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!
YES! Love the idea – separate facebook page would be fun to see and share ideas. Love your recipes, maybe you could add some featured healthy meals, snacks and even some not-as-bad-as-they-might-otherwise-be dessert treat ideas as well as the workout and inspiration stuff. I’m all for it! Love your regular blog and website, I think of this as an enhancement! Looking forward to it!
I’m so excited about this!
Yes, do it, PLEASE!
Great idea!
Yes please! recipes, recipes, recipes! I have gotten to where exercise is now a part of my life, but my struggle is in the kitchen!
Absolutely interested!!!!
I would love to see more specifics on weight lifting plans. Also, it would be fun to have some of your giveaways catered towards a Facebook accountability group.
Yes please! We use y’alls recipes almost exclusively now b/c everyone in the family loves them, so some clean eating and super fatty-goodness tasting recipes are my request!
I would love to learn more! I’m in the same boat as you. I had my fourth boy a few weeks after you and need to shed the “belly roles”. 🙂 Thanks!
Count me in!!!
I am in!! I would love the extra support!
Yes!!!
I’m in! I’d like to somehow manage this while still preparing meals everyone will enjoy at our house. My bundle of joy (now nine) isn’t the most adventurous eater, although he has branched out more in the past few months.
Absolutely! Meal ideas, meal plans, exercise routines-any and all help. Thanks.
I can’t wait to join in!
Great idea!
I’m in! I never lost the last 10 pounds from being pregnant with twins almost 10 years ago. My problem is that I’ll eat great all week and drop a pound or two and then eat horribly all weekend.
So I never really lose any weight. I need to eat well 7 days a week and try to stick to just ONE cheat meal a week.
I think this is a wonderful idea. I retired recently and thought I would develop a fitness regimen, but instead I have gained ten pounds! Of course, it is winter here, but that should not keep me from getting fit!
I’m in! I would love healthy foods that I could get excited about.
I’m IN!
This would be great! I would love to lose weight but doing it alone is hard
love this idea.
Yes! In!
Love it! Want to be a part of it! I recently started trying to lose my “baby fat” and get my body back. I started walking daily with a friend and keeping track of what I’m eating. I am interested in fitness challenges, nutrition/food challenges and daily water intake. I am also interested in knowing what you are doing to shed the weight and get into shape. I would LOVE some great healty recipes, especially yummy salads. I think this will be so much fun for all of us! It is so much easier to work toward a goal when you do it with others and you can help motivate, inspire and support each other!
i’m in!
I’m in! Let’s get fit in 2015! Your pictures are inspiring. I am your “then” picture and KNOW that I can be the “NOW” picture. I am on board!!!
Great idea!! I’m IN
I think it’s a great idea! Looking forward to it.
Yes, please share your knowledge & experience!! I’d love it.
I am in.