I’ve had a lot of time to think about returning to weight loss after pregnancy. While I still have roughly 5 weeks left until my due date, now seemed like a great time to shift my mindset and to start thinking about this next chapter.
Looking back on these past 35 weeks, I’m really proud of how hard I’ve worked to be healthy during this pregnancy. Sure I’ve enjoyed my fair share of ice cream, pasta, and pizza, but I’ve tried my hardest to be kind to myself, to eat nutrient rich foods for the baby often, and to enjoy my workouts as long as possible.
Regardless of the weight I’ve gained and the insecurities I’ve felt, I’m really at peace with my current weight because I know I’ve done what I can. Sure it’s difficult to see the scale creep above my highest adult weight, but with just 5 weeks until my due date, I can’t wait to give birth to our daughter and to enter this next chapter.
I’m really excited about getting back into shape after the baby arrives! The reality is, no matter what plan I choose, it’s time to really deal with the habits that have kept me from reaching my goals in the past. As much as I want to eat intuitively, this pregnancy has shown me just how easy it is for me to overeat. In my head, I don’t think I’m eating that much or that my food choices are that bad, but it’s funny how quickly calories add up!
At this point in my life, my habits are just too unhealthy in order to eat intuitively, though eating intuitively is my ultimate goal. I know I do a lot of things right, so I don’t want to discount my good habits, but I know I must conquer my downfalls in order to be successful! I’ve learned that I really sabotage my healthy habits with my bad habits, which in the end keep me from losing weight. Although I might burn 700 calories in spin class and/or make good food choices during the day, the spoonfuls of peanut butter here and there or that bowl of unmeasured ice cream after dinner counteract many of my great choices.
At this point in my life I know that I need structure, accountability, and to remain dedicated to one plan until I reach my goals. I’m going to dive into not only my plan but how I decided upon a plan tomorrow, but I thought it was important to share what I’ve learned and what I’m going to need to learn moving forward with y’all today. It’s going to take a lot of discipline after the baby arrives, but I’m eager to reach my goals!
As of today, here are some of my short term and long term goals…
- Take care of myself after the baby arrives, allowing myself time to transition into motherhood and to heal from delivery.
- Begin to follow my weight loss plan after the baby arrives, remaining flexible as I adjust to raising a child and breastfeeding.
- Ease back into my workouts. Being active when I can but trusting the doctor’s timeline.
- Return to spin classes, running, and weight lifting after I have been cleared to workout.
- Reach my pre-pregnancy weight of 234lbs
- Reach my lowest adult weight of 206lbs
These are a rough sketch but what’s currently on my heart and in my mind. My plan is to reassess my goals each month and to make sure they remain realistic. I have yet to set an ultimate goal or specific fitness goals, but I think it’s best to create those a few months down the road.
Long story short, I’m really excited about this next chapter and to get back on the weight loss train. I’m eager to get back into shape, to share food choices and workouts, and to blog about weight loss again. Pregnancy has been an amazing experience and I know it has forever changed me, but I’m really excited about this next chapter!
To be continued tomorrow…
