Yes, you read that title right: Not the baby weight, the toddler weight. It’s just easy to use the excuse “I just had a baby,” but the truth is, he is coming up on his third birthday, and I am holding on to this excuse and the extra weight.
I knew I wasn’t where I wanted to be, but I didn’t know how bad it got. I still remember the day it hit me. It was unseasonably warm during our winter trip to Florida. All of the summer clothes that I packed made me feel like a stuffed sausage. As I tried out outfit after outfit in a dressing room, I began to quietly sob: Who was this in the mirror? How did I let myself go?
From that moment, I realized something needed to change, and it needed to change now. Yet as fast as that thought, the doubt started to creep into my mind looking at all the failed past attempts: Where will I find the time? How will I stay committed? How will I stay motivated when I inevitably have a set-back?
I know that my body may never get back to exactly what it was pre-baby, but I need to find confidence in the new version of myself. It isn’t about a certain number of pounds lost, but being comfortable in my own skin. Change is inevitable, if you’re ready to make the effort! Keep in mind, I am not a doctor, and this may not work for everyone based on your personal needs!
Water: Drink more water! Sounds simple right? Full-disclosure, I love pop, specifically McDonald’s Coke, so going cold turkey wasn’t easy! I purchased a nice water bottle from the store with ounce markings on it so I knew how much I drank, and how much I had left to drink daily. I set a goal to drink three full bottles a day. Even a simple thing as drinking more water makes me feel refreshed, and hinders my usual urge to snack.
Snacking Smarter: With a desk job and being on the road often, it’s easy to get sucked into junk food snacking. I purged all the candy from my desk and travel bag. I replaced the junk food with healthy snacks like unsalted raw nuts, healthy snack bars, and skinny popcorn. And I also make sure to have fresh fruit or protein-packed yogurt available for my midday sweet cravings.
Meal Prep: I have never really been a bad eater, but I wasn’t consistent (such as going a whole day only eating a bag of popcorn). Every Sunday, I was already spending time packing snacks and lunches for my son, so I just took a few extra minutes to pack my own. Meal and snack planning makes it easy to stick to healthy options. Everything is ready to go and I don’t have to think about it.
Getting Others Involved: I am fully aware that I will never hinder my husband’s love of cheap tacos. But he is so supportive of my goals, that he decided to join in! He joins me in my home workouts and helps me keep an eye on the goals I set. I also got my cousin in on the fun! She signed up for the same workout program and follows a similar meal plan, so it is fun to check in on each other and hold each other accountable.
Keep It Real: There are days I slip up and have a pop, or splurged when a restaurant offers gluten free dessert. I keep it all in perspective, and try not to get bogged down when I treat myself a little bit. I also set small goals for myself instead of one big overall goal. It makes me feel so much more accomplished to hit those small goals, instead of getting discouraged and not seeing the end goal as achievable.
I am still in the very early stages of getting back to loving me and finding that confidence. But, I’m proud to say that I have lost about 10 pounds so far. More importantly, I have more energy and am starting to see real-time results. I am excited to see this journey continue! My current goals are to feel confident enough to rock some cute summer looks (including a bathing suit!) on our next vacation. Followed by running an obstacle-ridden five mile race with my husband this summer!
What are your go-to tips for keeping yourself healthy? How do you hold yourself accountable?
