A few weeks ago my husband walked into the room where I was sitting with our 2 month-old baby, took a look at my outfit, and said, “Babe! Back in the skinny jeans? Niiiice!” To which I replied, “If by ‘back in the skinny jeans’ you mean, ‘Babe! You went to Target today and bought really huge skinny jeans!’ Then yes. Yes I am.”
Many of you will remember that about a year ago I shared my experiences losing weight and getting fit.
I accomplished that a few years ago and successfully kept the weigh off until recently. I know there are lot of people in this world who can carry a child for 9 months and then pop back into their skinny jeans a few weeks later.
I am not one of those people.
I knew that going into my pregnancy and I was actually okay with it. I knew I would probably gain quite a bit of weight, and I did. The difference between this post-pregnancy and my 3 previous ones is that now I’m not afraid and depressed of the “after.” Right now I look a lot like I did in that “before” photo up there, but it’s not scary for me anymore because I transformed my body once and I know I can do it again. I know exactly how to do it and I have the confidence I can. Even more importantly, I honestly and truly don’t care how many pounds I have to deal with when I have this to show for it:
Not to get all cheesy, but I can’t hate my belly rolls when I look into those little blue eyes. Carrying a child inside you for almost a year is an amazing, and also rigorous thing to put your body through, so I had a tendancy to reward that body with things like ice cream and onion rings-which is now very apparent.
SO. Why am I talking about all of this again? Because when I was working to shed those pounds a few years ago, I did it very privately. And when I finally shared my story last year, the response blew me away. Hundreds of you commented, and just as many have sent me emails, Facebook messages, and Instagram comments about how that post inspired YOU. I cannot even explain how awesome it has been to read your stories and cheer you on from the other side of the computer screen. So many of you had questions and needed help, guidance, and support, and now I’m in a unique position where I’m doing it all over again- so I figured a lot of us out there could do it together!
(Let’s be clear- I’m back at the “then” in that photo!)
Kate and I would like to do a regular series here focused on health and fitness, but we want to cater it to your interests according to your feedback. Obviously our main focus here at Our Best Bites is food, so we won’t take away from that. For all of you out there who don’t give a flip about all of this health and fitness stuff, no worries. Yummy recipes are still coming, and will always be the focus around here. But we thought it would be cool to use this great community for an OBB Fit Club for the next few months. Some random ideas I had were a weekly series, group challenges, workout plans, maybe a Facebook page to chat- some cool giveaways and prizes?? We’re up for anything. I just know from experience that it helps to have a support network.
So speak up. If this is something that interests you, you MUST leave a comment on this blog post! If you’re reading this via email, click here to hop over and leave a comment. If there isn’t much interest we’ll bag it and do it on our own! We don’t know unless you leave comments and tell us. If you guys speak up and want this to happen, let us know, and tell what you’d like to see/learn/do and we’ll make it happen! Together we can crush those New Year’s Resolutions!
Count me in!!
I would totally be interested in this! I’m restarting this year after getting sidetracked by life problems last fall and could use the motivation and support 🙂
I’m in like Flynn!! I would love a community/support group along with some healthy food/recipe options, as that’s the hardest part for me. I hope this works out!!! Congrats on the precious babe!
I’m in. Would love ideas for workouts at home. Need some motivation here!!
Love it! I’m so in!
This would be awesome! Yes please!
Planning on going about this privately and on my own for 2015 but if you get enough responses would love to have some challenges and encouragement along the way. Any help to keep me focused and on track is welcome. Thank you for sharing your story – I have enjoyed following!
Yes!! And family-friendly healthy recipes are always appreciated! 🙂
Sounds good to me!
I am in. I need to get my metabolism recharged.
Yes, I’m totally in!! I was very inspired by your story. I’m so excited to see what tips you might have and simply encouragement to keep pressing on…
Absolutely love, love, love this idea!! I’ll take all of the tips, motivation and healthy recipes I can get my hands on!
My baby is 12, soon to be 13. I don’t have any excuse other than middle age & a mean sweet tooth, combined w/ a bum shoulder that had me drop out of my beloved fitness studio (zumba, yoga, weights – no good w/ a tear in there, then surgery from which I’m still recovering!)
I joined a ‘gym’, though I have yet to get there. (Do you know how cold it is here?! lol) I *need* to get there.
I’ve started a sugar fast – almost completely cut it out, but still find myself w/ a few grams here & there that have snuck in. I’m working on that. I need to increase vegetable consumption, in a big way. Living in an anti-vegetable household, however, it’s challenging. (I have lots of excuses, it would seem.)
Anyway, I’m in. Accountability is a wonderful thing!
I think this would be awesome. It would be great to see how others are accomplishing their goals and to have some ideas from others that maybe I could try. Whether its nutrion or fitness. And give each other tips!
Would love the motivation!
Yes!!! I’m in!!!!!
Good for you and good for us!!!! Count me in!!!!
Sounds like you’ll make it REAL!!! Gotta like that! Let’s give it a try as you are living proof of the changes that helped you to lose weight and be healthier.
Best wishes on your renew efforts! ~Sandie
I’m in! I’ve been trying to get pregnant for the last year and have been unsuccessful which has led to drowning my sorrows in junk food. I’m believing for 2015 to be the year when everything turns around for me and that includes losing some weight. I started exercising and eating healthier this week so I’m definitely up for any tips that you already know work!
It would be awesome Ito have a place to go to get real life tips, trucks, motivation and share struggles with getting fit!!!! I’m in!
I am not a new mom but I have a goal, so I’m in! I was there right until Thanksgiving, losing ten pounds and doing really well. Then I gained it back. ARGH!
Iam in! Doing zumba and the gym! Good luck to all!
I wish I had time to read all of these comments, but I do not. I too lost weight, but have gained some of it back [sadly, I cannot “blame it” on a baby–it was just me eating and not exercising! 🙁 ]. I am eating healthier, drinking less wine and exercising. I would like recipes that are low carb–not zero carbs, but simply low carbs. That is the easy way for me to lose weight. Your baby is beautiful!
Mimi
Sign me up, baby! I would love an OBB Fit Club!
This might be the kick in the butt I need!
Me, me me! I’m in! I like all the ideas you mentioned, though I don’t care too much about the prizes. Group challenges/goals would be great – meal planning ideas? Some kind of sliding scale to determine roughly what nutritional targets should be? That’s something I have a hard time with…
Count me in! When something is interactive, I am better at keeping it up because I feel more accountable.
I’m in!!! I would love to see some fitness challenge that could be done at home and some healthy eating that is truly budget and kid friendly… Cause you guys are miracle workers right!?!?! I think a blend tec blender giveaway would be awesome. I got one for Christmas and being able to quickly make a quality healthy smoothie or protein shake had been the best thing for me!
I’d love too!!!
Count. Me. In. 🙂