For those of you who don't know, I used to have another blog so if this looks familiar to any of my readers, I am the original author so yes the original post was on my previous blog. This revised post is why I'm re-posting it to this blog. I hope you enjoy!
"The greatest gift you can give your family and the world, is a healthy you."
-Joyce Meyer-
There really is no way to fully prepare for the changes that a female endures on her body when she's pregnant, even the post pregnancy physique. When I took all the pictures you see below, they are leading up to a six month post-pregnancy timeframe (for my first daughter)...it took a very committed and dedicated six months for me to loose all the baby weight that was developed for the pregnancy. It didn't help that my body was forced to take some extensive medicine during delivery and the first post week after delivery, but I managed to shed the baby weight none the less.
Top Left: This was the December/January after my daughter's birth, with the specific size of clothing and wearing clothing that would assist in covering the c-section hormonal belly bulge that typically comes to light after having your baby. As I look at these images I still remember so vividly how conscientious I was becoming of the bulged stomach. I know what you may be thinking, how could someone who seems so confident in her writing and who holds high self-esteem for herself be so conscientious of her figure?!? First off for those of you who don't know or especially who have never gone through a pregnancy and post-delivery, please hold you tongue in check because you can't possibly understand. So the answer is yes, at that time I was. Before you go being judgmental or critiquing me, I wasn't being conciscentious for vain reasons, I mean shoot if I had the ability to spend as much money and time on my self and training/working out to secure I went back to my size 8/10 curvy latin boy pre-baby (or babies now), I don't think this post would even be in existence.
I do believe there are a few different reasons how or why this tummy bulge sticks around. I will say I'm not one for excuses about your own health and well being, if you have a goal in mind for your physical and mental well being than make it a priority otherwise you're just making excuses as to why you aren't getting there. The reason for my conscientiousness of wanting to lose the baby weight had nothing to do about insecurity towards my husband (well at that time since he's an ex-husband now), I wasn't trying to lose the weight so that I could remain attractive to him. I'm sorry but that's the dumbest reason why I think a woman should persevere-pregnancy and childbirth are natural and women are made for such a miraculous and monumental experience but it comes with the "scars" after, almost as if it were a battle scar. I didn't care what anyone else was telling me like certain family members who were pushing for me to be back to a certain size and I didn't care what the public saw when they see me in public (never have and I still don't). The main reason why I decided to persevere was because my "mommy brain mode" kicked in. I was extremely healthy before my pregnancy (thanks to my mother's encouragement and my father's hard working in my education) and I knew I wanted to be as healthy as I could be for my daughter; I feel that how healthy I was pre-pregnancy was a valuable and blessed contribution to how my daughter was born strong, healthy and whole regardless of the stressful pregnancy we endured She came out of me taking away all the nourishment and "good juices" from my body. Feeling and working in all aspects before my oldest came along, was the goal, so that no matter the physical demands and the possible tough/tougher times that would be endured I would manage just fine. It just so happen that if you're also a smaller size you can shop for cheaper clothing :p Why maternity clothing and larger clothing is so expensive...is beyond me. I understand that more fabric and material is used, but at the rate of obesity in this country you would think that the clothing for the thinner people would be a few dollars more instead. Anyhow, I digress from that squirrel tangent....
Top Right: The January/February picture was taken during the time where I wasn't as concerned about wearing clothing to cover up my mid section, tummy bulge, and "love handles"...no I was just resorting back to some of my maternity shirts and dresses to feel comfortable, confidant, and have clothing fit me a little more loose. Ok let's face it, some maternity clothes are so darn comfy that why wouldn't you still wear it even after the baby is born!?! The Capri in this pic were definitely still my maternity Capri.
Middle Left: These two pictures were early March, where I was literally starting to feel able to push myself physically through the workouts. Not 100% pre-pregnancy fit but a very good percentage of that healthiness feeling. It's hard to explain but hopefully you can relate to that which I can't really put into words. Sometimes it has nothing to do with inches or weight-loss and its all about that"feeling". Do you know what I mean? It's the feeling of inner power, strength, and agility. That even if you didn't sleep well your body is ready to take on that extra few hours of labor/work/exertion. No? Maybe just me?...Anyway! I had that great feeling that I was wanting to wear more shorts and I felt the ligaments/muscles at work inside my body. It's hard to explain how to be so in tune with your body, when many others out there aren't in tune or can't comprehend the phrase "in tune with your body." Some just make fun of that statement, claiming its some stupid notion or just a means of paying for a yoga/pilates class. Moving on then.
Bottom: The two bottom pictures with the tank top, are taken for this sixth month post-delivery timeframe, exactly! Feeling great and regardless of what people have said or think, I like how I look as well! Working with no more than 10lb weights in routine patterns with some free weight circuits in addition to eating well (the same way I did before the pregnancy) I feel like my old self again completely! I'm at 189.2lbs instead of the 210.6lbs on my release from the hospital in October of 2016.
Of course that's not my ideal weight so its a continued progress of getting leaner and loving it! Working out for me serves as also a stress reliever so for those struggling to get rid of your baby weight, let's find something that you love to do that will provide you that boost of energy but calorie burn to lose the baby weight the right way without worrying about it's ugly return because you have a downtime in the mix of your weight-loss. It's to get me back where I was health/physically but it was also my biggest stress reliever. When things are difficult in the real world, running and being outside provides me my distraction, but pushing my body harder and longer is what takes away my anger, stress, and frustrations of life
When weather permitted back then I would strive to get home from work early enough to have ample time in taking my daughter on a long walk in her stroller while I got my workout on, sometimes with my dogs as well, the wonderful dogs I had at the time (and that would be three at that time by the way). Other work days I worked out during my lunch hour at work, in the gym provided by the building. Either way since then I've always kept in my mind to complete the 10,000 steps! During that time the Apple Watches weren't out yet so yes I had a Fitbit to keep that count. I do strongly suggest for someone to get a calorie tracking app that has the ability of collaboration and integration of a steps tracking tool because it will assist someone in getting themselves into a healthy regimen or routine so that they can either 100% be dependent on or that they use to get accustomed to the healthy life changes you're trying to integrate. I continually remember what my doctor and surgeon told me, "it takes up to ten months for your body to prepare in creating and having a child, so keep that in mind when you are getting impatient or frustrated at not losing all of the baby weight yet. It takes time to heal and sometimes longer if you had a cesarean, like you did. It might take a full year before you actually see physical improvements." As many can attest to, it's always easier said than done, but for something like this I know what I'm telling and can openly tell you because I've gone through it twice now!
Don't panic and don't stress, because this will be an example of slow and steady will win the race. Besides you want to lose the weight so that you don't add it back on in a brief moment of laziness, life circumstance/s, or worse case scenarios. Time truly is on our side momma's don't get discouraged and loose faith in yourself! So new momma's or women trying to lose the baby weight. Make a goal and stick to it - even if others laugh or critique it. It's working for me and I'm not dieting NOR am I skipping meals. I'm a person with a budget, busy life (sometimes on less than four hours a night of sleep), child, family, friends, and long driving time to and from work; if I can make it happen other women out there have no excuse. Stay strong and you got this. Also, just remind yourself that we are all works in progress not only spiritually but physically, so you won't be perfect therefore the beauty will lie in the imperfections and in all your hard work to get to your end result. A fact that remains for me to this day, I'm always still working on the reduction of the baby weight fat (especially since it was accumulated all over again on the second pregnancy I had with my ex-husband).
I think one of the older tradition methods of the woman being on house arrest for up to forty-five days post-delivery has dwindled or lost it's "prestige" or perhaps it's no longer a necessity that women demand any longer, since everyone is about work schedules and getting all you can for your buck...I get it all however its this old tradition in some latin and even European cultures that practice this forty-five day house arrest. I know it's sounds amazing to some (who are homebodies) but for the rest of you, that's not the case. How you spend your recovery post delivery will depend on your doctor and the advice/suggestions they provide. Although, this home arrest serves for various benefits I'll only name the top five benefits: 1)you get some of the best bonding time with your baby during this house arrest 2)if you didn't do the old school pregnancy techniques before the birth then you can definitely use this time to create a solid schedule for your baby and their habits. Save yourself the future stress 3)if you had a natural birth than these forty-five days will provide an easier physical transition of nourishing what your body needs to produce breast milk and in turn rid that baby weight fast! The results will be shocking. If you had a c-section birth than these forty-five days spent in house arrest will allow your body to completely rid yourself of the excess air and inflammation caused by the surgery. This air is what your body intakes during the surgery and can leave you very bloated with discomfort for a while-also contributing to that excessive bulge/mommy tummy. Save yourself the headaches or annoying future wardrobe styles by taking advantage (if you can) for the forty-five day house arrest 4)you're body and system gets acclimated to its new sense regarding your baby in addition to the sleeping habits 5)these forty-five days allows mommy to also concentrate on herself mentally and physically because of how hard our bodies are working for the baby, especially for the breast milk creation. The extra bouts of rest and relaxing in your own oasis you create inside your home will do wonders for you moms...
Needless to say, as much as I was annoyed with the house arrest for forty-five days post-delivery of daughter number one I was an avid participant for the second daughter. I took advantage of all the benefits of the house arrest the second time around. That's why I've loved my body no matter what post deliveries. You should too...
Sincerely,
A Distinct Woman
