Ptttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
(That would be me, blowing a raspberry at my metabolism.)
So I've had a lot of inquiries regarding my post-baby weight loss journey and I have to officially say that...
...it stinks.
I suppose if I'm going to be honest, I have to give you the bad with the good and people, it's not pretty.
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| This is about as current a picture as it gets. With my crew at the beach! |
Let's back up for a moment so I can paint you a picture. Three kids, in under four years. I have stretch marks, wobbly under-arm skin, and spider veins. My stomach, once flat and hard, continues to pooch out and resemble the home I swore my son was going to set up permanent residence in. I realize that this is not entirely unusual and are "battle scars" many moms proudly display in the name of having children...but I'm more than a little over it and ready to get back to my pre-baby body ASAP.
Yesterday, Scott and I had our physicals for our insurance policies...you know, the standard height, weight, blood, urine, blah blah blah. I had fasted for the blood work so I was curious to see how my weight compared to my last doctor's visit, seven weeks ago.
And it was the same.
And I was a wreck.
Now, I have a wonderful support system in my husband and friends, who are continuously complementary and encouraging. Just last week, after hearing my belly aching about not losing weight fast enough, my friend Susie lovingly told me to "stay off the stinking scales for a while."
I also realize that it took me nine months to put on this weight (close to 40 lbs) and that I should be patient in getting it off. But that being said, I am ready for the scales to move. Downward. Under 150. Puh-lease.
Therefore, it's back to the drawing board. I began keeping a food journal again, although we don't think that my weight is a calorie issue because I'm honestly eating cleaner than I ever have. Scott believes it's an exercise thing, so that's where we're going to focus more.
He calculated that, within the three pregnancies and few months after delivery, I have probably had a combined 12 months of little to no physical activity within the last four years. Prior to Elizabeth, I was very active - getting in about an hour of cardio and an hour of weights most days, plus the physical demands of coaching. My metabolism was going full force in order to match my activity. Today, it is far less. While I am constantly on the go, it just isn't the same and I don't have the means to do the same amount of activity I did before kids. Therefore, the rate that my body burns calories for fuel has gone way down. If my metabolism was a blazing fire before, it's embers now.
So, we set a game plan. Maybe you're in the same boat and need a jump start. Me? I need straight gasoline. And that would be high-intensity exercise.
As I've said before, I have an hour at the gym. I've been lifting for the past couple months, but it's been mainly to get my muscles back to being acquainted with the activity. Now, I need to pick it up a notch and keep my heart rate up as much as I can.
So this was my workout today (legs focused).
5 minutes warm-up on the rowing machine
4 x 10 Squats (bar)
4 x MAX Reverse hamstring raises (no weight)
4 x 7, 6, 5, 5 Leg press (90 lbs)
Then I performed a very poor rendition of this workout from Zuzana Light. I did it only for 10 minutes because I thought I was going to keel over, not to mention rip every muscle of my core with the crab touches. (If you haven't checked out her new YouTube channel out, you really should. She does a lot of body weight exercises and updates new workouts frequently.)
Finally, I ran for as hard as I could on the treadmill for 10 minutes - getting up to 7.5 mph.
And that was an hour. I was tired, sweaty and fatigued...which is actually encouraging because I know that those are the factors that will help my body change the way I want.
Are you on the same journey? How are you doing and have you found any secrets that work?
Have a great day!
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