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!
I’m in! I love your site!
I’m in!!
I need help and I’m willing to get on board with you. I have 7 children and I’m in the grandma stage but I don’t have to look like I can’t be healthy. I’m committing! I’m excited!
I know I don’t need to lose weight but I definately want to tone up and I always need healthy recipes. So yes! I would love to see this happen. Best wishes to you and that darling baby!
Count me in! If I could love exercise as much as I love cookies, life would be so much more balanced. Maybe a little OBB Fit Club will inspire me to do just that!
Love getting your emails every day and would LOVE to hear more about your weight loss tips and tricks.
Yep, that gorgeous baby is worth the extra weight – especially since you know what to do to get rid of it again! Congratulations on the cutie!
Yes!!!!! Your previous posts have inspired me so much, I’m down 10 but still have at least 20 to go! I would love to participate with you and can use all the advice and motivation I can get! So excited!
I’m in! I’m turning 60 in a few months and would love to shed my “baby fat” from my 32 yr old baby 🙂 But seriously I do need help!
Me!!
Yes, please! This us such a good idea. Even us old ladies can use the support.
Thanks.
Sounds great. I’d love some weights/routines for 45-60 min of time.
I am totally in. I have lots of baby weight to lose.
I would love it! When I start losing motivation. I re-read your fitness posts and it really helps! I would love some new stuff
I’m in! I’m in the same spot as you are – I spent 2 years losing weight and getting in great shape only to gain it all back in the last 6 months when life challenges poured down. Now I’m trying to do it all again. I know I can do this – but it’s so much better when you are not doing it by yourself!
Love the idea! Would love some weight training ideas to do at home. I live in the country with no gym in sight:) Would also love challenges too!!
I found your website back in September through google searching for blogs of successful weightloss. I was one who was truly inspired by you. I’ve been overweight my whole life, and it became my calling card. At age 30, I just accepted it. Then, all of a sudden, for the first time in my life (age 31), I actually felt how heavy it was. I mean, I felt like I need something to lean on/rest my arms on things, because I just couldn’t manage the heft by myself. That was agony to realize and what led me here. I started walking on this beautiful community trail, strength training and carido with fitnessblender.com because I couldn’t afford a gym membership, and eating portioned GOOD food, not diet food. At the time, I was 287 pounds and the good news is that I am now at 259. But the problem is I have been at 259 since November. The weather got cold, I got sick back to back to back, and my excuses and lack of “want to” started mounting. I am really a team of one here in my spot of the world. It’s just me and so that makes it easy to give in when I don’t really feel like exercising or watching my portions. I am still drinking water though, and not soda, which is a big deal for me, so that is my one advantage right now. All this to say, I do still want to lose this weight and I’m definitely in. I’m easily motivated, but unfortunately, I’m also easily unmotivated. I don’t know how you could go about holding us accountable or helping us with self-accountability (those of us who say we’re in) other than submitting comments, but that’s the biggest thing for me to overcome. If anything, know that I will read each and every word you type on this subject and that is a powerful, wonderful, helpful thing. I appreciate your drive, your encouragement, your message, and your fabulous, delicious recipes (I currently have 3 of your soup recipes frozen in portions-for-one in my freezer!). I know I’ve wrote a lot here, and you may not even read this, but honestly just typing has already started helping me get some motivation again. I can’t wait to keep reading OBB posts and hopefully, moving along with you! 🙂
YES! It would be so fun!!
I’m in!
I am IN!
I’m in!
Yes please. I love your blog and this is right where I am too.
I would love this! Any extra motivation and ideas to stay healthy and lose some weight are always appreciated!
I am in.
Yes!! I hope HOPE you do this! I would like to see some lightened up versions your heavier calorie recipes because, let’s be honest, your recipes are DA BOMB!!
I’m in. 2 pounds down, 20 to go. Although if the scale doesn’t change I won’t care, as long as I shrink!
I had a baby six months ago and I am ready to look and feel like I used to.
We are in ! My husband and I just started a “Healthy Eating” program yesterday and would love to see some ideas on here. Did this a few years ago now just need a “Tune up” ☺ Thanks
I’d love to hear tricks/tips to exercising at home since our budget can’t include a personal trainer/gym right now. Thanks!!
I’m game for anything. Facebook, challenges, weeklys…. anything that provides inspiration, encouragement, motivation, and/or accountability helps me along my own way back to a healthier, stronger me. 🙂
I think if I had partners to share it with like this it would keep me motivated.