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 would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE for this to happen. I am in exactly the same boat as you–just had my 4th kid 2 months ago and am trying to get back into shape. Your previous transformation was amazing and I would love to hear how you did it–what exercises, what you ate, etc. I think it would be so helpful to have a facebook page, etc. to help with motivation. Thanks for such a FANTASTIC idea!!
Yes yes yes! I would love to participate in this!
This would be so great! I don’t have weight to lose so much as I want to get toned. So things not totally geared around weight-loss only would be good – weight training at home tips especially would be nice. And if course health, EASY, QUICK recipes 🙂 so excited about the new cookbook.
Love this idea!!
I have read and experimented a little wirh SANE eating. It is difficult because I am a vegetarian and I can only fit fish into my diet a few meals a week. I would love to see recipies along the SANE (high non starchy vegetable and protein intake). I feel awesome eating that way. But can’t sustain it as a vegetarian. Wish I could just switch back to meat but it’s been 21 years. I would live to see recipies along those lines though, LOTS of non-starchy vegetables and high protein. I also liked some of the other commenter’s ideas to show what meals for an entire day look like!
I would love anything that gets posted on this topic! I am definitely the before picture from this post, also just had a baby (though mine is only 7 weeks). Thinking that taking advantage of burning those extra calories while nursing couldn’t hurt the whole wanting to lose weight! If I’m being totally honest, I’m lazy. I need meal ideas that are healthy and use ingredients that I will most likely keep at home all the time. They also need to be quick, like really quick and easy. Because let’s face it, if I can’t make my lunch if close to the amount of time it takes to throw my 3 yr olds chicken nuggets in the microwave and slice some fruit or vegetables, I’m probably just going to eat her chicken nuggets with her. I’m all about quick and easy with every day ingredients, nothing crazy. I guess I just need some motivation because if I could get from that 12/14 size down to a 2/4 life would be good!
I love your blog, and was truly inspired by your weight loss and your generosity in
posting about it. I really wanted to be like you, BUT, you know the story.
I am using the fit bit, and the one good thing is walking 10,000 steps most days.
So thank you for that, and my daughter who bought it for me.
I would love to read anything you have to say about fitness, so please keep up the good work
and I’m in !!
Sue
Absolutely! I’m in! Great idea!
I would love it!
Holler!!!
I’m in. Let us know when and how!
I’m in!
Sign me up! The healthy food planning, making & still feeding a family & hoping they’ll eat it with me are some of my concerns on the food end. Otherwise, I want to know more about your weight lifting & other tips/tricks. Thanks ladies!!!
Count me in. I try to eat healthy most of the time, but the holidays are a real killer & this year I decided to bake waaay too many cookies that I hate to see go to waste. I haven’t picked up more than a couple of pounds, but they settled into my gut area & boy do I feel flabby! I don’t usually do ‘exercises’ & driving 15 miles to go to the gym & buy a membership seems like a waste to me. I like to walk & shovel snow, so I’ve been doing that lately, but -20 degrees windchill is a little rough this week!
I’d love to be apart of this. Everything you listed is just what I need. I’m in the same boat as you. I lost 46lb had a baby & gained it all back. Trying to loose it again seems to be twice as hard as the first time. So support would be great for me 🙂
YES PLEASE!
I’m in!!
I would love this! It would be fun to see some fitness or nutrition challenges. I think a facebook page would be a good way to support each other and participate in this together.
Please do this!!!!!
I share your story with so many others as it has also inspired me! Now I am focusing more on strength training than on just running miles training for marathons. Note: Although I run marathons I do not look like a marathon runner, though my goal is to do so by my next one.
I love this idea and want to be a part of it in whatever form you offer. Challenges are great. Healthy, simple recipes are a must but mostly what I could use is help with strength training routines. I’m sure I could do more scouring of the Internet for them but the first time I went to the gym I felt like the idiot Brian Reagan refers to in his comedy routine. And that keeps me from being consistent. Sad face. Maybe recommendations of how to find a good personal trainer and any other great tips you’d be willing to share is what I suggest. I love seeing success stories like yours and Diana from livylove.com. I want to be one of those success stories. I’m in.
IN!!! I agree … I would love to see some of your daily menu plans. ANNND I can’t wait to get my hands on your new cookbook!
I am in!!
Absolutely! One of my favorite things about your blog is how simple you explain things. When it comes to exercise , I need lots of encouraging words and easy workouts I can do. Core strength especially.
Yes, please! If I can’t be workout buddies with you and Kate in the real life, the next best thing is to do it virtually!
Yes!!!!
Sounds awesome! I’m a stay at home mom and love to be involved and work with other people. And I love getting new healthy recipes and snack ideas!
I’m in!!
Yes, please!! I am prego with #4 right now, and although I lost all the weight plus some after babies 1 & 2, I didn’t lose any weight at all after baby #3, and so I started this pregnancy behind the game. A weekly post and maybe a private Facebook group for daily updates to keep up the motivation? Is whatever! Anything will be great! I especially appreciate your comment about not minding your rolls when you remember why you have them. It was a great perspective reminder for me:)
I am in!
I love this idea so much!!