Post Baby Body, Now What?

Back again and today's topic: Learning to Love your Post-Pregnancy Body

I remember when I finally got that little + sign with Baby Fox, it was so exciting, we were going to be a family of 3. And then the numbers on the scale started going up. It's hard, I think, as people we are trained to want the scale number to stay the same or go down, never up. So it was super hard to see that number going up every week. Then you sort of start to wrap your head around, yes we want the number to go up, then you think, we'll the baby is 7 pounds, extra fluid is about 10 pounds, 4 pounds is extra blood pumping around...everything else, just extra fluff. I weighed myself just before going to the hospital...

A few minutes before leaving for the hospital, clean and sweet smelling

 and then I weighed myself when I got home from the hospital...and you know what? That stupid number was EXACTLY the same. Like really, it could have AT LEAST been 6 pounds lighter (how much Baby Fox weighed), but nope, it was the same, I had a long way to go.

Coming home from the hospital

 The weeks after Baby Fox got here were a blur, eventually I came out of the fog and started walking with him every day. Then when I got the clear from the doctor to exercise, I started with a group called Stroller Strides. It was life saving, not a doubt in my mind, it helped me get through those first months after baby. It lead me to a group of women who kept me sane and kept reminding me that I am a good mother no matter my size or shape. My hips were wider, jeans just didn't fit the same. I was a different size. I had to accept that fact and look at my precious baby boy and just work it. I worked out like no other, I worked out 5 days a week with Stroller Strides. I worked hard, really hard. But you know what? It didn't feel like it, I was with other Mom's, some new, some already 2 or 3 other kids. I had a group of woman who answered my newbie mom questions, people to talk to that didn't just stare blankly at me when I talked. But my hard worked paid off, I was back to pre-pregnancy clothes about 4 months after having Baby Fox. People would always say, oh you just bounced right back, and I would say,thanks, I did, but I worked hard for it. I don't let people think that I got to how I was, because I have good genes...nope I worked for this.

Baby Fox is almost 4 months old

 When Mini Fox came I was about 5-10 pounds heavier than I was with Baby Fox.

2.5 hours before Mini Fox arrived

This time I decided to use one of those bamboo belly bandits (I seriously have a problem with the model they are using on that front page, like really? Couldn't they have found a woman who was ACTUALLY postpartum?! Not some super skinny...you know what to make us all feel like we should look like that), and you know what? It freaking works! If you don't know what it is (I didn't until I went to buy some nursing bras at Motherhood Maternity 1 week post baby, and it helps to just suck everything in, helps fight gravity from pulling everything down). Seriously, it felt better when I had it on. I didn't feel the weight of all that extra poundage weighing me down. It was a little uncomfortable, but with time you just get used to it. You're supposed to wear it 24/7 for 6 weeks postpartum. I think I did it for 24/7 for about 4 weeks, and then I wore it while just at home and sleeping for about a week, and then I stopped wearing it the last week. But I think it totally helped, I was back in my per-pregnancy jeans about 6 weeks after giving birth. Not sure why I "bounced" back faster, maybe it was because my hips were already wide, so I didn't have to adjust to that fact or maybe it was my body remembering, oh yea you've done this before, we're going to be okay. I once again joined Stroller Strides full time (I was only going before on my off Fridays), and worked hard.

2.5 months post baby, Mini Fox is sleeping in the stroller off to the side

I have learned that your hips change, the fat get redistributed to different places, but that it takes you 9 months to put on the weight, so it might take you that long to get it off. A reason why I worked so hard is that I knew I was going back to work and didn't want to buy new work clothes, motivation right there! Plus I knew once I went back to work, I needed to be in maintain mode, I knew I wouldn't be able to go/get to the gym as often, maybe 1-2 times a week, if that.

Bottom Line I worked hard for my postpartum body, it didn't just come naturally, but my hard worked paid off, and I didn't have to buy new work clothes either time :) Just remember, your body is your body and it did amazing things to give you the little human you have now. So love it, nurture it and it will be nice back to you.

If you have any questions about the Belly Bandit, just shoot me a message, I was not sponsored by them, just wanted to let you guys know something that worked for ME.
    Have you learned to love your post-pregnancy body?     Check out the other mama's blogs for their stories.  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this topic.   

  In the difficulty of motherhood, it's so important to find other mamas to relate to.  Toddlers can be a handful and leave you wondering what to do next.  This series is here to help you navigate through toddlerhood while being able to relate to other mamas going through the same thing.  We may not always know what we are doing but we give it our best shot anyway.  Come back each week to check out our new topic and read along with the other hosts of our One Year and Beyond series!  

The Not Quite Military Wife// Like a Morning Cup of Coffee//  Meet the Sullivan's

 From Here to Eternity//  Pig and Dac//   Everyday Love

A Cowboy's Life// Life of Faith//  Foxy's Domestic Side//  My Delicious Adventure

Oct 2:     Toddler Diaper Bag Essentials 

Oct 9:     Learning to love your post-pregnancy body

Oct 16:   Busy Toddler Activities

Oct 23:   Keeping in Shape While Caring for a Toddler

Oct 30:   Sick Day Tips

Nov 6:    How to Not Lose Your Patience with your Toddler

Nov 13:  Favorite Toddler Outings

An InLinkz Link-up

Work It!

I got cleared and am working out again, yay! Let me tell you, the Double Bob is a freakin' beast! Seriously, it takes so much arm strength to just push it a foot, I might die.

My first week working out again was last week, I am part of this thing called Stroller Strides, it's a great way to socialize with other Mom's and get a great work out in. This isn't some sissy workout, it's hard core, especially on Friday with this lady. Everyone knows Friday is a great workout before the weekend, she teaches several different workout classes around town and is an awesome motivator.

End of class ab workout, yep, I was taking pictures while others were doing abs, the three ladies standing on the left, are pregnant and due soon, I give them a pass.

Last Friday all the kids dressed up and we did a little parade and stroller trick or treating, I think Baby Fox is the cutest one out there, I might be biased though. Mini Fox was in costume, but she slept through the whole thing.

Me and my Zebra

Keeping in Shape with a Toddler...or Two

I've talked about post pregnancy body, and how I got back into shape after the baby, but now I'm going to touch on the subject of staying in shape.

Getting back into shape I was at home, I didn't have to go to work everyday, so I could just wake up, get the kids up and go work out with my Stroller Strides group. Which I did 3-4 times a week.

Do you see me?

But now that I'm back at work I have to make time. Carve out specific time to work out. I'm not going to lie, it's hard. It's hard to not come home from work after 12 hours and want to just lay on the couch or play with the kids. We joined a new gym and that motivates me right there, I don't want to waste money in paying for a gym that we're not going to use. So that helps, but right now my schedule is working out on Monday and Wednesdays. I'd like to carve out some time on the weekend for an early morning run, but so far that's happened twice.

I think it's important to make time for yourself. Yes I'm gone for 12 hours a day at work (granted 4 of those hours the kids aren't even awake yet), but I need some time so that I can feel good about me. How does it help my family, if I just feel lousy about myself and how I look/fee? If that means that I get home to turn right around to go workout, with Baby Fox in tow, then so be it. He's come to expect that at least once a week we're going to the gym after work. Lately on Wednesdays Mr. has been working late, so I'll have my parents come babysit after work while I go to the gym for an hour. It's such a blessing to have them so close, so they can come over for an hour or so to watch the kids.

Diet is big too, I try not to over indulge, knowing that I'm only working out 2 times a week, 3 times if I'm lucky. Having food allergies helps too because most things that are really bad for you, I can't eat, so that helps too. I just realized I've never done a post about my food allergies...I'll have to do that soon!

Once Mini Fox is not taking that late evening nap, I'll probably take the kids out for a walk/run on those days that I'm not working out at the gym. I think that no matter what it's important for you to make time for yourself, some time to feel good about who you are and how you look, cause let's face it we all have those fat days when you just feel blah, and if working out twice a week helps lessen those blah days, then I'm all for it!

 How have you fit exercise into motherhood?  Check out the other mama's blogs for their stories.  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this topic. 

In the difficulty of motherhood, it's so important to find other mamas to relate to.  Toddlers can be a handful and leave you wondering what to do next.  This series is here to help you navigate through toddlerhood while being able to relate to other mamas going through the same thing.  We may not always know what we are doing but we give it our best shot anyway.  Come back each week to check out our new topic and read along with the other hosts of our One Year and Beyond series!  

The Not Quite Military Wife// Like a Morning Cup of Coffee//  Meet the Sullivan's

 From Here to Eternity//  Pig and Dac//   Everyday Love

A Cowboy's Life// Life of Faith//  Foxy's Domestic Side//  My Delicious Adventure

Oct 2:     Toddler Diaper Bag Essentials 

Oct 9:     Learning to love your post-pregnancy body

Oct 16:   Busy Toddler Activities

Oct 23:   Keeping in Shape While Caring for a Toddler

Oct 30:   Sick Day Tips

Nov 6:    How to Not Lose Your Patience with your Toddler

Nov 13:  Favorite Toddler Outings

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Ways To "Get On Your Bike" And Make Some Mom Friends

Hi Foxy Friends! You must be thinking, how can getting on your bike, make you friends? Let me tell you a story. Back, about 10 years ago, I was at my cousins graduation party from college and my uncle was giving a speech about my cousin. Saying how charismatic he was and how easily he made friends. Then he went onto say that when they moved, he had no neighborhood friends, so he simply got on his bike and went door to door looking for friends. Ever since that speech Mr. and I would tell each other, we need to get on our bikes to make some friends. So I'm giving you 5 ways to "get on your bike" and make some Mom friends.

| ONE |  Take Initiative

When we first moved to our city, I had one friend, but she didn't have kids yet. You know how that is, when you have kids and they don't...it's harder to get together and too many months pass before you see them again.  It is a daunting task to try and make friends in a new city. Where to begin? This part can be scary, you have to take the initiative to find friends. I went online, searched "MOM Groups" in my city, and a bunch popped up. To be honest I can't even remember when the group was called, it was an app...not even Facebook. It was like findfriends, or something...but I said, what the heck. we're meeting in public places, I can do this.

| TWO | Show Up

So I went online found peopel to meet up with, and this is important, you have to actually show up! Super scary, to show up to Starbucks and not know what anyone looks like? I just showed up, didn't know anyone, but we all had kids, that's at least one thing in common.  I don't even drink Starbucks, but gosh darn it, I was showing up to find my people. It took many meet ups to find people who got me, but eventually I did.

My first play date with my new friends.

7 years later we're still talking, granted the one on the left moved away, but we still try to get together when we can.

| THREE | YOU Make The Plans

I find that when you are trying to make new friends, if you ask, they will most likely say yes. Most people are not planners.  I am a planner, have you seen my day planner? I like making plans.

So I find a time that works for me, and I sent out a text message or email and say, hey let's have a play date, or let's do a Mom's Night Out...and then it gets the ball rolling. It just takes one person to take the initiative and the rest will fall into place. Am I almost always the one initiating? Yes, but they keep saying yes, so I'll keep planning.


| FOUR | Find Common Activities

What I mean by this is you need to find something you like to do, and you'll find people. After having Baby Fox, I wanted to get back in shape, I had heard (by one of the ladies from the Starbucks meet up), that there was this thing called Stroller Strides (now called FitMoms), I mentioned them here. Basically it's a group that meets outside, with strollers and you go through a series of workout moves, each day is different, and you get to workout with your kids in two. Sometimes we would have 30+ woman all running with their kids from station to station doing different exercises. It was an amazing way to meet friends and to also get Mom advice.

Do you see me?

| FIVE | Make One On One Time

It's all great and dandy have a group of mom friends you meet up at the park. But what we all crave is that person to call or text random photos to.  This part is a little more time consuming, but worth it in the end, you have to  make time for some one-on-one time with your new friend. Whether it is a play date with just the two of you and your kids, or a Mom's night out. Make time to really get to know your new friends, so that your conversation is more than just surface/small talk and you can start talking about things that really matter in your life.

So those are my 5 ways to make Mom friends. I know it can be super scary, but if you put yourself out there first, more times than not, people will welcome you with open arms, because remember they are just like you and probably feel great that someone reached out to them.

Linking up here