Lately, it seems like all I've been doing is writing posts about what I'm NOT doing...
I'm NOT putting in a brand-new, built-in swimming pool.
I'm NOT a super military spouse.
I did NOT get all my great Easter plans accomplished.
I'm NOT following the rules of blogging.
I'm NOT meal planning and frugally cooking from scratch like I should with a large-ish family.
So...
...in keeping with the 'NOT' theme...I'm NOT currently losing my baby weight. And yes, for the record, I know that Judah is not actually a baby. He's a toddler. A walking, talking, fit-throwing, buzz-headed toddler.
I'm going to be totally honest here, because it always seems like when I talk all-things-body-image, some one will undoubtedly tell me how pretty I am, that I'm not fat. So, I'm gonna just lay the true to size me out:
I'm pretty close to 5 feet, 6 and 1/2 inches tall. I'm 33 years old. I've given birth to 7 children, starting at age 19. And I weigh 200 pounds. Yep, I do. And I think that's almost 8 pounds 8 ounces less than what I weighed the morning I was admitted to the hospital to have Judah (who, coincidentally weighed, you guessed it, 8 pounds 8 ounces).
So...what's my problem? I don't know. Could it be I don't exercise? Yes. Could it be I eat a lot? Yes. But I don't sit around (hello...7 kids). And I don't eat everything, all day, and it's fairly balanced.
And, I didn't have this problem with my first 3 children, but things have changed with the last 4:
I gained approximately 40 pounds with each of the first 3. With Kylie, the weight just went away. How? I don't know. Could it have been the fact that I worked, went to school, mothered, didn't eat, and smoked instead of snacking? Yes. With Korinne, the weight almost just went away. I remember (loosely) following the Slim-Fast plan for a few weeks. With Connor, I never got back down below 165-ish. Then with TJ, I gained the normal 40 pounds, which put me slightly over the 200 mark for the first time. And I got back down to about 180-ish. And then with Wesley, I was so, so, so, sick...and lost about 20 pounds the first trimester with him. Gained my normal 40, lost 20. With Benjamin, gained 20...didn't lose a pound after. And the same thing with Judah. Gained 20, haven't lost a pound.
Here is what I have done: nursed for 19 months, while eating much like when I'm pregnant. And I'm hungry and thirsty...all.the.time! Switched to Diet Coke about 2 months ago, and only drink 3-5 a week. Quit putting sugar in my coffee about the same time. And increased my fruit intake, and some days my water intake. And I exercised for 25 minutes a day, for about 2 weeks, a month ago. And lost 4 pounds. That's it!
And gained 2 back!
So, my great Lose The Baby Weight advice is to exercise every day. And eat healthy everyday (and less). And you'll lose a few pounds a week.
May I take my own advice! (I'll keep ya posted)
