Health and Fitness: Baby Weight Blues

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I don’t love exercising.

I get hot and sweaty and I have to actually exert myself. But without it, I would need anxiety medicine and anti-depressants … and bigger pants.

I’ve always been thin, but when I had my second child, I used the pregnancy as an excuse to eat anything and everything I wanted. A particularly shameful flashback involves devouring an entire box of Thin Mints on the way home from work one evening. I packed on 60 pounds—my double chin had a chin.

High on hormones and completely delusional, the bag I packed for the hospital stay included a pair of my pre-pregnancy jeans. I couldn’t even get them pulled up one of my legs. MJ had to go home and get me a pair of his sweatpants to wear home—and I did, after I had a good cry.

Two months later I was back at work, still pushing close 200 pounds. Every day I would park my car and walk the half mile to my office, my rubbing thighs singing a song of mockery, “swish swish, fat fat, swish swish.” I could feel my butt cheeks on the back of my legs. I was a living, breathing embodiment of Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls”, but it still didn’t make me put down the potato chips.

My wake-up call came when I got the pictures back from C’s baptism. Frustrated, I asked MJ, “Who is this biggun’ blocking the baby?” I looked closer and recognized the dress. The dress that I felt so beautiful in when I tried it on in the dressing room, I actually did a spin. In the photograph, I was a wall of woman with tree trunk legs.

I knew something had to be done.

MJ helped me with a weight-lifting plan. We had a home gym which he used nightly. He always asked me to join him, but after a long day at work, followed by making dinner, doing a load or two of laundry, and taking care of two babies under 3, I just wanted to snuggle into my favorite corner of the couch with my “Thank God I made it through another day” celebratory bowl of ice cream. But now, I meant business. With MJ motivating me every step of the way, I committed to 3 nights of weight training a week.

I joined Weight Watchers. I learned what a normal portion looked like. Previously I had been matching my husband bite for bite. I still use the tricks I learned to help me make healthier food choices while not depriving myself. Let’s face it: A life without chocolate is just not worth living.

A friend also asked me to join a local program with her. It was the Charlottesville Women’s 4-Miler Program. Woman from every age and ability got together every Saturday for three months to train for a four-mile race. A training schedule was provided and all proceeds went to fund research for breast cancer treatment. It was fun to get out and meet so many wonderful women and also help out a cause that was close to my heart.

Six months later I had lost all of my pregnancy weight and I felt fit and fabulous. I’ve kept the weight off for more than six years by eating healthy (while not depriving myself) and staying active by running and lifting weights (but not beating myself up over a missed workout).

Exercise and healthy eating should not be used just for losing weight, they should be the first steps in a complete lifestyle change. By setting reasonable goals and making small changes in your diet, you could be on the path that leads to a healthier, happier way of living.