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!
This is such a good idea! I had baby # 6 about two weeks after you and I really need the motivation. I’d love to know any tips you and Kate have, as busy moms, for creating a healthy lifestyle. It is so nice to see how real people make these changes. Thanks for being willing to share!
The food portion of being healthy is the make it or break it for me. I would love healthy meal ideas (which I know you guys already do a greet job of). I wouldn’t be opposed to some at home workout recommendations too. Baby is due anyday now and I know I won’t be back in the gym for a couple months.
Yes, I desperately need help! 6 children and a husband and a busy life.
I would love to see more about fitness! I’d be especially interested in nutrition and exercises you can do without a gym. 🙂
I would love a meal plan/recipes and workout schedule that we could all follow together. This sounds awesome, I am excited! 🙂
I love this! Having some sort of ‘buddy’ keeps me accountable and I would love to get more fit. Healthy snacks is where I lack the most, home work outs would be great (I do have a treadmill, weight machine and some free weights). I was only doing cardio until I read your post very inspiring! Count me in. Also like the FB group idea.
Love it! Please do, I’m in!! I learned a TON from the things you shared before.
definitely interested!
Yes!! definitely interested
I’m so in….I had my own little guy almost a year ago. And while I actually have lost the weight I gained, I don’t feel like I’m really in shape.
I’m in! My baby boy is now 6 months and while I technically fit into my pre-preggo clothes, I feel soft and weak! I have been wanting to start working out and this may the extra push I need 🙂
I’ve taught myself some basic yoga from YouTube, but I have no idea what I’m doing in a gym and can’t afford a personal trainer. My workplace has a gym but I’m scared to use it and I don’t know anyone who does! I’d love some really basic tutorials on gym procedures, etiquette, how to use hand weights and machines, etc.
Yes! I would love to see a weekly challenge and as always–great, healthy recipes from your site that are my go-to for weeknight dinners!
And I really appreciate your approach to weight loss as a means to getting healthy, and not as a punishment for being pregnant/being 40/enjoying food too much! We are all “foodies” which is why we love your site, so to celebrate fitness while still enjoying good food is what I would love.
I’m in!
I’m in! Your post inspired me last year, and I need the community support to get in shape. 🙂
Yes, yes, yes!
Since turning 40 the pounds creep on quickly and without reason. Always love to hear how people succeed and changes they make in their lives based on goals, and also a great time of year to recommit! Fully and completely interested in any direction you have to offer … you obviously know how to do this based on your remarkable success in the past. I actually really enjoy working out and eating healthy but sometimes just need something new and interesting!! Ive scrolled through your healthy meals section more than any other tab in your index and have made those meals over and over again because they are great. Your new cookbook has been pre-ordered but would love some new healthy meal ideas in the meantime along with any tips on how you have found success on this weight loss journey. Your site is my hands-down go-to for meals for my family, so anything you add to provide more health will be much appreciated. Thanks for all you and Kate do to share your amazing skills!!
I’d love to try a group challenge, and read a weekly series and be part of a FB discussion page (so long as it was private!). What I find most helpful from online forums is hearing what other people have discovered to help them along their way. I like hearing new exercises people have tried, new snacks, etc.–anything to break up what can be a monotonous, long-term task. Just trying new things, even if they don’t work out for me, can help me stay interested and motivated. For example, the protein shake you shared here previously has been such a breakthrough for me. I made up my own super chocolatey-peanut buttery shake based off that template. It’s 225 calories, makes more than 2 cups of shake, and is just so delicious. It’s been enormously helpful! So stuff like that helps.
I’m in.
I’m in! Though I don’t know what for exactly.
I would love this! I am going through my own journey of trying to make my life as healthy as I can and I would love more healthy (tasty) recipes and tips for fitting in all the food prep that eating whole food takes.
Definitely in. Like many others I would love tips on some quick, easy meals that I can eat and share with my family. I also would love some advice on exercise/ strength training “routines” that spell out exercises.
You were my inspiration last year to start training and I loved it. I would love to have a support network through you.
Yes please! I’m due to have a baby next week and it’s baby #4. I don’t expect pounds to just melt off.
I will take all the help/support I can find in getting fit! And finding it from one of my favorite recipe blogs seems like a huuuuge blessing for me.
Yes! I’m in! I’m particularly interested in healthy recipes that are catered to busy moms (your healthy Thai chicken salad for one is an all-time favorite!). And yes, your baby is the sweetest.
I definitely want in!!
Yes please and thank you. And your baby is adorable
Ditto to everyone else: YES PLEASE, I’M ALL IN!!!
Always looking for healthy inspiration and motivation!