The day where I’m supposed to get super motivated to make life improvements and get serious about dropping the baby weight is here – it’s January 1 people. Actually, it’s January 2nd, but you get it. Two days ago I was pigging out on steak, mashed potatoes, and a brownie sundae with no thoughts about calories and carbs weighing on my conscience. But today, I’d feel like a major loser if I did that. What do you think my #1 New Year’s resolution is as a newly postpartum mama? You guessed it – lose the baby weight!
One thing that has been a disappointment in my second experience with postpartum weight loss is that the weight just isn’t coming off as easily this time. I worked out throughout my pregnancy, gained 12 lbs. less the 2nd time, and returned to the gym a week and a half after delivery. Yet here I am 12 weeks after baby and I’m only down about 20 lbs.
I remember the weight steadily coming off for months and months after having Annabelle thanks to the combination of breastfeeding and regular exercise. And then when I was about 7 months postpartum I plateaued with 10 more lbs to lose, so I joined Weight Watchers. In 5 short weeks I lost 12 more lbs and was officially thinner than I was before pregnancy. Whahoo! But dang, I’m only 3 months postpartum and I’m already getting on Weight Watchers now. This blows! I want another 4 months to eat whatever I want and lose weight in my sleep! But whatever, I’m two years older, perhaps it’s getting harder. Or maybe my calorie burn from breastfeeding isn’t as high this time, or it could be that I’m living a more sedentary life here in Indiana vs. my more active outdoor life in California (Wahhhhhh, I miss you, California!!)
So today I officially started Weight Watchers again – for the 3rd time in my life. I do WW because it works for me. And then once I come down with a case of the skinnies I start slacking and slowly stop doing it. And then eventually I come down with a case of the chubbers and have to get back on WW again. It’s a vicious cycle.
Needless to say I was hungry today. I’m once again training myself to reach for the banana vs. the peanut butter Ritz cracker snacks. After a week or two of doing this I usually stop craving the crap and get really motivated by the decreasing number on the scales. This time I’m doing it with my friend so we can be each other’s accountability partners. I hope this helps us both!
Hey, where did my brain go?
A big side effect of pregnancy and being a mama of a new baby is something called “baby brain.” Baby brain is a condition that is nearly an epidemic among new mothers. It has manifested itself in my head by erasing my memory of all tasks, large and small. I cannot remember ANYTHING. I’m a total space cadet. And no, I didn’t make this up, it’s legit. It’s a real. But so far in 2014 I’ve celebrated small victories for my memory, such as making dentist appointments for our family and scheduling a cut and highlight for myself.
This is my second New Year’s resolution – get organized! Back when I worked in an office I always had a pocket book calendar with notes on all my events, reminders for myself, important numbers, etc. I had it sitting on my desk so I could see it daily. I haven’t had a calendar in a year and I have no idea how I’ve managed to do anything without seeing a note that my past self wrote to my future self. So I’ve decided I need to get a little organizational desk to put somewhere in my house where I can put a calendar planner on it. Of course I need the desk to put under the calendar to complete this picture.
Let’s get this girl potty trained
My third resolution is to potty train my 2 ½ year old daughter, Annabelle. Now that I’m diapering a new baby I have felt like changing Annabelle’s diaper is like changing an 8 year old. She seems huge. Why am I still lifting her tall butt onto the changing table and wiping her ass? I think AB still likes getting changed because she feels like a baby along with her brother. She doesn’t seem to show much interest in potty training, but I’m totally reading that 3-day potty training E-Book and getting it done so she’s chilling in her princess panties by the time she’s three – but hopefully way sooner.
My fourth and last resolution is to figure out what I want to do with my career. I’ve been staying home with my kids for nearly a year now – it’s crazy how fast time has flown by. I know I want to go back to work but I don’t know when and in what capacity I will do so. I feel so blessed to have stayed home with Annabelle over the last year and I feel sad if I don’t give that same time to baby Leo, so we’ll see.
Alrighty, those are my 2014 goals. I hope to be reporting back to you soon that operation lose the baby weight is going well and Annie B is bonding with the toilet. Lots to do this year, but I’m motivated to run a tighter ship around the house and look and feel my best, so I know I’ll get it done. There’s nothing worse than disappointing ourselves, so here is to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014. Happy New Year!