weight loss

Weight and Fitness Truths

April 24, 2012 By Lisa 1 Comment

My front porch is my very favorite place to be lately. We planted wonderful smelling flowers, and the second the door is opened, the scent dances around your nose, inviting you to the porch to sit. I love it. I go outside with the kids everyday to embrace it. I think it helps motivate me to get out there and DO something everyday.

Yesterday I forgot to take my vitamins. I’m sure it’s not the vitamins fault, but yesterday was a NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY. I’ve never been so happy to see a Tuesday in my entire life. Also, what a good reminder to take ‘ em everyday.

Since being so inactive exercise-wise just before the baby was born (and for four weeks after), my back and neck have been so sore (old car crash injury, whiplash). Working out intensively on them now has made me even sore-er (yes, I made up a word for it). Life sucks for the time being, until it gets worked out properly, but it feels really good to be back at a fitness routine, and working out regularly again.

But I’m back at it. My fitness and weight loss and getting my body back after baby. It feels good, although sluggish. I feel slightly defeated, like I completely undid all the good I did over the past three years. That is, until I’m doing bicep curls and I still see the muscle definition I once built, I haven’t lost it, I just need to work off the baby fat over it.

And I am freaking ready.

Here’s a picture of me at the doctor’s office at four weeks postpartum. At this appointment, I was told my uterus wasn’t all the way down just yet.

The after-baby pooch still evident.

Here’s my new “before” or “after the baby” pictures – my starting point, sort-of. (Never took pictures when I started back at it, whoops.) Me as of this morning:

Definitely a change from four weeks ago, eh?

Currently, I’m on Day 4 of the 30 Day Shred, and doing the elliptical and power walks (with the toddlers in a jogger stroller and Baby V in my Beco). NOT EASY, but oh so fulfilling. We get fresh air AND time together, all while getting a workout. What more can you ask for? (Except maybe for a fat-zapper machine? Or a love-handle remover? Ahem.)

I’ll be sharing my updated weights and measurements on my weight loss accountability page. I’ve got 12 more pounds to lose to be at my pre-pregnancy weight (this go-around) but almost TWENTY FIVE to get to my “norm” after my big weight loss. Gulp.

Who wants to join me in Operation KMOA (Kick My Own Ass)? Follow my workout tweets with the hashtag #OpKMOA

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I decided to start writing heartfully about something, anything and nothing on Tuesdays. I’ve coined it “Truth Tuesday.” Have something to share? Want to confess, or share a little itty bitty piece of yourself or someone else, no matter how small or how big? This week, I decided to write about my weight loss journey. I’ll leave whatever interpretation of truths you wish to share on yourself, but if you’d like a weekly prompt or have a suggestion for one, let me know. Want to join me? If you decide to share, leave your links in the comments.

2011 Reflections and Anti-Resolutions for 2012

January 3, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

n. res·o·lu·tion

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. A resolving to do something.

3. A course of action determined or decided on.

Last year, I wrote about my New Years anti-resolutions plans on Momicillin, how I didn’t feel people should make lists of resolutions of “improvements” they won’t keep, and that we should, however, reflect on our previous year of accomplishments with attainable goals to match or improve, coupled with experiencing new things or places. That’s my continued goal, anyway. Here’s what I originally wrote:

You know, maybe, just maybe, instead of “resolutions” we should have “reflections” – why don’t we look back on the previous year with fondness for what we’ve achieved instead of what we’ve failed?

Here’s mine:

In 2010, with six kids and a jam-packed minivan, we successfully traveled thirteen states for our summer trip, and attended a blogging conference while having one awesomesauce vacation.

In 2010, my children played a myriad of sports, and my oldest son had a perfect football season – they were undefeated. It was his first tackle football season ever.

In 2010, my middle son and I were cleared health-wise for not having cancer. (Talk about something to celebrate!)

In 2010, I survived many times flying parentally solo while my husband had to travel away for Army business.

In 2009, I successfully lost 30 lbs. In 2010, I lost 10 more, taking my total lost to 40lbs. I took my fitness and health by the balls and wrangled that sucker in a full-nelson to the ground. 2011 will be a year I will be in the best health/fitness-level of my life.

In 2010, I was more successful in writing/blogging than any previous year.

In 2010, I was asked to join Momicillin. It’s been happily ever after ever since.

As for 2011 and my anti-resolutions? It’s pretty simple – love my children, love my husband, my family and friends, and to not take anyone or anything for granted. It’s always worked for me, why change it now?

For 2012 I am going to do the same thing; celebrate what we accomplished in 2011 while looking forward to more life experiences and growth in 2012. Here’s my list of 2011 reflections and my “anti-resolutions” for 2012.

In 2011, I wrote this post about a dear friend deploying that ended up being honored for the 2011 BlogHer Voices of the Year. It meant a great deal to me to be recognized.
In 2011, I wrote my 1000th post. Here’s to one-thousand more!
In 2011, our family went to DisneyWorld, again, for the DisneySMMoms Conference. In 2012, we’re hoping to do the same! Also, in 2011, I was a traveling fool, to Nintendo Headquarters in Seattle, to the Mom 2.0 Conference in New Orleans, to BlogHer in San Diego, to Gatorade HQ in Chicago, and much, much more. (Hoping this birth is easy, and I have a good traveling baby like I have had with Baby Dude, so that I can continue this trend!)
In 2011, we bought our first house and moved to San Antonio. (We don’t hope to buy again for 2012. Or, y’know, a loooong time after this crazy experience.)
In 2011, we announced baby number seven is on it’s way. (Other than this one’s arrival in late February/early March, we don’t hope to duplicate this for 2012. Or 2013. This is our last baby.)
In 2011, I, again, had a more successful year blogging than I did last year, and did my first TV segment. Woohoo! (And this growth is something I most DEFINITELY hope to smash this again in 2012!)
And, lastly, near the end of 2011, I hired a blog designer to revamp this site. Expect to see major changes this month that I’m really, really excited about.

More “anti-resolutions” for 2012?

Start a couple fun new series on my soon-to-be newly redesigned blog, such as “How Do They Do That?” where we’ll detail how we do what we do with so many kids, to include humor-filled posts like, “Out of the Mouth of Husbands” and continue developing “Things That Make Mom Go Batshit”
Continue putting myself out there, blog-wise. I want to grow as a person as well as a writer.
I also want to (finally) learn my camera. 2012 will be the year I will learn all the fancy settings, dangit!
Stay as active as I can through the last weeks of my pregnancy;
Give birth to a beautiful baby boy or girl to complete our family, hopefully having a dream-like birth;
Bounce back as soon as I can after I give birth and get back to kick ass fitness once more, blogging my process along the way for moral support;
Travel more, especially with the family (we’re planning an even bigger family road trip this summer);
Continue loving my family like there’s no tomorrow, never taking any person or opportunity for granted.

What do you think about New Year’s Resolutions? Do they motivate or intimidate you?

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F is for Fail (and for Feeling Fat)

September 26, 2011 By Lisa Leave a Comment

Losing weight.
Eating right.
Staying active.
It’s one of my main focuses during my weight loss journey since 2008.
I don’t think I can begin to explain to you the feelings of dread I feel when I step my bare feet onto the scale, only to see the numbers keep rising.
Yes, I’m pregnant.
Yes, I know I’m not big like this anymore.
But I certainly don’t feel thin like this with a baby belly, either.
But if I’m (still) doing everything right, why is the weight piling on, such as it is?
Why can’t I stay thin and be all belly?
Why are my thighs rubbing again, and pants getting too tight?
Why do I feel so flabby, so gross?
Why do I have to be one of the unlucky ones who can’t stay thin while being pregnant?
I’m so freakin’ tired of this stupid struggle.
I don’t want to see all my hard work undone.
This is my last baby, and I want to enjoy him/her, but dammit, can’t I enjoy him or her without becoming a freakin’ house?