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 am in. 3.5 years later I am still at The same weight as when I gave birth. I have lost 2 pregnancy since then and I don’t know if it’s because of the weight but that sure has not helped want to eat any less. I need a change.
I would love it. Thank you!
I am already giving it my best shot. Meal prepping, going to the gym etc…I would love to see have the extra support.
I’m in!
Count me in!
PS. Baby is adorable!
I’m in
I would love to be apart of your fit club! 🙂
I am so in!
I’m in! 🙂
I need to do something – I am in! Just went to the doctor and my weight is back to my pre-pregnancy weight (I lost 6 lbs during pregnancy and 42 lbs after) and my blood pressure is up (never been before) and I just need to get started….
I’m in for sure!
I’m in!!! I’ve been carrying this baby weight for about 5 years! lol Plus more :-/
Yes!! I would love all of that! I exercise everyday, but I struggle with the healthy eating part. I have 3 boys and really do t have time to do everything like the whole 30 diet that is such a fad right now. I need healthy things that are easy and good! I need to know what normal moms are doing that works without taking tons of time!
I am in!
Count me in!
I’d love to join in and have some help/motivation. I have a big trip this summer and my son will be leaving for 2 years. I want to have family pictures that I will love before he leaves. I’m tired of always being tired and wishing I would have started something.
I’m in!
I could use some help for sure!
Yes, please. I need the encouragement, and welcome the challenge!
Yes, I am in! Am looking for something like this to get me off my butt and working out again. Thank you for doing this! Looking forward to it.
I’m in! While I love all your recipes, I’d love more healthy yet kid friendly recipes for this challenge/group.
I’m sooooo in!!! Can not wait to get started!!!! Thx sooooo much for doing this!!!
I would love to participate and see all of the things you mentioned. I would love to see also is work outs that can be done at home. I don’t have the money right now to get a membership to a gym but I know it can be done at home. Would love to see healthy crockpot recipes and freezer recipes.
Count me in. I’m dealing with a second round of cancer – a wonderful husband who also happens to travel every single week leaving me alone with kids at our way-out-in-the-country-with-no-neighbors home – awesome kids who think signing up for every single after school extracurricular activity offered is awesome and super fun and can’t figure out why driving an hour to all of these events might make me cranky – a daughter who started this fall at an out of state college 13 hours away – a daughter who just started an out of state job 17 hours away – an in-law with serious health issues – a parent with serious health issues – my best friend who just moved out of state – and not enough courage to join a gym with the body shape I’m in. My solution thus far has been quantity baking and stress eating and I’m really REALLY good at both of them. (also good at self pity!) I would love a healthy eating, exercise buddy system to help keep me accountable and help me stay out of the Christmas cookies.
I would love to be part of a community of getting healthy and fit– especially surrounded by those who love to cook and bake like I do! Whatever you come up with I am sure would be amazing. Maybe we could have an online tally of pounds lost by everyone in the group?
I loved that you shared your story. I struggle with keeping motivated and your story gives me hope. I would like healthy dishes with serving size and nutritional info. You’re a motivator please keep sharing!
I would healthier recipes! I need healthy snacks that will keep me going, not eating just fruit…… I work night shift, so I get in a rut, don’t know when to eat and then what to eat, and end up eating the wrong things!!
So need some different ideas!!!
Count me IN! What would be most helpful to me? Post more Clean Eating (minimizing processed foods, avoiding white sugar and white flour, etc.) recipes that taste good and can be made ahead. I like to cook a meal or two at the same time and ahead, double recipes and have some to freeze. Meal planning for the week or even month in advance sets us up for success when we are tired and don’t know what to cook. Thank you, ladies!!!
Count me in!
I am so in! Baby #3 is due in April so I would love to follow along and be inspired to start in May. I still have weight from baby #2 to lose. I lost the weight after my first and then some, so like you I know I can do it, I just need the motivation. Cant wait to follow along and start!