Body After Baby: Healthy Eating and Results
I'll never forget my first time watching the ING New York City Marathon. As I watched thousands of people run a grueling 26.2 miles, my first thought was "Wow! These people are incredible." My second thought was "Wow! Some of these people are incredibly overweight. How in the world are they doing this?" I could not believe that people who appeared to be grossly out of shape could accomplish such a task and live to tell about it. Shortly thereafter, I read an article in Runner's World magazine titled "Can You Be Fit and Fat?" which shed some light on the situation. It also confirmed something that I had been told by friends who are nutritionists and trainers...
I don't know about you, but this was bad news to me. My plan to exercise so that I could eat whatever I wanted wasn't going to work. This revelation upset me because I am a self-proclaimed fair food connoisseur. I am not ashamed to admit that foods which are either fried or on a stick make me smile. In fact (and much to my husband's dismay), I'd much rather go to Sonic (or Dairy Queen) than to a nice, gourmet restaurant. I also am a lover of all foods Italian. Now, I know that none of these are great choices if I want to look presentable in any sort of swimsuit come summer, and summer lasts a long time around here.
What to do?
First, I had to come to grips with that fact that I no longer have the metabolism of a 16-year-old girl who can eat a plate of Totino's pizza rolls dipped in ranch dressing after cheerleading practice and still have great abs.
Second, I had to find a way of eating delicious foods that were healthy and good for my body in terms of performance and appearance. At the same time, however, I did not want to go on a "diet."
Third, I needed to monitor my caloric intake - even while eating healthy foods - to make sure that my eating was not being counterproductive to my working out.
Fourth, I needed to find the proper motivation to keep me on track.
Well, I found the motivation first: I had a baby. And besides being over the moon about being a mom, I began to worry about shedding those post-baby pounds of which there were many. After having Charlie, the first thing I did, since I couldn't exercise for 6 weeks, was do my best to eat a little better while monitoring caloric intake. My friend Julie introduced me to an app called My Fitness Pal - a free caloric counter and diet and exercise journal - that helped her lose weight after having her girls. With this app alone, I lost 4 pounds. After being cleared for active duty, I began to add a little exercise to the mix. Like I mentioned in my last blog post, I signed up for a half marathon so that I would be motivated to exercise through an Alabama summer while accomplishing an established goal. Running, combined with the cross training workouts of Pure Barre and yoga, enabled me to maintain my weight loss and develop more toning in my legs, abs, posterior, and arms. Naturally, as a woman, I wasn't entirely satisfied with the results. I wanted more, so I hopped on the Advocare bandwagon by taking their 24-Day Challenge.
The Diet
I hesitate to use the word "diet" because I hate diets. Diets are temporary fads that produce short-term results leaving the participant unsatisfied and often right where they started a month after their completion. I knew that starving myself, completely cutting carbs, or eating some weird combination of "miracle" foods wasn't the answer to my long-term goal. What I needed was to implement a practical, healthy lifestyle that I can maintain forever. So, I took the challenge, and Advocare met all of these needs for me. The 24-Day Challenge has two parts. The first 10 days are a cleanse that prepares your body for nutrient absorption, and the last 14 days are considered a "max" phase where you see the maximum amount of results. With this challenge, you take nutritional supplements while maintaing a very healthy diet (and by "diet" I mean type/amount of food consumption) from a list of suggested foods: vegetables, complex carbs, proteins, fruits, etc. I loved that the list of foods was full of things that I already loved to eat; it wasn't limiting at all. However, I learned that foods that are the freshest are the bestest, so to speak. If it comes it a box, plastic package, and has a long shelf life, then it's probably no good. The challenge taught me a lot about portion control and making healthy food choices (carrots and hummus instead of chips and dip OR a salad with turkey instead of a turkey sandwich OR frozen cool whip, berries, and flax seed instead of ice cream, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles), but it also got me back in the kitchen, a nearly impossible task. In the kitchen, I controlled what was going into my meals, and that made a big difference. Plus, I learned that cauliflower can masquerade, deliciously I might add, as mashed potatoes and pizza crust! Through this experience, I was taught to think differently about food, to reconsider my previous definition of yummy, and to be creative in the kitchen. Overall, I lost 7 pounds in 24 days! I also plan to keep eating in a similar fashion with the weekends reserved for "cheat days," in moderation of course.
I wish I could tell you that if you just took part in some or all of the physical activities mentioned in my last blog post, then you could throw caution to the wind when it came to food consumption. Sadly, it's just not the case. But, eating healthy doesn't mean you have to compromise on taste. It just means that you will have to designate your bad-girl, recreational eating to 1 day a week, say Saturday or Sunday. It also means that you will have to commit to daily exercise. I knew that after having a baby I would have to focus on both of those things and make them a priority because health and fitness are important to me. Plus, I want to set a good example for Charlie; I want to be able to play hard with him and not be limited physically; and I want to be around a long time. Being a parent is a huge responsibility, and I don't want to sacrifice years of my life because I had no self control and refused to make healthy choices.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for (and the one I've been working for)...
The Results
PRE-BABY
Before I got pregnant, I weighed 122 pounds. I am 5'2" with an athletic build. I am in no way willowy and lean; it's not my body type, but I was thin yet muscular at 122 pounds. The day I went into the hospital to have Charlie, I weighed 157 pounds. 35 pounds is not a terrible amount of weight gain for pregnancy. I believe 20-30 pounds is the norm. However, with my small frame, I was over and above my weight limit and needed to take action; but I didn't want a quick, temporary fix to my weight loss and fitness goals. I needed a lifestyle change that involved overhauling my fitness levels and eating habits.
Before the Advocare 24-Day Challenge
Chest: 33"
Arm: 11.5"
Waist: 28.5"
Hip: 38.5"
Quad (thigh): 20"
POST-BABY
In the 6-weeks following Charlie's birth, I lost 15 pounds of what I'm assuming was accumulated water weight (142 lbs.). After 6-weeks of recovery, I started using the My Fitness Pal app as I stated before and lost another 4 pounds in about 4 weeks (138 pounds). When I started the 24-Day Challenge, I weighed 132 pounds. At the end of the challenge, I weighed 125 pounds - 3 pounds from meeting my pre-baby weight goal - and all 5 months after having a baby! Although it took 9 months to gain the weight, I am determined that it won't take 9 months to take it off; and I'm almost there!
The total amount of inches lost may seem small, but this has all been accomplished while training for a half marathon and cross training too. Weight gain and an increase in muscle mass is always expected while engaging in a training program like this, so I am beyond happy with the results. But, I am no number cruncher and never allow myself to be a slave to the scale. Despite the positive numerical results, I am even more pleased with the fact that I can easily fit into all my pre-baby skinny pants and jeans.
Oh happy day!
 |
| Source: You+can't+out-exercise+a+bad+diet.jpg |
What to do?
First, I had to come to grips with that fact that I no longer have the metabolism of a 16-year-old girl who can eat a plate of Totino's pizza rolls dipped in ranch dressing after cheerleading practice and still have great abs.
Second, I had to find a way of eating delicious foods that were healthy and good for my body in terms of performance and appearance. At the same time, however, I did not want to go on a "diet."
Third, I needed to monitor my caloric intake - even while eating healthy foods - to make sure that my eating was not being counterproductive to my working out.
Fourth, I needed to find the proper motivation to keep me on track.
Well, I found the motivation first: I had a baby. And besides being over the moon about being a mom, I began to worry about shedding those post-baby pounds of which there were many. After having Charlie, the first thing I did, since I couldn't exercise for 6 weeks, was do my best to eat a little better while monitoring caloric intake. My friend Julie introduced me to an app called My Fitness Pal - a free caloric counter and diet and exercise journal - that helped her lose weight after having her girls. With this app alone, I lost 4 pounds. After being cleared for active duty, I began to add a little exercise to the mix. Like I mentioned in my last blog post, I signed up for a half marathon so that I would be motivated to exercise through an Alabama summer while accomplishing an established goal. Running, combined with the cross training workouts of Pure Barre and yoga, enabled me to maintain my weight loss and develop more toning in my legs, abs, posterior, and arms. Naturally, as a woman, I wasn't entirely satisfied with the results. I wanted more, so I hopped on the Advocare bandwagon by taking their 24-Day Challenge.
 |
| Source: http://advocarecorporate.s3.amazonaws.com/corporate/24daychallenge/images/logo.png |
I hesitate to use the word "diet" because I hate diets. Diets are temporary fads that produce short-term results leaving the participant unsatisfied and often right where they started a month after their completion. I knew that starving myself, completely cutting carbs, or eating some weird combination of "miracle" foods wasn't the answer to my long-term goal. What I needed was to implement a practical, healthy lifestyle that I can maintain forever. So, I took the challenge, and Advocare met all of these needs for me. The 24-Day Challenge has two parts. The first 10 days are a cleanse that prepares your body for nutrient absorption, and the last 14 days are considered a "max" phase where you see the maximum amount of results. With this challenge, you take nutritional supplements while maintaing a very healthy diet (and by "diet" I mean type/amount of food consumption) from a list of suggested foods: vegetables, complex carbs, proteins, fruits, etc. I loved that the list of foods was full of things that I already loved to eat; it wasn't limiting at all. However, I learned that foods that are the freshest are the bestest, so to speak. If it comes it a box, plastic package, and has a long shelf life, then it's probably no good. The challenge taught me a lot about portion control and making healthy food choices (carrots and hummus instead of chips and dip OR a salad with turkey instead of a turkey sandwich OR frozen cool whip, berries, and flax seed instead of ice cream, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles), but it also got me back in the kitchen, a nearly impossible task. In the kitchen, I controlled what was going into my meals, and that made a big difference. Plus, I learned that cauliflower can masquerade, deliciously I might add, as mashed potatoes and pizza crust! Through this experience, I was taught to think differently about food, to reconsider my previous definition of yummy, and to be creative in the kitchen. Overall, I lost 7 pounds in 24 days! I also plan to keep eating in a similar fashion with the weekends reserved for "cheat days," in moderation of course.
 |
| Source: http://arthlete.tumblr.com/ |
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for (and the one I've been working for)...
The Results
PRE-BABY
Before I got pregnant, I weighed 122 pounds. I am 5'2" with an athletic build. I am in no way willowy and lean; it's not my body type, but I was thin yet muscular at 122 pounds. The day I went into the hospital to have Charlie, I weighed 157 pounds. 35 pounds is not a terrible amount of weight gain for pregnancy. I believe 20-30 pounds is the norm. However, with my small frame, I was over and above my weight limit and needed to take action; but I didn't want a quick, temporary fix to my weight loss and fitness goals. I needed a lifestyle change that involved overhauling my fitness levels and eating habits.
Before the Advocare 24-Day Challenge
Chest: 33"
Arm: 11.5"
Waist: 28.5"
Hip: 38.5"
Quad (thigh): 20"
POST-BABY
In the 6-weeks following Charlie's birth, I lost 15 pounds of what I'm assuming was accumulated water weight (142 lbs.). After 6-weeks of recovery, I started using the My Fitness Pal app as I stated before and lost another 4 pounds in about 4 weeks (138 pounds). When I started the 24-Day Challenge, I weighed 132 pounds. At the end of the challenge, I weighed 125 pounds - 3 pounds from meeting my pre-baby weight goal - and all 5 months after having a baby! Although it took 9 months to gain the weight, I am determined that it won't take 9 months to take it off; and I'm almost there!
After the Advocare 24-Day Challenge
Chest: 33"
Arm: 10.5"
Waist: 28"
Hip: 37"
Quad: 20"
* Total Inches Lost = 2.5"
The total amount of inches lost may seem small, but this has all been accomplished while training for a half marathon and cross training too. Weight gain and an increase in muscle mass is always expected while engaging in a training program like this, so I am beyond happy with the results. But, I am no number cruncher and never allow myself to be a slave to the scale. Despite the positive numerical results, I am even more pleased with the fact that I can easily fit into all my pre-baby skinny pants and jeans.
Oh happy day!
How amazing!!! You look fantastic and most of all I know you feel incredible! Thanks for being an inspiration for so many moms! It's not easy taking care of a babe 24/7 and yourself BUT it's very important. We are built very smilar except I have a few inches on you...standing at 5'5. My fitness pal paired with light running has allowed me to drop 6lbs in 2 weeks. I was eating more processed foods than I was aware of...epppp! I'm happiest at 132ish so 4 more pounds!!!do you have any recipes to share? What do you eat on an avg day?
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