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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Become a Fashion Designer

Mid-Week Musings

I feel like it has been a pretty lazy week so far...at least in terms of doing things outdoors with the kids. It's been raining a good bit in the afternoons.

I started off the morning going to a class at my gym called Cardio Craze and crazy it was. It was much like Insanity except since you are in public, you're probably pushing yourself a bit harder than you do in the privacy of your own home {am I right?} So I am feeling it today, but so glad I did it...think I will try to make it a regular class I attend.

After we got home, I decided to throw on a shirt I haven't worn yet that I got a few weeks ago from eBay. Even though the day was forecasted to be gloomy, I wasn't going to let my outfit do the same!

{Top - F21 - No Longer Available / Jeans - Mudd}

Farrah is doing better and better sitting in her Bumbo. I feel like it's taking her a little longer than it did the boys to get her head control, well, under control...but she's coming along. We're doing a lot of tummy time and Bumbo time. My gym daycare said they had her in the exersaucer for about 10 min and that she did really well {though I've never put a baby in one until at least 5 mos, but I guess as long as her head wasn't flailing around}. 

After we picked up Tanner from school, I took them all out to Chick-fil-a so they could at least play on their indoor toy, since outside play was a bust. 

Anyway, not sure it's going to be much sunnier today...but here's hoping! Tanner has an early release day at school so I'll have him home a couple hours earlier than normal...I'm going to have to get creative with how I'm going to entertain them! 

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Cheers to Skinny Jeans

Or at least to being back in them.

Granted, they're a size or two up from my pre-Farrah size, but I don't feel so humongous in them...so it's nice to feel like I can wear them again...especially in time for fall, when skinny jeans are a necessity to rockin' some cute boots.

{Top - Jessica Simpson {No Longer Available} / Jeans - Mudd / Flats - Coach}

I got a super-cute smile on camera from Farrah yesterday - had to share...seriously, y'all, this is how she is most of the time...I am so lucky.

And I managed to get one of her, Breckin and me:

Not the best, but I tried.

I started out the week right by hitting the gym yesterday. I'm waiting on those two cuties above to get up so I can go this morning too. {I already sent Tanner off to school.} Yesterday was some serious leg/glute work, today I'm undecided between shoulders/back, or hitting a class called Cardio Craze taught by my friend, Nicole. I am leaning toward the latter, but it's not until 9:30, so I'll have to keep up my motivation until then! I am so determined to cruise through this last 18 lbs though.

And now, I'm going to leave you with this totally cute snack I made for Tanner and Breckin the other day after my friend Suz posted it from Pinterest. So easy and I always have the ingredients on hand.

Smile! Have a happy Tuesday!

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Five Things

Yay for another Friday! Fridays are fun around here right now...Farrah was born on a Friday, so she is another week older with each passing Friday. OK, scratch that....they are not fun...I just realized what I said....stop growing up so fast, Farrah!

18 weeks today...that's how old she is. 18 is also the number of lbs I've lost since my 6-week postpartum checkup! {At that appt, I had lost 21 lbs from my weight before I had Farrah, so the total is now actually 39.} And I've got 18 more to go! Yeah, if you do that math...that means I gained a whopping 57 lbs with this baby girl...Oh-Em-Gee...it sucks to admit that to myself {and others} but it is what it is. I blame being pregnant through the entire winter. Now I just have to work my little {well, it's kinda big right now} ass off. This is a pic I snapped yesterday in a top I got at TJ Maxx...and also to celebrate the changes my body HAS made so far...even if I am hard on myself all the time. So this is {ONE}.

{TWO}

Farrah had her 4 month checkup and shots yesterday. She was a real champ about it this time. Only cried for a minute or so. She is 18 lbs 7 oz! {Yes, I'm seeing a trend here with the number 18.} 97th percentile in both height and weight. I am getting a little annoyed with my pediatrician office...they never seem busy when we are there {we were the only ones in the waiting room}, but after the nurse takes us to the room, I feel like we wait in there at least 20-30 minutes for the doctor come in. And then she just seems in a hurry with us. I really like her, but it's been like that the last few times we've been and I'm considering looking at other options. Trying to entertain a 4yo boy with the three books they have in the room and keep an infant happy can be crazy. Next time I may pack some toys for him. But, this is my little cutie waiting for her shots...so happy...it makes it harder knowing that in a few short moments that happiness was going to disappear.

And she's already sitting in her Bumbo...growing fast.

{THREE}

Now that it's just about fall, I'm thinking about walk/jogging the Cooper River Bridge again a few times a week. The mornings have been so nice and crisp for running lately. It's a bit of a trek from my son's school, but such a good workout...the incline burns the thighs and butt and that's right where I need it! Ha! I may start next week and see if it doesn't take up too much time after dropping Tanner off since of course I will have Breckin and Farrah with me.

{FOUR}

I'm such a dummy. I thought my mirrored blue Ray Ban aviators had been stolen out of my car {I had accidentally left it unlocked the night before} because I couldn't find them. I love them so much so I immediately looked online to see where I could find them the cheapest. I found them for $89.99 here if you're interested! I was bummed to be spending the money again {originally I had paid $120}, but they gave me a free pair with purchase worth $50. I could pick only from one brand...I didn't like any of the other shapes, so I went with {surprise} their silver aviators. So two pairs for $89.99 - not a bad deal. But then I found my Ray Bans...ooooppssss. Luckily, I was able to post them on a selling group I'm in on Facebook. I got $80 for them...so I guess it's not so bad! Extra pair of sunnies out of it! These are what I got:

{via}

{via}

{FIVE}
Looking forward to a night out this weekend with a couple of girlfriends. We're actually going to downtown Charleston, which I haven't been in ages. We are going to have apps and drinks at Co and then see where the night takes us. I've heard good things about that place and I'm dying to try it!

Happy Friday!

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