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’m in
Yes, please do it. I’m in!
I’d love to join in! I had a new years resolution to eat healthier and exercise every day and I’ve already messed it up. I don’t have any great ideas for you at the moment, but a plan to follow along with and comment when we do it, to keep us accountable, might be great. I’d prefer no facebook, but I know a lot of people like it.
Yes! I’d love some family-friendly healthy food recipes, and exercise tips.
This sounds wonderful!
i would love to see some workout plans! After your post about getting fit, I joined a gym. It is a small gym and doesn’t have classes and I can’t afford a trainer, so I am doing it on my own, and could really use some ideas. Especially since I had never set foot in a gym prior to last August!
I’m in!
Can’t wait! Great idea!
Yes, yes, yes!!! I would love support, food ideas, workout options, really anything on the subject. Love you guys!
I have read and re-read your weight loss post many times. It really did motivate me to get fit and take control of my eating. I was able to lose 30 pounds and get into great shape. You recommended Jillian Michael’s workouts so I tried them and now I am hooked. She is fantastic! I love the quote “Lose weight in the kitchen, get fit in the gym”. I would love to see you take it from both sides. Lots of healthy and delicious recipes and great ideas for working out and staying on track. The constant reminders and success stories are what motivate me. I need to see them often.
Well I’m in 🙂
Great idea. My struggles are eating less sugar and tracking what I eat. Any help would be wonderful. Also home exercise ideas. I live way out in the country with no gym around. Thanks, I can’t wait.
I would love to hear anything you have to say about this topic! You inspired me so much with your story! Definitely in!
Another vote for YES YES YES! I recently re-read all of your previous posts and was bummed there weren’t more. I love the “this is real-life” attitude/style you’ve shown with getting fit. Would love to see posts on really anything from you with this really!
I would love to be a part of the group!
I think this is a really exciting idea-so much more inspiring to see it from someone who has struggled with weight in the past then someone who it comes to more naturally.
Mostly I want to thank you for the way you wrote that post. As someone who struggles with infertility and would give just about anything to have a baby, I cannot stand to hear the women who constantly lament about the baby weight. I want to say to them, guess what, if you don’t want it, I will gladly take it! Love your perspective and realizing how worth it it is.
I would live to be a part of this! While I didn’t have a baby, I did have grad school. Which means I also chose ice cream and onion rings! I would really appreciate help trying to manage two different goals in one meal, my hope to cut calories and lose weight and the boyfriends goal of gaining muscle.
I love this for the new year! I mainly need help with the eating. What to eat and to stay on track through motivation:) thank you for doing this!
Yes! Do it!!! I loved your transformation post! I’ve been there myself and I so wish I would have documented it when I lost 85 pounds. My hubby lost 100 this year! Crazy! Our new life if great and I think to teach people it’s a lifestyle and not a diet is a great thing! Excited for your new book too!
I definitely love this idea! Getting & being fit is always a yes for me.
yes please! Living in a small rural community in the mid west we only have a wal mart and a Kroger for groceries, so I’m wondering if you can post about healthy food choices and ingredients that don’t have to come from trendy places like Trader Joes…
I’m in! I’ve shed 90 pounds through WW but am staring down the last 25 and would love a support group with you lovely ladies!
Sounds awesome! Exercise tips at home, easy healthy recipes, and maybe something about the importance of staying positive all interest me.
I would love to be involved. I am pregnant with baby number 2. I got health and fit before the first one but need to get motivated to be healthy now and continue after the birth. Thanks!
Yes yes yes!
I’m in. Stepped on the scale right after Thanksgiving and I weighed what I did when they admitted me to deliver my 1st child (a 10.5 lb baby!) Talk about a wake up call. I started right then and I’m already down 13 lbs, but still have a long way to go.
This sounds so great! I’m embarassed to say that I’m a dietitian and have over the past year become overweight. I broke my leg last January and am still not able to do a lot of exercises (running, playing basketball, etc.) My goal is to fit into my clothes that are sitting in my closet right now and be in normal BMI range. Hey, sometimes dietitians need motivation too!
Yes! Just what I need!
I’m in! I would love a real program to follow. If you include exercise, I would love a low impact option due to my bad knees. I am new to your site but have heard of it from friends. This is just a bonus to find that you are focusing on fitness and weight loss including healthy recipes. Thanks!
I’m in!! It always helps to have a support group. I love the idea of weekly challenges, to keep it fresh and mix things up. I get bored with the same diet/workout.