Beginning a new year adds the pressure of new goals. We have been trained to come up with much anticipated New Years resolutions from birth. This year is no different. I posted on my Facebook page just days before New Years day that I had already begun my fitness goals for the year. My brother knew I really wanted Lindsey Brin's Pretty Fierce workout and I have had my eye on the day I could start this for over a year. Yes, one has to be at least six months out of a pregnancy to even attempt the program. For those of you who know my track record, I often don't make it to six months post baby before there is another baby, but this year is different and I can finally tackle my goal.
In the last nine years I have been pregnant six times, often breastfeeding while pregnant, and watched my body disappear into mommy marshmallow. I know this is unfair to complain about since having babies in the first place is a gift, but I do not know one mommy who is thrilled with stretchmarks, something that once may have been a toned stomach, and limbs that are rounded out a little bit more these days. My husband got mad at me for not putting a photo of us on the family Christmas card and I have to admit it was because I was ashamed of how I looked. I have even put tons of work into staying in shape and I still feel this way.
Before I had kids I was somewhere between 97 and 100 pounds always. I could eat a burger and fries and not notice a different. Now I have gotten up to 134 pounds towards the end of a pregnancy and found myself in the 125 pound range after the birth. It has taken me six months to get to around 120 pounds this time around and I have to say I was around that after the birth. In fact, I started working out and gained six pounds! This is not fun at all. It's muscle right? I hope so. I will say my clothing is just starting to feel like it might be slightly too big.
I promised myself I would never get hung up on weight, but that was before I knew what babies did to the female body! People promised me breastfeeding helps, for me I just gained more weight. Yes, one needs some extra to support breastfeeding, but probably not an extra twenty pounds. I love my babies and one does not breastfeed for eight years straight and not value all that mamma's milk has to offer. However, liquid gold for my baby does not make me want to put on an actual outfit only to realize it may never fit again.
So I failed my promise. I got hung up of baby weight I searched for a solution. It takes two years to get your body back, the articles say. Did these woman have babies fourteen months apart? I doubt it. Do I have to add another two years per baby to get a realistic sense of where my body went? Then I found Lindsey Brin's website momsintofitness.com and it changed my perspective on things. I wish I would have known these things around baby number one and then maybe by baby six I would just bounce back to me, but it is never too late. With baby number five it took me forever to get rid of any baby weight and this is when I started Lindsey's workouts. I used them for my pregnancy and this is probably the 5th or 6th time I am raving. I never thought my stomach would be strong again, it is. In fact with baby number six I think my labor was easier because of all the workouts.
Now I am working of Pretty Fierce, my baby is seven months old. I looked at the scale and it said 120.5 pounds when I started five days ago. I only hope this means I might see below 120 again, it will be the first time since Ellianna was a baby. When you are 4'11 like me every five pounds is like ten for normally tall people. I have felt round. In five days I feel hungrier than ever, so I hope I can keep my eating under control, but I know the workouts must be working then. My core feels strong already, but it is only getting stronger. I am also thrilled I can keep up with everything in the videos well. Pretty Fierce starts with a goal of working out every day for two weeks! I have been working out five or six days a week, but I know those days off have really helped me stay motivated. We'll see how these two weeks go. After five days I feel great, so the next few days will be fine, it will be the end of next week I might start complaining. I plan to keep my readers honestly posted. If I gain six pounds again I will tell you. Oh and the 120.5 pounds was from after being sick, so maybe add a pound for a more realistic take on things.
When does a mom of six have time to work out? I set the alarm for 5:40, feed the baby, drag him out to play while I workout and they you go. It is possible. The workouts are around 30 minutes long so Isaiah is happy enough for that time.
My biggest hurdles for my goals are baked goodies (I love to bake cookies) and chocolate. Other than that my diet is super healthy, but when I workout, I have to turn off the voice that says, this extra cookie is worth it. Stick to one I need to tell myself. Only one slice of pie, cake, half a bear paw....these are all weaknesses. I had a bear paw today in fact...um, not the best choice, but it tasted really good. So you see I am far from perfect. Can far from perfect me get back to around 100 pounds again?
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