Postpartum Update: One Year Later

I feel like I'm constantly updating people on my postpartum weightloss status {because it's all I can fucking think about - kidding, kidding - or am I?} But in any case, I thought I would do sort of an official update. I mean, Memorial Day weekend has passed, it's the unofficial start of summer and it's been a year since I had Farrah, so this is as good of a time as any to put it all out there.

This last year has been a mental and physical struggle. I've worked hard...I've fallen off the bandwagon a couple times {no longer than a week}, but for the most part, I've eaten clean and I've been dedicated to my workouts, be it 4am or 4pm, or both some days. I sincerely cannot believe how hard it has been this time. My body is fighting me so hard...or at least it's making me put up a good fight to get it where I want to be. I don't remember it being so hard before. When you go from having babies at 22 and 27, to having one again at 31, it's amazing to see the difference. I've always kept myself healthy and in good shape, so I never thought my metabolism would become an issue. I won't call it any sort of medical issue, as it's certainly not that drastic, but when you are constantly in a mode of health and fitness, you definitely notice the subtle changes in your body and the way it performs, or reacts to your performance. I've come to accept the reality that my body in its 30s needs to be clean-fed a lot more than it used to in order to maintain the size I want.

So all that said, I can proudly say I am at my pre-prego weight. 57 lbs in one year is no joke and no easy feat. I have to allow myself to be so proud of that accomplishment. However, I've been better than this and getting back to that was always the goal. So while I fit in my old clothes, I know I could look a lot better in them, so I definitely am making no plans to stop and maintain here. I truly have about 10-15 lbs-ish to go. I say "ish" because I don't generally use weight as the defining point, as I know that it really all depends what I have muscle vs. fat. But I know that getting where I want to be will likely having me weighing somewhere in that range less than I do now. And we all know, those last crazy 10-15 lbs, just to get you tight and toned are THE HARDEST to lose and require the most effort. Daunting when you feel like you've been giving pretty damn good effort for the last year.

Here is what I know now...I'm fairly happy in a bikini. This is a major milestone in this journey. I can bare it all and while it ain't perfect, it also ain't half bad. And hey, my super cute husband likes it...that's all that matters, right?

So that being said, I had a bit of a cheat week last week...it was a holiday weekend, I was enjoying myself and letting loose and I wasn't worrying about my weight as much as I have been for the last 365+ days. But as all good fitness fanatics do, we get back on track. It's all about balance.

I am stoked about Farrah's new single jogging stroller that should be on my doorstep today when I get home. I sold the double last week, so was without one that could even go on sand {which hurt me a bit this past weekend at the beach}. The plan is to take her on a 30+ minute jog each evening after I get her all in her jammies in order to help wind her down so she hopefully doesn't whimper as much when I put her in the crib for bed. {It has been a harder transition getting her to bed now that she doesn't have formula to help knock her out...she definitely gives me a guilt trip each night now and it breaks my heart.} I think these strolls will be nice for us together and running 30 minutes a day definitely will help my figure!

Additionally, I'm back to my weekly workout planning. I hadn't written one out the last couple of weeks and sort of winged it, but it definitely helps me to see my plan written out and know what I'm doing next. I'm a visual person and I think visualizing myself going and doing the plan I've set out for each day helps me to actually go and do it.

Anyway, it was a year ago to the day that I wrote my first postpartum update post and these were the pictures of me I posted back then. When I see these, I think "what a difference!" Sometimes I forget where I started and it's always good to look back and get some real perspective. I'm going to keep kicking ass, y'all!

This is a picture I took of myself the other day, not really a good profile picture to compare, but you can definitely tell I've made progress. Here's to another year of continual improvement! xo

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Five on Friday

It has been A WHILE since I've participated in 5 on Friday with A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness and The Good Life Blog. It's been a whirlwind few weeks around here with the birth of Farrah Madison and then our very unfortunate {or fortunate, depending on how you look at it} car accident last week. I know I haven't been posting as much, but I will be back in the swing of it soon...we are beginning to get on a schedule of sorts finally...so it may become easier to work in blog time.

Anyway, with all of that said, I did have a pretty great week this week and I think I'll get on with my Five on Friday!

{one}

I took two bridge strolls this week with three other recently postpartum mommies. We found each other in a mommy group on Facebook and decided to meet up! I haven't walked the Cooper River Bridge since earlier on in my pregnancy, so it was nice to be back. It is also quite the workout pushing Breckin and Farrah in my Sit n' Stand stroller up the incline! {I have a large double jogger, but felt it would be a little too wide for the bridge with everyone having to go around me.} Good news is, I'm pretty certain my butt and thighs will get back in shape in no time if I keep up this routine! We are going Tuesday and Thursday mornings and I love having other moms to stroll with. All in all, we do about 3.5 miles each time we go.

{two}

Last night my friend, Suz, and I went to see Florida Georgia Line and Nelly in concert. It. Was. Awesome. We were pretty close to the stage...I love FGL soooooo much. It was my first big night out postpartum and it was a good one. Tyler Hubbard is definitely on my hall pass list.

{three}

I'm five weeks postpartum today and I definitely feel a lot better. Can't quite get the old jeans on yet, but I know with some hard work and determination, I'll get there soon enough. I am starting T25 on Monday. So with that in addition to the bridge strolls and neighborhood walks, I should start seeing some results soon! Ready to feel like myself again!

After T25, I will begin Insanity again. It worked after Breckin! Here is a little timeline of my progress. I didn't take pictures week 3 and 4...so here are 1, 2 and 5 {today}.

{four}

We're finally going to brave a family beach day this Sunday {Father's Day}. I've taken them out to the Windjammer on Isle of Palms already just for a couple of hours while Jake plays beach volleyball, but we haven't had an official tote-everything-we-own-and-set-up-camp-in-the-sand full on beach day. I told Jake I wouldn't be able to do it alone with the boys and the baby...so I need him to not be playing volleyball and just hang with us. Can't wait because I really miss having fun in the sand and waves with the kids. Here is a throwback to one of our first family beach outings when Breckin was a baby:

{five}

And of course, I can't get away without posting an update on little miss Farrah Madison. She is eating well and sleeping better...we are going anywhere from 3-5 hrs between feedings at night. She is such a mellow baby {unless she's hungry!} I can't wait for her to start smiling and cooing on her own...I swear sometimes when she looks at me and gives a little smile that it's a real one and not the gas-induced kind...I can just see it in her eyes. I love the way your babies look at you...like you are their whole world. It's heart-melting.

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Monday Musings: Postpartum Update

I haven't really had a chance to get back to the blog after I announced Farrah's arrival...but hopefully you've been following me on Instagram to see the latest pics of her. I'll be honest, if I had something to post about, I'd have been posting...but let's see...I'm tired...I'm too heavy to fit into anything cute I own for an outfit post...and it's not like life has been crazy fun and interesting...I've just been hibernating with my baby at home for the last couple of weeks. I've made successful outings to Target and the grocery store, etc...and then I braved bringing all three of the kids out to the beach on Thursday evening to watch Daddy play beach volleyball and just get the heck out of the house...but other than that, I've just been getting used to having an infant in the house again...feeding on demand, trying to keep up on the household chores and wondering how it's humanly possible to go this long without a decent night's sleep. So yeah, didn't want to overload you with that on here and bore you to death. You're welcome.

That being said, I did want to pop in for a little update on Farrah, my postpartum weightloss journey and all that jazz.

Farrah is now 17 days old. She is really such a mellow baby unless she's hungry. She is getting increasingly alert at certain times during the day...we can't wait to interact with her more. Here are some recent photos - these are also on my personal Facebook and Instagram, so I apologize if you are seeing these for the second time...but she's a cutie, so it could be worse, right?

I know we're missing Tanner in those pics...but he's at school during the day when I get the most pictures of her in...I need to work on getting some with him!

I feel so blessed to have this sweet girl in my life...just so happy.

On the other side of things, I am currently trying to bust through some of this pregnancy weight. I just have no patience for it...I'm too hard on myself, but I can't help it. Here are pictures of me at 1 week and 2 weeks postpartum...you can see there is progress there, but I'd sure love to fit in my skinny jeans again soon...and I've got a ways to go. I gained around 50 lbs this pregnancy...and much of it is in my thighs and hips! I also came home with a lot of water weight and swollen feet for about a week and a half! I am eager to get back into the gym.

I have been walking every day since a week postpartum...usually 1.5 to 2 miles pushing a double jogger with Breckin and Farrah. It's been so hot, even in the mornings...but I know I have to get back out there right away to see the best results, and quickly. I will begin to hit the gym again in about 3 1/2 weeks and also plan on starting T25 at the same time. I mean, this is what I have to get back to:

That was me just over a year ago. Obviously I have my work cut out for me right now!

Anyway, that's the update for now...the boys are adjusting to their new little sister...Breckin just adores her and always wants to "play" with her...while Tanner is sort of like "whatever" about it. Pretty much exactly what I expected from them. Jake and I have officially made the decision that Farrah is our last child and I'm very OK with that. Our family feels complete now...and this means I will be just under 50 by the time they all leave the nest! Good timing, I think.

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Things I Can't Wait To Wear {Fit Into}

As this pregnancy nears a close, I am getting excited about "normal" shopping again and being able to wear the items in my closet that have been gathering dust for 9 months. Of course, I know some of it won't be immediate as there is usually a lot of work to be done before everything fits again {and I just am not seeing myself looking good in a bikini this summer...boo}, but I'm finally in a place where I feel like I can enjoy perusing online clothing shops again...and get this blog back rolling {apologize for my lack of good posts over the past few months!}

Anyway, onto the good stuff...things I can't wait to wear:

I know I said I likely won't be sporting a bikini this summer, but I still have to be on the lookout for next summer...and isn't this crop top from Victoria's Secret just adorbs? It would be perfect to have while boogie boarding with my sons...{no worries about the girls popping out unannounced}.

I have a few pairs of these PJs from Victoria's Secret and I cannot wait until I can kiss the nights of wearing my husband's t-shirts to bed good-bye and get back to feeling adorable and cuddly...plus, it's just in time for summer, the prime time to sport these babies.

My first treat to myself when I lose all the weight and get toned back up will be a nice pair of bootcut jeans. I am so glad to say "sayanora" to maternity jeans for the rest of my life! These Paige Denim Manhattan jeans look so flattering.

As I work my way back down to size, I imagine I'll find myself going more the way of the Boho chic route when it comes to tops. Something nice and flows that provides comfort while also hiding the post-baby belly. Here are some tops that I find inspiring:

Free People Near & Dear Dot Tunic

Free People Drapey Open Back Tank

O'Neill Harlow Top

There are some good favorites in my wardrobe currently that I am dying to wear and I'm also having a fun time starting to add some new things that I can wear so I don't feel so frumpy as a newly postpartum woman.

If you've had a baby, what did you most look forward to wearing again postpartum? What are some things you wore to hide the belly?

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Insanity: Day 1

Well, so I did it. I completed Day One (again). It's been a few weeks since I've done an Insanity workout, so I was definitely sweating after this one...but I pushed through and finished the entire DVD. No breaks, no stopping. I feel energized and accomplished...it's amazing how just one really challenging workout can make you feel inside and out.

It's been a while since I've done my measurements, but I can tell just by seeing them that even though I've lost the baby weight, I haven't lost all of the baby inches. However, I've definitely made a lot of progress if you look back to my earlier measurements posts in late 2010 after having Breckin. So I'm getting there. Here is where I'm at today:

JUNE 8, 2011
Weight: 134 lbs (5'8")
Hips: 35.25"
Waist: 29.0"
Chest: 31.0"
Thighs - R: 20.5"; L: 20.75" (yeah, this has always been my trouble area! Curse my thighs! LOL)
Arm/Bicep (Unflexed) - R: 10.5"; L: 10.25"
Calves - R: 15.0"; L: 14.75"

And here is the pic...be kind, please:

Well, wish my luck on completing the next grueling 60 days worth of workouts...hopefully I'll see some major progress as a reward! Can't wait to come back with some updates (hopefully good ones)!

Insanity Update - Pics!

Well, here it is - these were taken today. I've been doing Insanity now for almost 3 weeks and the results have been awesome! I'm getting some tone and definition back. Granted, I have a little ways to go, but I am so happy and proud of myself that I wanted to share these photos with you as my update (in place of new measurements, I will take those sometime this week):





Needless to say, for those of you that may be interested in trying out the program, I DEFINITELY recommend it!

Things Husbands Say...

So I don't know if it's just me (or rather MY husband), but it seems that most men just don't think through things they say before they say them. For instance, grabbing my newly aquired love handles just a couple weeks after I give birth and saying how he loves having something to squeeze (whatever that means) is NOT a sweet comment that makes me feel good about myself. Though I'm sure in his head he thought it was. He is constantly doing/saying things like this and I know he means well because he always says how he loves my body and thinks I'm sexy, but after a while, I just have to give him a stone-cold glare and say, "Really? Did you really think that I would think that to be a compliment?" C'mon Jake, KNOW your audience.

Well, so today, an episode of Dr. Oz happened to be on and they were featuring a woman who had obviously given birth a few times and her abdomen skin was very wrinkly and saggy. (With good reason!) Unfortunately, hers was to the point of requiring surgery for any sort of real fix and they were introducing a new form of less-invasive liposuction. Hubby did not know that they were talking about liposuction and says, "Ooh, maybe you should watch this."

No worries, I did not immediately get the shot gun. Jake is still very much alive. (For now.)

However, I'm assuming you know this did not end well for him. My first reaction was just to give him the aforementioned stone-cold glare and ask him why he thought I needed to watch the show. I'll be honest with you all...and I'm sorry, but I have to toot my own horn. I think after the last few months of killing myself and now being so dedicated to the (definitely crazy-insane) Insanity workout program, I look pretty dang good. I'm only 5 months postpartum, so naturally I have a little ways to go, but my tummy is flat and I'm just about to my pre-pregnancy weight. And unlike this woman on the show, I am lucky enough not to have the wrinkly, stretch-marked abdomen skin. I do realize I do not yet look like I did before having Breckin, but I'm working on it.

So of course Jake realized how he sounded and said, "No, you look awesome, that's not what I meant." I guess he was just thinking they were going to have some sort of solution for stretched-out skin since I had mentioned the other night to him how that is what takest the longest to bounce back. My skin doesn't look stretched out while standing, but I had mentioned to him while doing planks and similar workouts, I have that little bit of skin that sort of hangs. (I think most mommies have that for a while.) So then I told him the show was about liposuction and that was the only cure for what that woman had and the poor guy felt like a jerk.

Men, gotta love 'em.

Fitness Idols...

Do you have a fitness idol? Just someone whose body you admire so much that motivates you to aim to look your best? I do. I know some say it's wrong to idolize others, and I know it is. I guess my fitness idol I wouldn't say is someone I "idolize", as in I don't want to be her or have the exact same personality, but rather she is just someone I admire. She works out regularly, eats right and has hobbies that are healthy, such as surfing. I think that is something worth admiring and a lifestyle worth striving for. My fitness idol is Marisa Miller. One of the main reasons she is a fitness idol of mine is that she and I are the same height. So trying to work toward having a figure similar to hers is not completely unattainable. Not saying I will ever be quite as small as she is, but if I get within 15 lbs of it, I'll be happy.

Her stats are the following:
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 110 lbs
Measurements: 34-23-35

As of yesterday, my stats are the following (mind you, I AM just shy of 5 months postpartum, so these stats are not my standard):
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 140 lbs (down 15 from my last measurements post! 5 to go to pre-prego, 15 to goal)
Measurements: 32-31-37 (I'm down 2.5" in both my hips and waist since last measurements post! Still a bit of work to do, but it's happening!)

I think pre-2nd baby at my smallest, I was weighing 125 and my measurements were 31-26.5-35.5, so really not too far off from my "idol". I am aware I'll never be a Victoria's Secret model, but I do love to strive to be the best I can be.

The New Year is going well so far. I started Insanity yesterday. It was a brutal first workout back since my short Christmas workout hiatus (guests in town, etc.), but I managed to push through and finish the entire workout. I felt so much better afterward. And I was conscious to get the amount of water intake I needed. Water is key to weightloss and management...it helps cleanse the system, relieve bloating and keep all systems in your body running properly, this includes metabolizing and digesting (VERY IMPORTANT FOR ACHIEVING A HEALTHY WEIGHT!) Today, so far I've done a butt/legs strength-training routine and I will be doing Insanity Day 2 when hubby gets back from playing beach volleyball. But it's amazing how energized just two days of good exercise makes me feel. Bikini season is just around the corner and I want to be ready for it!