baby. I have had 2 babies. Now I am done and trying to get my body back in running form.

After suffering a miscarriage before each of my babies I have always tried to take it easy. I know that it is perfectly fine to run and exercise while pregnant but I wasn’t taking any chances.

Just before finding out I was pregnant with my daughter I was running 8 miles a day. When I was 6 weeks pregnant with her I walked/ran a half marathon. I could barely walk afterward. I decided after that to take it easy.
I walked every once in a while and gained 70 pounds with her. I was not happy about it but I was glad she came to this world safely. I started running again after about 4 months post partum. I just could not get into it. I hated the way I looked and could not get into the mood to change it. We knew that we would try for one more child before my daughter turned 2 so I wasn’t really trying.
I trained for the TinkerBell Half Marathon and ran it in January 2012. I had suffered a miscarriage the previous September but continued to train.
About 6 weeks later I found out I was expecting my son. I knew from exercising something was not right. I was out of breath and could not get through my workouts. Sure enough I was pregnant. That was March 2012 and I knew that I wanted to try and be healthier this pregnancy and be able to get back to running quicker so I walked. A Lot!

I gained about 50 pounds with my son. I just gain a lot during pregnancy I guess. I had him in November. I live in cold country so getting outside to walk or run was not possible with a newborn.

I do have a great support system from my husband but I wanted to find a way to exercise with my children.
I knew I had to get creative about working out or I would not get it done.

We walk a lot. I got a Baby Trend Double Jogging Stroller, which I love. We walk about 5 miles a day when the weather allows.

When the weather is not so cooperative we have done some creative things

We have gone to the gym:

We do home videos like T25 and Insanity. I say WE because you can see it is a group effort.

We go to the park and use the equipment there. I sometimes just use the walking path while the littles play.

I love being active with my kids. It shows them I am being active and I spend quality time with them.

I have lost all my pregnancy weight. From the second one. I still have 20 pounds to go from my daughter.

I will do it. Even if I don’t I am setting an active lifestyle example for my children.

It has been hard to get back into exercise after a baby but they depend on me and I plan on being here for a long time.

I am getting back into racing slowly. I have signed up for a relay and a half marathon.

Come find out how I have do over at Running through MommyLand. We are full of adventures over there.

Filed Under: family, fitness, Guest Post, motivation, running Tagged: body after baby, exercise after baby, guest post, running