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!
Sounds great!! Keep sending some healthy/yummy meals along with your awesome recipes!
I’d love it – I injured my foot in September (Plantar Fasciitis) which has been so painful. So – I’m out for awhile with exercise and will focus 100% on diet – counting calories (logging food on MyFitnesspal.com) and drinking lots & lots of water. I know it CAN be done w/out exercise and hoping my foot heals. I wouldn’t mind learning how to lift weights though – but I don’t want to bulk up.
Sounds awesome! I remember your post a year ago and how inspiring it was! I would love that inspiration and motivation again. I will definitely stay posted to any ideas or discussions you will be having to help me stay focused on my goal!
The precious blue eyes I get to look into are now 6 months old, and I like you will never feel bad about a pound gained. Although the love of my “mud flap” is quickly dying. So I am all in. Having a community of support would be great. I am game for whatever you do, but being in a small town where personal trainers and gyms are scarce a workout plan or challenges would be great! Thanks for sharing your story!
Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!!!
I’m in!
Yes I would love this!!!
I would love this! And since you have over 1000(!!) comments on here already, so would a lot of others, it seems! I would love to see ways to exercise without spending money (or minimal money) on a gym or a program. And flexibility. I have 5 young kids and I want to be healthy, but it has to be realistic and can’t take over my life. You ladies are the perfect people to do this, because you understand that a life without chocolate or fun isn’t worth living!
I’m in! Would love simple, family friendly healthy recipes that are still filling!
I’m in too! I’d like to see healthy snacks and lunches ideas please.
I’m in!
I’m in! Having a support group always makes anything better and easier to do!
I would love to join a group. You transformation is awesome.
I’m in! I would love some great recipes for healthy cooking and I would love to see what you and others are having success with as far as workouts! It always helps to have a village!
I have been trying to live healthier and loose weight for a while, I have a VERY limited about of time and Money. I need ideas for the whole family, and for me. I want to take better care of myself, and need extra motivation, so anything would help at this point. Maybe you have a prize or intensive for all that participate and succeed at their goals? Or a message board for Mom’s like us that need support…
I am having my third(!) c-section soon. I would like to know about exercises I can do to strengthen my core after so many surgeries.
me too!
I am in!
I am in! Lets do this!
I’m interested!!!! 🙂
In!! Need help!
Definitely interested!
Yes please! I recently lost weight with Weight Watchers (my first 5 pounds) but I’ve got 25 to go! I’d love to see some of your healthy food recipes also as I’ve been sticking to the same things and am getting bored!
I’m in, I also have a newborn and need to start taking off the baby weight.
I’ll enjoy any post on fitness and wellness but I’m most interested in how to strength train at home with simple dumbbells.
I’m in! I’d love to do whatever you all are doing to look (but more importantly) FEEL great! I’m up the exercising and nutrition ideas and workouts, along with the “REAL” and honest challenges that we all face as mom’s and wives of busy families – how can we overcome the time issues, energy issues, self doubt issues? While I’d LOVE to look like your after picture, I am more challenged to have a strong and healthy body, so I am trying to not focus so much on the weight, but the inches and nutrition of what I’m putting in my body. PLEASE keep me posted on the plan!
This would be awesome! My baby is just barely 8 months old, and while I’m basically back at pre-pregnancy sizes, I’m not nearly as fit as I should be…. I basically have no muscle anywhere except for my baby-lifting arms. 🙂
I am in!
Please help with yummy but healthy cooking ideas that are EASY-TO-USE and you might be able to get your family to eat. I’ve tried so many times to lose weight but I get frustrated when it feels like I have to prepare foods for me and then something for the family.
Love to be on the journey together!
Count me in too! Would love to have some encouragement and healthy ideas. I’m reading this after the next day’s post and I love the ideas for snacks you keep on hand, for example. I know what’s healthy and what’s not, but it’s great to have new ideas, and support!