Tonight I started another 5 weeks of Ufit bootcamp with my good friends, Sherri and Jill! It's been 2 weeks since the end of our last 5 week session. This is a new group of people, a new time and a new location. Lots of excitement! :) I've been looking forward to it all week. I've continued with my exercise over the last 2 weeks, but have "fallen off the wagon" a bit with my eating. I may or may not have eaten 4 pieces of Greco pizza last night. Cringe! It doesn't make sense, but when I'm working my butt off at bootcamp, I eat way better. I figure if I'm paying the money for bootcamp and if I'm working that hard, I don't want it to be for nothing. On the other hand, when I'm not working out as much, I tend to eat more and not feel as guilty. So...I was excited to get back to bootcamp and back on track with my eating. The scale said 147.7 this past Monday. 7.7 pounds to go...
Bootcamp was hard (as usual), but it felt amazing to be back. Here's the surprising thing: not once did I feel like throwing up or passing out. This is rare. Either my fitness level is improving, or tonight's workout was easier than usual! lol. Don't get me wrong - it was still hard. I was as red as a fire truck. I was breathing hard (that's actually an understatement). Sweat was dripping on the floor during push ups. My arms were ON FIRE. My legs felt like Jello. However, I felt different than usual. I felt energized, like I could take on the world.
When I got into my car after the workout, I felt like a million bucks. I was proud of myself! I had more energy than I knew what to do with. I blared a favourite Kelly Clarkson song and sang at the top of my lungs. I seriously felt like I could go for a run and probably would have if I didn't have a baby to get home to! I remember feeling like this in the past after a Ufit class. I would go to a class in Stratford and feel so energized after that I would head up to the track for a run. I like to call this the "post workout high"! If you haven't experienced it before, I highly recommend that you do! Everyone deserves to feel like a million bucks, even if it's just for a minute! :)
Exercise is powerful. It can make you feel confident, energized and just plain HAPPY! I feel so lucky to have found a form of exercise that I love. Instead of dreading my workouts, I look forward to them. Can't wait to see what the next 5 weeks will bring!
I returned home from bootcamp to a very sad baby. My Mom and Dad were over watching her and she was having some major belly pains. When I walked in the door, she was in my Mom's arms, tears streaming down her little face. I got a couple of quick smiles when she saw me, but they quickly changed to screaming as she was bothered by another pain. Poor little thing - breaks my heart to see her in pain. The only good thing to come out of it is my "Moment full of Grace" for today. When I put my arms out to get her from my Mom, she reached for me with her arms out! This is something that she's been doing a bit the last couple of weeks, but we keep saying that it's a fluke. I honestly believe now that she is putting her arms out to us! ADORABLE! I love when babies do that! :)
March 31, 2011
March 30, 2011
I Miss You, Sleep!
Warning: this post will not be uplifting and positive. It will be downright grumpy.
I love sleep. I was always one of those people that got no less than 8 hours of sleep each night. On weekends, I would often sleep in until close to noon, no matter what time I'd gone to bed. I've been known to sleep 12+ hours/night. When I got pregnant, I fully understood that having a baby meant dealing with a lack of sleep. I knew that there would be good days and bad days. I knew what I was getting into and I was prepared to deal with it, because I knew that it would all be worth it.
Well, I thought I knew what I was getting into. What I didn't realize was that the sleep issues would not resolve themselves after a month! I guess I just assumed that after a couple of months, she would be sleeping well without any intervention. This is where I was wrong! Grace is now over 6 months old and is still up many times each night. She fights naps during the day and I feel like in the run of a day, she spends more time fighting sleep than actually sleeping. When she wakes up, her idea of self-soothing is to scream at the top of her lungs until I can't handle it anymore and go in to pick her up. Most nights, the only way I can get her calmed down is to nurse her back to sleep (trust me - I know it's the wrong thing to do, but when you're sleep deprived, you'll do anything to get them back to sleep)!
There are so many books out there full of advice on what to do to get your baby to sleep. Everyone has different opinions on what works and what doesn't. It's overwhelming. It's intimidating. It sucks. I don't want to leave my baby to cry until she throws up. I don't want to spend an hour picking her up and putting her back down (especially in the middle of the night). I just want her to sleep!!! The worst thing is that she'll have a good night or 2 of sleep and I'll get excited about the change. Then, she'll have the worst night ever (like last night) and I'll feel like we're starting all over again.
I really wish that babies could tell you what's bothering them. Last night, there was definitely something bothering Grace (I think...unless she's really good at fooling me). She woke up every hour or so, screaming at the top of her lungs. The soother didn't work. Rocking didn't work. Pacing the floors didn't work. Nursing didn't even work at times. Her belly seemed to be the problem. She's been having some major gas pains and stomach issues since starting solid foods. She has acid reflux and I'm not sure if it has been aggravated by the food or if it's totally unrealated. Again...if only she could tell me. Anyone have any suggestions of how to help with gas pains? We've done Ovol, Gripe Water, belly massage, pushing legs up...it all provides temporary relief, but then bothers her in another hour or so. It could also be teething. She has been chewing and drooling more than usual the last couple of days, but there's no sign of teeth.
I often wonder what I will do if Grace is still not sleeping when I return to work in September. There's no way I could be up all night and then at work all day. I'd be one cranky teacher! Hopefully some changes will happen before then and Grace will realize just how glorious sleep is!
I will say that despite the lack of sleep, Grace is still a happy baby for the most part. She woke up with a smile this morning and I know that there will be many moments today when I will wonder how I could have gotten so annoyed with her last night. I love her with all my heart and wouldn't trade her for anything (even a full night's sleep)! We will push forward with our day and pretend that we are rested. I will drag my butt to my workout and use every ounce of energy I have left. Then, I will come home and crash. For today, I will let her nap on top of me if she wants. We will snuggle up on the couch and as she lays there sleeping peacefully, I will thank my lucky stars for my beautiful baby girl. I won't think for one second about the horrible night we had. I just need to keep telling myself, "Today is a new day. Tonight will be better".
Today's "Moment full of Grace" is not one specific occurence, but something that happens all the time. I think that babies are fascinating and I could sit all day and just watch them. It's truly amazing to see them explore new things. They are so excited about the world around them. I'm one of those Moms that gets overly excited when my baby does something new. My voice gets high pitched, my eyes are as wide as saucers and my expressions are embarassing! I remember the first time that Grace reached for the toys on her vibrating chair, the first time she took her soother out on her own and the first time she discovered her feet. I know that these are silly little moments, but to me they are milestones. Every little thing she does is a milestone. I love the way that her face looks when she does something new. She always has a big smile for me and looks so proud of herself, like she knows that she is impressing me! Santa brought Grace a jumperoo for Christmas. In the beginning, it was way too big and her little feet couldn't touch the floor (see picture below). Just recently, she has been able to fit into it, but hasn't had any clue what to do. She just stands there, playing with the toys. Well, this week, she learned how to jump! :) I will never forget the look on her face the first time that she got into a little jumping fit. She was smiling from ear to ear and she let out one of her high pitched squeals that she does when she's excited. She was SO proud of herself! Nothing mattered in that moment except for that expression on her face. :)
One last thing...I just got sad after posting these pictures, because LOOK HOW BIG SHE HAS GOTTEN! Ugh...they grow up too fast!!!
I love sleep. I was always one of those people that got no less than 8 hours of sleep each night. On weekends, I would often sleep in until close to noon, no matter what time I'd gone to bed. I've been known to sleep 12+ hours/night. When I got pregnant, I fully understood that having a baby meant dealing with a lack of sleep. I knew that there would be good days and bad days. I knew what I was getting into and I was prepared to deal with it, because I knew that it would all be worth it.
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| Those were the days! My peaceful little sleeper at 1 week old. |
Well, I thought I knew what I was getting into. What I didn't realize was that the sleep issues would not resolve themselves after a month! I guess I just assumed that after a couple of months, she would be sleeping well without any intervention. This is where I was wrong! Grace is now over 6 months old and is still up many times each night. She fights naps during the day and I feel like in the run of a day, she spends more time fighting sleep than actually sleeping. When she wakes up, her idea of self-soothing is to scream at the top of her lungs until I can't handle it anymore and go in to pick her up. Most nights, the only way I can get her calmed down is to nurse her back to sleep (trust me - I know it's the wrong thing to do, but when you're sleep deprived, you'll do anything to get them back to sleep)!
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| I felt the need to post these sleeping pictures as a reminder to myself that she does sleep sometimes! |
There are so many books out there full of advice on what to do to get your baby to sleep. Everyone has different opinions on what works and what doesn't. It's overwhelming. It's intimidating. It sucks. I don't want to leave my baby to cry until she throws up. I don't want to spend an hour picking her up and putting her back down (especially in the middle of the night). I just want her to sleep!!! The worst thing is that she'll have a good night or 2 of sleep and I'll get excited about the change. Then, she'll have the worst night ever (like last night) and I'll feel like we're starting all over again.
I really wish that babies could tell you what's bothering them. Last night, there was definitely something bothering Grace (I think...unless she's really good at fooling me). She woke up every hour or so, screaming at the top of her lungs. The soother didn't work. Rocking didn't work. Pacing the floors didn't work. Nursing didn't even work at times. Her belly seemed to be the problem. She's been having some major gas pains and stomach issues since starting solid foods. She has acid reflux and I'm not sure if it has been aggravated by the food or if it's totally unrealated. Again...if only she could tell me. Anyone have any suggestions of how to help with gas pains? We've done Ovol, Gripe Water, belly massage, pushing legs up...it all provides temporary relief, but then bothers her in another hour or so. It could also be teething. She has been chewing and drooling more than usual the last couple of days, but there's no sign of teeth.
I often wonder what I will do if Grace is still not sleeping when I return to work in September. There's no way I could be up all night and then at work all day. I'd be one cranky teacher! Hopefully some changes will happen before then and Grace will realize just how glorious sleep is!
I will say that despite the lack of sleep, Grace is still a happy baby for the most part. She woke up with a smile this morning and I know that there will be many moments today when I will wonder how I could have gotten so annoyed with her last night. I love her with all my heart and wouldn't trade her for anything (even a full night's sleep)! We will push forward with our day and pretend that we are rested. I will drag my butt to my workout and use every ounce of energy I have left. Then, I will come home and crash. For today, I will let her nap on top of me if she wants. We will snuggle up on the couch and as she lays there sleeping peacefully, I will thank my lucky stars for my beautiful baby girl. I won't think for one second about the horrible night we had. I just need to keep telling myself, "Today is a new day. Tonight will be better".
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| "Good morning, Mommy!" |
Today's "Moment full of Grace" is not one specific occurence, but something that happens all the time. I think that babies are fascinating and I could sit all day and just watch them. It's truly amazing to see them explore new things. They are so excited about the world around them. I'm one of those Moms that gets overly excited when my baby does something new. My voice gets high pitched, my eyes are as wide as saucers and my expressions are embarassing! I remember the first time that Grace reached for the toys on her vibrating chair, the first time she took her soother out on her own and the first time she discovered her feet. I know that these are silly little moments, but to me they are milestones. Every little thing she does is a milestone. I love the way that her face looks when she does something new. She always has a big smile for me and looks so proud of herself, like she knows that she is impressing me! Santa brought Grace a jumperoo for Christmas. In the beginning, it was way too big and her little feet couldn't touch the floor (see picture below). Just recently, she has been able to fit into it, but hasn't had any clue what to do. She just stands there, playing with the toys. Well, this week, she learned how to jump! :) I will never forget the look on her face the first time that she got into a little jumping fit. She was smiling from ear to ear and she let out one of her high pitched squeals that she does when she's excited. She was SO proud of herself! Nothing mattered in that moment except for that expression on her face. :)
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| Grace in her Jumperoo December 26, 2010 |
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| Grace in her Jumperoo March 14, 2011 |
March 28, 2011
My "Home Sweet Home"
When I graduated with my Bachelor of Education in 2008, I made a really tough decision and moved out west (to Fort McMurray) to work. My husband came along with me, as well as a couple of friends. We knew all along that it was a short term move for us. We had recently gotten married and said that as soon as we were ready to start our family, we would be on our way back to PEI. In my mind, there was no other place to raise our children. PEI was (and always will be) my "home sweet home"!
I got pregnant in January 2010 and we knew that we would move home that summer, once I finished my year of teaching. So, in June 2010, we made our way back to PEI. I was 29 weeks pregnant at the time. The thing that surprised me was how it was so hard to leave. I had always assumed that coming home would be the easiest thing ever, but it wasn't. I cried a million tears in those last couple of days (wasn't the pregnancy hormones at all, ha ha) while saying goodbye to my friends and colleagues. You see, Fort McMurray is a place where everyone forms relationships really quickly, because often times, all you've got is each other. Most of us came from different places and this was our "temporary home". I made some incredible friends there (you know who you are - I miss you all)!
Leaving Fort McMurray meant that I was leaving behind my dream job (teaching grade 1 in the most amazing school ever) and was returning to the unpredictable world of substitute teaching on PEI. I had to leave behind close friends and phenomenal colleagues. Then there was that little thing called money...my salary on PEI with a full time job would be half of what I was getting out west. I don't for one second regret my time in Fort McMurray - it was part of my journey and helped me grow as a person and a teacher.
Despite all of these things, there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to come home. It was where I belonged and where I wanted Grace to grow up. I still have those days where I miss my Fort Mac friends, or wish that I had more money, but I don't regret my decision to move back home. I cannot imagine raising Grace without our family and friends.
I am so blessed to have all of my family here on PEI with me. I have tons of babysitters! :) I call my Mom on a daily basis (although I did when I was out west too) and I see my siblings all the time. I have lots of other friends on maternity leave with me and it is the best thing ever!!! We are together constantly and they are always there for advice. I don't know what I would do without all of my Mommy friends. Sherri, Jill and Tanya - I'm so glad we got to experience this together! Seriously - I recommend that everyone try to get pregnant at the same time as their best friend!
Soon I will start the process of finding a job on PEI (something that is easier said than done). I know there will be days where I will get frustrated and wish that I was still in Fort McMurray. On days like that, I will just have to look at Grace to remember why I'm here. I want her to have the kind of life I had growing up and I believe that the only place that can happen is here on PEI. You truly can't appreciate the beauty of this island until you've left. I can't wait for Grace's first beach visit this summer - I know I'll be all smiles when her little toes dig into the sand and splash in the water. I hope PEI will become her "home sweet home".
Today's "Moment full of Grace" happened this morning when we were getting ready for our workout. I took Grace in the bathroom with me while I brushed my teeth. I plunked her Bumbo up on the bathroom counter, something I've done lots of times (don't worry - I was right beside her and she wasn't going to fall out). She was sitting there watching me and then decided to look in the mirror (something else she's done lots of time). However, today she apparently found herself to be very funny! A big smile crept across her face and then she started laughing hysterically! I'm talking those big laughs that come from deep down in their little bellies! I started laughing myself over the cuteness of it and she thought it was even funnier that I was laughing. We both continued to laugh for several minutes before I scooped her up and smothered her in kisses. We had a rough morning and she had been very cranky. I think this laughter was just what we both needed! :)
I got pregnant in January 2010 and we knew that we would move home that summer, once I finished my year of teaching. So, in June 2010, we made our way back to PEI. I was 29 weeks pregnant at the time. The thing that surprised me was how it was so hard to leave. I had always assumed that coming home would be the easiest thing ever, but it wasn't. I cried a million tears in those last couple of days (wasn't the pregnancy hormones at all, ha ha) while saying goodbye to my friends and colleagues. You see, Fort McMurray is a place where everyone forms relationships really quickly, because often times, all you've got is each other. Most of us came from different places and this was our "temporary home". I made some incredible friends there (you know who you are - I miss you all)!
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| One of my closest friends from Fort Mac! I miss you, Sarah! We were pregnant together, but haven't gotten to meet each other's babies yet! |
Leaving Fort McMurray meant that I was leaving behind my dream job (teaching grade 1 in the most amazing school ever) and was returning to the unpredictable world of substitute teaching on PEI. I had to leave behind close friends and phenomenal colleagues. Then there was that little thing called money...my salary on PEI with a full time job would be half of what I was getting out west. I don't for one second regret my time in Fort McMurray - it was part of my journey and helped me grow as a person and a teacher.
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| My favourite day of the school year - the first day of school! |
Despite all of these things, there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to come home. It was where I belonged and where I wanted Grace to grow up. I still have those days where I miss my Fort Mac friends, or wish that I had more money, but I don't regret my decision to move back home. I cannot imagine raising Grace without our family and friends.
I am so blessed to have all of my family here on PEI with me. I have tons of babysitters! :) I call my Mom on a daily basis (although I did when I was out west too) and I see my siblings all the time. I have lots of other friends on maternity leave with me and it is the best thing ever!!! We are together constantly and they are always there for advice. I don't know what I would do without all of my Mommy friends. Sherri, Jill and Tanya - I'm so glad we got to experience this together! Seriously - I recommend that everyone try to get pregnant at the same time as their best friend!
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| Harrison and Grace My best friend, Sherri's little boy and my little girl |
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| Beautiful PEI Beaches! |
March 26, 2011
A Change of Heart
I woke up this morning feeling sorry for myself. Grace had been up half the night and I was exhausted, frustrated and annoyed - was my little girl ever going to sleep? I had every intention of making today's post about sleep frustrations....then, I had a change of heart.
Before I started writing, I decided to do some blog reading of my own. I clicked on Jenn Zahavich's blog, "Baby, will you love me when I'm bald?" (http://babywillyoulovemewhenimbald.blogspot.com/). A couple of weeks ago, I had seen this blog link all over Facebook and after doing some investigating, I realized that Jenn had recently lost her battle with cancer. At the time, I went to her blog and read a couple of her posts, but never got a chance to read the whole blog. I knew that these posts would be emotional and that I'd have a hard time reading them (due to her recent passing), so I waited until I was home alone and had the baby asleep. I curled up in my pj's on the couch and started to read. My eyes never left the laptop screen from beginning to end. I read about her battle with cancer as a young Mom and I cried more tears than I ever expected.
The thing that amazed me about this blog is that I thought I would feel sad and depressed after reading it. Instead, I felt inspired. I felt grateful. I felt emotions I can't even explain. Although I didn't know Jenn personally, I could tell very quickly that she was an incredibly positive person. She lived life to the fullest! As I read through her blog entries, I found I was putting myself in her shoes. How would I react if dealt with a similar situation? Would I be able to focus on the positive things, instead of the negative? I find it very hard to put into words what I'm feeling after reading her blog. I keep typing things and then deleting them, because they don't portray my true feelings. I highly recommend that everyone go to Jenn's blog and read her posts - you'll quickly understand what I'm talking about.
Now, I'm not saying that I'm never going to complain again, but for today, I'm just going to cherish what I have. I may have been up half the night with a cranky baby, but at least she has her Mommy. I may have gained a pound this week, but at least I'm healthy. I may get annoyed with my husband for leaving a mess around the house, but at least I have him to curl up with at night. Life is short. So, I challenge you to live today like it's your last. In Jenn's last post before her death, she tells us to "Spread Love". I will follow her lead by telling you that all you are guaranteed is today, so take advantage! Take your baby in bed with you, even though it goes against the "rules". Stay in your pajamas all day. Look through old photo albums. Call your parents and thank them for everything they've done. Sleep in (for those of you that have the luxury of doing this)! Eat sugary cereal. Get outside for some fresh air. Look in the mirror and like what you see. Smile at a stranger. Smother your baby in kisses. Tell yourself that the dishes can wait and instead, spend that time playing with your child and listening to their laughter. Most importantly, take a minute to think about everything you have to be grateful for. You are blessed. I am blessed. Now, go on - LIVE! :)
Before I started writing, I decided to do some blog reading of my own. I clicked on Jenn Zahavich's blog, "Baby, will you love me when I'm bald?" (http://babywillyoulovemewhenimbald.blogspot.com/). A couple of weeks ago, I had seen this blog link all over Facebook and after doing some investigating, I realized that Jenn had recently lost her battle with cancer. At the time, I went to her blog and read a couple of her posts, but never got a chance to read the whole blog. I knew that these posts would be emotional and that I'd have a hard time reading them (due to her recent passing), so I waited until I was home alone and had the baby asleep. I curled up in my pj's on the couch and started to read. My eyes never left the laptop screen from beginning to end. I read about her battle with cancer as a young Mom and I cried more tears than I ever expected.
The thing that amazed me about this blog is that I thought I would feel sad and depressed after reading it. Instead, I felt inspired. I felt grateful. I felt emotions I can't even explain. Although I didn't know Jenn personally, I could tell very quickly that she was an incredibly positive person. She lived life to the fullest! As I read through her blog entries, I found I was putting myself in her shoes. How would I react if dealt with a similar situation? Would I be able to focus on the positive things, instead of the negative? I find it very hard to put into words what I'm feeling after reading her blog. I keep typing things and then deleting them, because they don't portray my true feelings. I highly recommend that everyone go to Jenn's blog and read her posts - you'll quickly understand what I'm talking about.
Now, I'm not saying that I'm never going to complain again, but for today, I'm just going to cherish what I have. I may have been up half the night with a cranky baby, but at least she has her Mommy. I may have gained a pound this week, but at least I'm healthy. I may get annoyed with my husband for leaving a mess around the house, but at least I have him to curl up with at night. Life is short. So, I challenge you to live today like it's your last. In Jenn's last post before her death, she tells us to "Spread Love". I will follow her lead by telling you that all you are guaranteed is today, so take advantage! Take your baby in bed with you, even though it goes against the "rules". Stay in your pajamas all day. Look through old photo albums. Call your parents and thank them for everything they've done. Sleep in (for those of you that have the luxury of doing this)! Eat sugary cereal. Get outside for some fresh air. Look in the mirror and like what you see. Smile at a stranger. Smother your baby in kisses. Tell yourself that the dishes can wait and instead, spend that time playing with your child and listening to their laughter. Most importantly, take a minute to think about everything you have to be grateful for. You are blessed. I am blessed. Now, go on - LIVE! :)
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| PJ Playtime with Grace :) |
March 25, 2011
Getting Back to "Me"
Anyone who has ever been pregnant can relate to the emotions that arise as your body changes. Personally, I couldn't wait for my "bump" to show! I was one of those people that showed really early and I loved it! I started wearing maternity jeans at 11 weeks and I took countless pictures of my belly.
I was also one of those people that looked at pregnancy as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted and however much of it I wanted! I gained weight FAST! I can't remember the numbers exactly, but I think that by the end of my first trimester, I was up 15lbs. My "bump" continued to grow and the number on the scale continued to rise. For the first 6 months of my pregnancy I exercised regularly and continued to lead fitness classes. When I moved home at the end of June (I was 29 weeks at that point), I got lazy and did lots of sitting around and eating. Due to high blood pressure, I was put on partial bedrest (I think around 35 weeks). I wasn't allowed to do anything...so, I sat on the couch and ate. Before I got pregnant I weighed 156 lbs (I can't believe I'm actually posting my weight for all to see) and on the day Grace was born, I weighed in at a whopping 201 lbs! I had gained a solid 45 lbs. The funny thing is that everyone kept telling me how big I was and we were all anticipating a HUGE baby! Imagine our surprise when dainty little Grace weighed in at 6lbs 11oz!
Needless to say, I was not one of those women that has a baby and gets back to her pre-baby size within weeks (if you are one of those women, I TOTALLY envy you)! At my 6 week check-up, I still weighed 180lbs and felt discouraged - none of my clothes fit, I still looked 5 months pregnant and the skin on my belly was loose and covered in stretch marks. However, I didn't feel like I had the time or energy to do anything about it. I continued to eat like crazy and focused every waking minute on my new daughter.
I remember a low point in November, when Grace was about 2 months old. I still hadn't lost any more weight and I remember saying, "I think I'm just going to be this size forever now. I don't even care if I lose any weight. I just want some of my clothes to fit again." I had just tried on my winter jackets and none of them would zipper. Essentially, I had given up when it came to weight loss. As a last resort, I convinced my best friend Sherri to sign up for Ufit bootcamp with me (Sherri's son, Harrison is about 6 weeks older than Grace). We were both terrified, but thought it would be good for us. That's where it all began....bootcamp lit a fire in me that is still burning! The moment that I signed up, my attitude changed and I got my motivation back. I didn't want to be fat forever, I didn't want to hide in sweatpants anymore and I sure as heck didn't want to see 180 on the scale for the rest of my life.
I could talk all day about how much I love bootcamp and how it has changed my life, but this post is long enough already! I will simply say that bootcamp gave me back my confidence, my energy and my drive. For my first 5-week bootcamp session, I continued to eat poorly, so my results were not that great. However, like I said, it started me on my weight loss journey and got me excited about what I could do!
Also, in November, some other Mommy friends and I decided to get together twice/week to exercise. We did it during the day, so we could bring the babies. I planned the workouts and led the group. When we started in November, there was usually 4-5 of us doing this. We have grown immensely over the last couple of months and there are now 100 members on our Facebook group (with an average of 20-25 Moms and babies at each workout). Planning these workouts means that I can't skip out when I don't feel like going. I am held accountable and that's what I need! I look forward to these workouts, because I love seeing other Moms reach their goals. It's not just about weight loss - it's about getting back to yourself. Those first few months as a Mom, you don't even think about yourself; your life revolves around your baby. It takes a long time to improve your fitness level and to get back to where you were before pregnancy. I'm not a professional trainer, but I do know how new Moms sometimes feel. It's hard to find time to workout, you feel guilty spending money on yourself and most importantly, you're TIRED (who wants to workout when you've only gotten a couple hours of sleep?)! Our little fitness group has played a huge part in my journey! Thanks girls!
In January, I decided it was time to buckle down and start eating better! I eliminated the fast food visits (well, most of them) and I started eating 3 meals a day (well, I try)! I was determined to lose that baby weight! I started to notice big changes, which made me even more driven! On January 1st, I weighed in at 171lbs. The pounds started to drop as my eating improved. I will never forget the excitement I felt when I saw 156 on the scale again (my pre-baby weight)! Last week, I dropped below 150 for the first time in a couple of years! My ultimate goal is 140. This is what I weighed at my wedding in May 2008. I'm hovering around 149 right now and I know these last 10 pounds are going to be the hardest to lose. I am confident that I can do it though! :)
Here are some before and after pics! :)
These are my inches/weight stats since starting bootcamp in November:
Weight - Lost 26lbs
Chest - Lost 6 inches
Waist - Lost 8.5 inches
Hips - Lost 5 inches
If I could offer advice to any other new Moms struggling with their weight, I would say:
As promised, here is my "Moment full of Grace" for today: Most nights when Grace wakes up in the middle of the night, I try rocking her and soothing her (instead of feeding her). This sometimes works and it sometimes doesn't (that's a whole other post)! Anyways, last night, I was rocking her and singing quietly to her. She just laid there, staring up at me with those big beautiful eyes. Then, out of the blue, she spit out her soother and started "singing" with me. I can't even explain what it sounded like, but it was like a continuous little mumbling in her high pitched little voice. SO CUTE!!! I've been singing my whole life and in that moment, I couldn't help but think that she's going to be a singer someday! :) Instead of popping the soother back in and forcing her to go to sleep, I let her mumble and "sing" with me and she eventually fell asleep doing it. My heart was melting...that's my "Moment full of Grace"! :)
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| The beginnings of a bump, 9 weeks pregnant! |
Needless to say, I was not one of those women that has a baby and gets back to her pre-baby size within weeks (if you are one of those women, I TOTALLY envy you)! At my 6 week check-up, I still weighed 180lbs and felt discouraged - none of my clothes fit, I still looked 5 months pregnant and the skin on my belly was loose and covered in stretch marks. However, I didn't feel like I had the time or energy to do anything about it. I continued to eat like crazy and focused every waking minute on my new daughter.
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| 34 weeks pregnant |
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| 38.5 weeks pregnant |
I remember a low point in November, when Grace was about 2 months old. I still hadn't lost any more weight and I remember saying, "I think I'm just going to be this size forever now. I don't even care if I lose any weight. I just want some of my clothes to fit again." I had just tried on my winter jackets and none of them would zipper. Essentially, I had given up when it came to weight loss. As a last resort, I convinced my best friend Sherri to sign up for Ufit bootcamp with me (Sherri's son, Harrison is about 6 weeks older than Grace). We were both terrified, but thought it would be good for us. That's where it all began....bootcamp lit a fire in me that is still burning! The moment that I signed up, my attitude changed and I got my motivation back. I didn't want to be fat forever, I didn't want to hide in sweatpants anymore and I sure as heck didn't want to see 180 on the scale for the rest of my life.
I could talk all day about how much I love bootcamp and how it has changed my life, but this post is long enough already! I will simply say that bootcamp gave me back my confidence, my energy and my drive. For my first 5-week bootcamp session, I continued to eat poorly, so my results were not that great. However, like I said, it started me on my weight loss journey and got me excited about what I could do!
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| Sherri and I after a very sweaty bootcamp session in December! |
Also, in November, some other Mommy friends and I decided to get together twice/week to exercise. We did it during the day, so we could bring the babies. I planned the workouts and led the group. When we started in November, there was usually 4-5 of us doing this. We have grown immensely over the last couple of months and there are now 100 members on our Facebook group (with an average of 20-25 Moms and babies at each workout). Planning these workouts means that I can't skip out when I don't feel like going. I am held accountable and that's what I need! I look forward to these workouts, because I love seeing other Moms reach their goals. It's not just about weight loss - it's about getting back to yourself. Those first few months as a Mom, you don't even think about yourself; your life revolves around your baby. It takes a long time to improve your fitness level and to get back to where you were before pregnancy. I'm not a professional trainer, but I do know how new Moms sometimes feel. It's hard to find time to workout, you feel guilty spending money on yourself and most importantly, you're TIRED (who wants to workout when you've only gotten a couple hours of sleep?)! Our little fitness group has played a huge part in my journey! Thanks girls!
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| A station at our Mommy fitness class! |
Here are some before and after pics! :)
These are my inches/weight stats since starting bootcamp in November:
Weight - Lost 26lbs
Chest - Lost 6 inches
Waist - Lost 8.5 inches
Hips - Lost 5 inches
If I could offer advice to any other new Moms struggling with their weight, I would say:
- Don't settle for unhappy. If your confidence is low and you don't like where you're at, do something about it!
- Set goals for yourself and write them down! I weigh myself each Monday and write down my weight. I have a goal for myself each week...sometimes I reach it, sometimes I don't. If I only lose 1/2 lb one week, I'll aim for 2 lbs the next week!
- Celebrate your success (but not by binging on junk food)!
- What worked for me was eliminating all junk food for the first little while until my weight loss was on a roll. Then, I slowly started eating some treats again (since I know it's unrealistic to think that I'm going to go the rest of my life without eating anything unhealthy)!
- Get a workout buddy (or 10)! This was CRUCIAL to my success!
- Your body is going to be different. Even though I weigh less now than I did when I got pregnant, I carry weight in different places than before and I still have loose skin. Again, this depends on the person. Some people get their old body back, others don't!
- Remember that it took 10 months for you to gain the weight, so it could take that long for you to lose it again.
- Out of sight, out of mind! Don't keep tempting foods in the house (I know this is hard if you have a husband who lives off of junk food, like mine, but do your best)!
- Make sure you're eating enough calories (especially if you're breastfeeding). Many times, new Moms don't eat enough and it backfires and messes with your metabolism!
- It's not all about weight loss! Celebrate your other successes (doing push ups from your toes, running for the first time, going to fitness class when you didn't feel like it, choosing to go through the Subway drive-thru instead of McDonald's, squeezing into those old jeans, drinking water instead of pop, etc).
- Fad diets don't work (at least not for me)! It has to be a lifestyle change.
- It will not be easy to find time for exercise, but it's possible! I try to workout 5 days/week now. You can do it if you set your mind to it!
As promised, here is my "Moment full of Grace" for today: Most nights when Grace wakes up in the middle of the night, I try rocking her and soothing her (instead of feeding her). This sometimes works and it sometimes doesn't (that's a whole other post)! Anyways, last night, I was rocking her and singing quietly to her. She just laid there, staring up at me with those big beautiful eyes. Then, out of the blue, she spit out her soother and started "singing" with me. I can't even explain what it sounded like, but it was like a continuous little mumbling in her high pitched little voice. SO CUTE!!! I've been singing my whole life and in that moment, I couldn't help but think that she's going to be a singer someday! :) Instead of popping the soother back in and forcing her to go to sleep, I let her mumble and "sing" with me and she eventually fell asleep doing it. My heart was melting...that's my "Moment full of Grace"! :)
March 24, 2011
What is a "Moment full of Grace"?
So, I've decided to write a blog. I'm one of those people that always has a lot to say. I update my Facebook status more than once a day and I still have more to tell everyone! What better way to share it than with a blog? My best friend started a blog a few months ago and I became addicted to checking it each day! You will quickly realize that most of my posts will be about Mommyhood. Since giving birth to my daughter 6 months ago, my life has revolved around being a Mommy. Therefore, if you have no interest in babies or the struggles/successes of being a new Mom, my blog will probably bore the heck out of you! I WILL have grammar mistakes, some of my ramblings will not make sense and half the time they'll be words missing, because I'll be typing and breastfeeding at the same time! I hope you can look past that and still enjoy the posts! :)
To start, I'd like to explain the title of my blog. On September 16, 2010, my husband and I welcomed our little girl into the world. She came out kicking and screaming, weighing 6lbs 11oz and measuring 22 inches. We named her Grace. We realized that it was a highly popular name, but we had loved it for years and it suited her from the beginning (thank God, because we already had her name hanging in the nursery, lol)!
In the past 6 months I have learned a lot as a new Mom. I've made mistakes (tons of them), I've gotten low on patience, I've sat in the rocking chair and cried with her when I couldn't figure out what was wrong and I've wanted to pull my hair out on more than one occasion. I think we've all had moments like this. I will no doubt be making posts about moments like that from time to time. However, my goal is to focus my posts on what I'm going to call "Moments full of Grace". If you're a Mom, you've experienced these moments. They are the moments when the world seems to disappear around you and nothing matters except for your child. No matter what is going on in your life at that moment, it all becomes okay. Like the first time your baby is placed in your arms after birth, the first time they smile at you and the first fit of giggles. How about the time that you were having a bad day and your baby reached up and touched your face at just the right moment? Or, the way that those little arms squeeze around your neck? Those precious moments are what I'm going to call "Moments full of Grace". Often times, these moments bring tears to my eyes and I can't help but feel grateful for what I have. I wonder if our babies know how powerful they are?
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| That smile can always brighten my day! |
I invite you to follow my blog and experience these moments with me. Post your "Moments full of Grace" - I would love to read them! Like I said, my blog will not only be about these moments, but I will try to end each post with a "Moment full of Grace", so that I end on a positive note (even if my post is about the fact that my beloved Grace refuses to sleep)! :)
Thanks for reading! I look forward to sharing my life with you!
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