Get the details of the second month of my post-partum fitness plan, including real talk about setbacks, failures and discouragement!
Ok, it’s time for some real talk. This is always where I start getting frustrated with myself after having a baby and trying to get back in shape. It’s usually a couple months after really starting to pay attention to my food and exercise habits, maybe I’ve even lost a few pounds and inches. And then my progress kind of stagnates. That’s where I am right now and it’s all I can do to not pull my hair out!!
In the past, when I get to this plateau and lose motivation, I decide that I “just can’t lose weight while nursing” and even though I’ll still try to exercise regularly, I get lazy with my diet and just kind of accept being overweight. So here’s what I’m doing differently this time around!
June 24, 2017: 17 weeks postpartum
Current weight: 163
Goal weight: 140-ish
Current measurements: (last month’s in parentheses)
Bust 39.5″ (39.5″) – Waist 32″ (32″) – Hip: 41″ (41″) – That’s right, exactly the same as last month’s. Ugh.
Goal measurements:
Bust 37″ – Waist 29″ – Hip: 39″
Successes: Not a ton of successes this month as you can see from my stats (I actually gained my measly 2 pound weight loss back plus 1). But I’m chalking that up to muscle gain and/or regular fluctuations and trying not to care). Also, it’s not super noticeable, but I actually can tell some little progress when I compare pics (last month’s here)! I am continuing to feel stronger from the weight training I’ve been trying to do: Blogilates is still my favorite for busy days and I’m throwing this shower workout in on the extra crazy ones.
Setbacks: I’m realizing that my number one problem is diet sabotage! Stress, lack of time and exhaustion (you moms get me) all take a toll on healthy eating habits. I really do enjoy eating well and exercising but all the salads and jogging in the world won’t help me when I’m downing half a loaf of banana bread at 2pm because I didn’t have time to make myself a decent lunch.
This month’s goals: I’m sticking with my goal of only eating sugar on as many days a month as I’m going without it (in other words, if I want to have a treat 10 days one month, I need to go without sugar for 10 other days). Even though some days all I have is a couple chocolate chips to ride me through the afternoon, I realize that it makes me crave more junk than when I abstain all day.
The goal of this is not simply to eliminate sugar (although that’s kind of important!), it’s to force myself to eat a healthy meal instead of junk food that’s ready made and easily accessible. Do you lose all self control when you’re really hungry and a cookie is staring you in the face?? YUP. When I mess up and start eating my feelings in the form of hot fudge sundaes, I’m trying not to beat myself up but rather recommit to entering my diet in MyFitnessPal for a few days to get back on track.
I’m still working on getting out to exercise when I can but my first priority is diet for this next month!
Ok, fitness buddies, who’s seen successes recently? Any motivating tips you can send my way?? Help me not give up!
UPDATE: See the end of my postpartum weight loss journey HERE, as well as links to my other progress posts!
5 Comments
yofavorite
June 26, 2017 at 11:53 amI LOOOOVE YOU! You are so beautiful! I have no tips here, but thanks for yours! My uncle was telling me at our reunion that he’s doing fasting. As in, he stops eating every day at 5 pm and doesn’t eat until 11 in the morning, and when he does he eats just protein for the first hour (200-300 calories). He’s totally slimmed down and swears fasting daily has a million benefits. I might try it . . . maybe . . .
Anyway, keep it up, girlfriend! xoxoxo
Bonnie
June 26, 2017 at 11:59 amAww, you’re so sweet girlfriend! That’s really interesting about the fasting! But I’m afraid your uncle might have more willpower than I do – haha. I’m working hard on myfitnesspal so here’s hoping!
Caroline Brown
July 28, 2017 at 8:21 amYou look great!
Sugar and carbs are my nemesis too, and I find it really best to cut these back as much as I can, but give myself permission to eat everything else (e.g. leafy greens, healthy fats and proteins) whenever I am feeling hungry. My to go snacks are nuts or cheese (nice, tasty cheese in small chunks). Chocolate is really tempting but I buy dark chocolate now – it’s low sugar, has useful nutrients and hard to overdo. I tend to relax a bit more at weekends, but try hard to avoid sugar/sweet things during the week. Just eat real food #jerf and low carb healthy fat #lchf.
Bonnie
July 28, 2017 at 8:48 amThanks Caroline! Great tips…I do feel so much better when the majority of my food is healthy and substantial. Then the occasional treat doesn’t do as much damage!
Lose Weight While Nursing • Bonnie and Blithe
September 9, 2021 at 2:19 pm[…] after giving birth to Alice last February. (See my progress posts and photos here: Before, month 1, month 2, my frustrations, month 7). It’s SO easy to drown in the sorrows of postpartum soreness, […]