I’m not sure I’ll ever be 100% happy with my body. I have always thought I could be more physically fit or a little thinner. I’ve tried many different diets over the course of my life, usually along with my mom, but even when I was thin, I never felt satisfied with the way I looked. I look at pictures now of myself in my early 20s and realize that I should have appreciated the body I had a whole lot more. I am trying to learn my lesson because I know that when I’m 40 or 50, I will look back at pictures of myself in my early thirties (I can’t believe I’m already 30) and wish I had been more confident about my body.
When I gained about 40 lbs when I was pregnant with Liam (check this post for a lovely picture of me at my largest), I thought I’d never lose all the weight. I had slowly gained weight from the time when I got married to when I got pregnant, so when I thought about losing the baby weight, I actually wanted to lose about 15 lbs extra so that I would be closer to the weight I was when I got married.
At first, I really didn’t do anything more than breastfeed to try to lose weight. I ate pretty much the same as I did when I was pregnant (too much) and didn’t exercise much. Then, I decided I wanted our wedding photographers to take family pictures for us at Mr. TTT’s parents’ ranch (where we got married) right before Liam’s first birthday. With a hard deadline for when I wanted to look my best, I started exercising more – usually just walks and hikes so I didn’t have to be away from Liam any more than I already was as a WOHM – and watching what I ate. I gradually lost weight and was able to fit into some of my pre-pregnancy clothes, which was a nice feeling. However, it wasn’t until January, when I started using My Fitness Pal, that the weight really started falling off.
Walking for pancreatic cancer research in February - when I saw this picture, I knew I was getting closer to my goal.
I don’t know why I never did simple calorie counting before – it is so easy and I really never feel deprived. I have been able to eat girl scout cookies for dessert a few times a week and indulge in my favorite Mexican food or pizza on occasion, while still meeting my daily calorie goals. I can log the exercise I do and track my progress when I weigh myself every week or so, and it has been so motivating to see the progress I’ve made, not to mention that some of my close friends also use the program and offer their support on a daily basis.
Since mid-January, I’ve lost 12lbs and am now at my goal weight. I am going to continue logging my calories, though, because I think it is a good reminder to not over indulge and to be mindful of everything I eat. Once I get over being sick (for the second time this month), I want to start weight training to tone up my muscles that have turned to mush over the last couple of years.
One thing I’ve noticed about my self-image lately is that it is much better now than when I was this same weight a few years ago, and I think it’s because I appreciate it so much more. Like I said, I really never thought I’d be able to get to this point (the weight I am now was like my dream goal back in January), and I am really proud of myself for sticking with it and reaching my goal. Plus, buying new, much smaller clothes is so fun!
Is there a weight loss method that worked for you?
GOLD / nectarine / 2285 posts
You look great! I love using my fitness pal!!
kiwi / 672 posts
You look amazing!
GOLD / kiwi / 529 posts
You look awesome!
I have not had to lose baby weight yet, but I have been using weight watchers online since October and have lost 33 pounds since then. Some days are easier than others, but I was inspired to do it by a friend who lost 60 lbs beween hert two pregnancies.
Even with watching what I eat, I find that I lose most consistently when I am running. I agree, though, that buying new clothes is great!
apple seed / 4 posts
Up until the exercise and weight lose part, I could have been writing this article. I lost all of my baby weight from breast feeding but never toned up. Now I’m 5 lbs over my pre baby weight and flabby. Just ordered a new video to help me get going. Thank you for the article. You look great and I’m inspired by your weight lose. Good for you!
hostess / wonderful pumpkin / 16517 posts
You look fantastic!
pea / 9 posts
You look great and it makes me feel more optimistic. I’m a few days away from my due date (and I think he’s decided to stay indefinitely) and gained All The Weight. I was always a pretty good eater, but was active enough for everything to balance out with just a little bit of self control. It’s been eye-opening because I had never realized how much I thought of myself as “skinny” and didn’t think I’d find all the weight gain (I scoff at your 40lbs) so disheartening.
nectarine / 2309 posts
You look amazing! I want to start losing weight, too… but I’m too good at making excuses :( I might try My Fitness Pal now– I’ve heard too many good things about it!
guest
I use the myfitnesspal app. How do you account for breastfeeding? I’ve never figured it out.
blogger / kiwi / 668 posts
You look great!!
GOLD / honeydew / 8436 posts
You look great, and congrats on meeting your goal!!
GOLD / grapefruit / 4772 posts
Woot woot! Lookin’ good mama! Fo shizzo!
That’s so true re appreciating your body/weight! Pre-pg I was 130-135 pounds (I am 5’7″) and I thought I could stand to lose a few pounds! What the what? I was wearing all 2/4s and XS/S . . . and I was unhappy with that? *scratches head*
I’m on my way back to my pre-pg weight now, but I still have a ways to go (20ish pounds). (I, like @MarieC, scoff at your 40 pounds :P) But I will get there!
blogger / clementine / 888 posts
@Allison K: In the food section, there are options for breastfeeding a younger or older baby that subtracts calories instead of adds. I actually don’t account for it every day, just when I want to indulge a little more. Since I started this once Liam was already decreasing his milk intake on his own and eating a lot more solids, it hasn’t been a problem supply-wise for me.
@MsLipGloss: We sound like we have very similar body types :)
kiwi / 676 posts
You look great! I’m losing weight weight right now just to be back at a happy/healthy weight and I’m doing Weight Watchers to achieve my goal. I am a lifetime member but somewhere along the way I got lazy and stopped working the program. So, hopefully if we decide to start TTC in the next year or two, I’ll be in my healthy weight range. :)
blogger / pomegranate / 3110 posts
You look beautiful!!
At 4-weeks pp… I’ve been thinking a lot about how to lose the baby weight this 2nd time around. With 2 kids, I’m not sure I’ll find much time to squeeze in exercise so I need to eat healthier. I’m thinking about trying Paleo since it’s all the rage here on HB, but I’m not very good at eliminating food groups. We’ll see…
admin / honeydew / 8437 posts
you look fantastic! super thin in the first pic. ;)
cherry / 124 posts
You look AMAZING! Yay you!
GOLD / grapefruit / 4486 posts
You look great!
blogger / persimmon / 1193 posts
You look fab! I thought you were looking awesome when I saw that pic of you and Liam walking :)
It’s funny that you wrote about this today. I was doing Jillian’s Ripped in 30 at lunch today and thinking that I’d like to write about how hard it is to get a pp body back. I just do not have the time to run anymore – literally. I can’t run after bedtime in the evening like I used to because there’s a baby in the house and no adult to watch him! I use MFP to log my calories, but my weight hasn’t budged in months despite exercising daily. I don’t know if it’s BFing or just an older, different body. I don’t know at what point I need to get rid of all the clothing that doesn’t make me look great and just start over. At this point I really want to fit into the thousands of dollars of jeans staring at me in my closet ;) I’ll be following this post to see what’s working for everyone else!
olive / 89 posts
you look amazing, and your LO is adorable! i was fortunate to lose the baby weight pretty quickly from breastfeeding. i just weighed myself at the gym this morning, and i’m actually 5 lbs lower than my pre-pregnancy weight. however, i was actually a little concerned when i saw that, because i think 4 lbs of that is muscle that i lost since i haven’t exercised much. The other pound came from my boobs that have become non-existent since i stopped breastfeeding. ;) i’m hoping to get fit again in preparation for pregnancy #2.
blogger / apricot / 483 posts
You look incredible! I feel more inspired to get out there and work out now!
blogger / clementine / 888 posts
Thanks so much for all the compliments!
@mrsvivian: I have to remember that when I start toning, my weight might go up a bit. I hope that doesn’t discourage me!
blogger / apricot / 455 posts
You look fabulous!
pea / 15 posts
Great job! My husband & I started using myfitnesspal in January too. We have both lost weight and are happy with how easy it is to track our calories from our computers or iPad. I did Weight Watchers three years ago before we got married and lost a lot. Tracking what you eat is so important!
pea / 15 posts
Also my favorite exercise is spinning. You just sit on the bike & do what the instructor says! ;) I like exercise where I don’t have to think & group exercise keeps me motivated.
blogger / pear / 1691 posts
You look great. I did weight watchers for a bit, now I use my fitness pal. I have lost about 45 pounds since last year. I am hoping to start loosing a bit faster. I started couch to 5k so I started running. I haven’t lost much but my clothes are bigger so I guess I am building some muscle but not seeing the numbers on the scale right now. That’s a little hard but I know I just have up keep working at it.
hostess / grapefruit / 4614 posts
You look great! I’m doing the shred, so I’m hoping that helps me lose weight and tone up a bit.
pea / 23 posts
You look great!! I use the LoseIt app on my iPhone and have lost 15 lbs so far since January. I have a long way to go still (twins + wedding weight goal like you), but am feeling hopeful now. Thanks for sharing!