The Gym

Filed Under Gym, Weight | 4 Comments

A week and a half ago, I joined a local (chain) gym. I am really, really enjoying it. I know, strange, right? I am actually to the point where I look forward to working out, and miss it if I don’t. Part of that could be that I get an hour to two hour break from my children during the day. Seriously, for only $30ish a month, I get free time.

So here are some things I do at the gym. I like to do all the weight type machines (I know, technical terms lol) and then I force myself to run/walk on the treadmill for 17 minutes. I have worked up from 12 the first day. Once I get to a half hour I am going to gradually increase the speed and the program on it. I wish there was better tv on in the morning, because I can plug in headphones and totally watch tv WITHOUT A CHILD INTERRUPTING. Some days I head upstairs and do lots of free weights, and some exercises that the horrible personal trainer showed me. On those days I also like to head to the pool. I swim laps for 30 minutes- I forgot what a great workout swimming is even though I am much slower than I used to be… then, get this- I sit in the hot tub with a magazine, ALONE. Cheating? Maybe. But this gym thing has to have perks, right?

And the really cool thing about going to the gym? I get to shower, alone, and get ready without anyone bothering me at all. I can completely do my hair and makeup, and even put on lotion. The other day the kids were annoying me, so I went to the gym to get ready. I forced myself to do a quick workout first to justify it but then I got ready in peace. Y’all should look into this gym membership thing. I could come up with a completely different marketing strategy for them. Oh and another perk is that I have lost six pounds already.

Happy 6 Week Birthday, Little Buddy

Filed Under Doctor Stuff, Milestones, One Month- Taylor, Weight | 1 Comment

Today Taylor is six weeks old! Time is absolutely flying by. Even faster than it did when Bailey was this age. He is doing a little better with letting me put him down (although still just for a minute or two at a time!) and he has also slept in his bed for about an hour or two the past few nights. Baby steps, right? I had my six week postpartum check today. Got the “green light” for all activities. Yikes. But that means I can get my gym membership in the next few weeks, which I am really looking forward to. Now I have to lose the weight from two babies since I never lost after Bailey! The nurses all passed Taylor around today and commented on how cute he is. My OB’s nurse also said, “Wow, he looks JUST like Bailey!” Anyone who really knows her can see the similarity between them. I love it.

This picture was taken yesterday after Taylor rolled from front to back FOUR TIMES on his own. The day before he was six weeks old. Looks like we might have another early mover…

Getting Back in Shape

Filed Under Future, Input Needed, Pregnancy, Second Pregnancy, Weight | 3 Comments

One thing that I really struggle with is my body since becoming pregnant with Bailey, and now with this current pregnancy. The problem is that I never lost the weight I gained with her. I was on pro.zac for a while and I breastfed for a full year. Everyone kept saying that once I quit nursing the weight would come off, but it never did. I had a weight watchers membership for a year (online) after that and I lost a few pounds. In fact I just remembered to cancel that membership the other day after Jonathon griped at me for paying for something every month that I don’t use. Once I have this next baby and get back into a normal/new routine I would love to seriously do something about my weight. I want to be look better for myself but I also want to be healthy and have more energy for my children and spouse.

My plan is to either get some type of exercise equipment like a treadmill, or to join a gym. There are a few nearby that I have heard mixed things on but if anyone has any specific recommendations I would love to hear them. One thing is that I LOVE to swim and would prefer a gym where I can swim laps if I go the gym route. Also price is a big consideration. Thanks for any input.

Botanical Gardens Trip

Filed Under Fifteen Months, Outings, Teething, Weight | 2 Comments

We went to the Missouri Botanical Gardens on Wednesday morning with Amy and Kaitlynn. You can read her blog post about it here. It wasn’t so hot, but it was really muggy. I should have pulled my hair back. That’s all I kept thinking. Bailey was a little crabby because of her bottom right molar coming in. It looks so painful, just poking about halfway through her gums. The whole tooth isn’t even through, just like two of the points on it. I don’t envy her at all with this teething business.

Anyway. Aside from the crabbiness, Bailey seemed to have a good time. She played on some of the sculptures like last time, and she even posed for a picture and I managed to get a good one!

Bailey also wandered around a lot and put her snacks down on the ground to go play. Then, she would walk back over and pick up her snack out of the dirt and try to eat it again. She also got really sweaty and sticky. But here are a few shots of her playing and sharing snacks with Kaitlynn.

The last thing we did there was put the girls in an empty fountain to play. That sounds bad, but it worked out really well. There is a new area and they hadn’t filled the fountain yet. Bailey and Kaitlynn were both kind of wandering off and just being generally in weird moods. So we put them inside this fountain and they ran around and played in there for a bit. It was nice not to have to chase them. Bailey seemed to enjoy being in there, too.

A day at the Botanical Gardens can really wear you out!

Sometimes I think treadmills are a good idea, but if I could just motivate myself to go walk places like BG or the zoo I would probably enjoy it a lot more, and so would Bailey. By the way, I lost 3.8 pounds this week! Finally making progress.

Weight Loss

Filed Under Weight | 3 Comments

Continuing the struggle to lose the baby weight. I am really feeling better lately- my doctor started me on a new medication and it has helped a lot with my energy level. I thought about trying weight loss pills but I am scared about what they do. I have just heard too many horror stories. But now that I have more energy, I think I am going to go to the gym tomorrow morning! It’s been way too long since I’ve gone and I need to get back into a routine.

And I have lost two pounds in the last week. I know that’s not a ton but at least I am making some progress.

Why am I sad?

Filed Under Difficult Stuff, Doctor Stuff, Weight | 9 Comments

I got my blood work results back from the doctor. Everything’s fine. No thyroid problems, no anemia, no blood sugar issues… so basically, I am fat and lazy for no reason. I almost wish there was a reason, so we could just fix it. Seriously, I am exhausted all the time. She said we can talk about the possibility of depression or anxiety, or a sleep disorder. Great. I can hardly wait until my appointment next month.

Tired

Filed Under Complaining, Weight | 4 Comments

Seriously, I am so tired all the time. I tried convincing Jonathon and my mom that I either have a thyroid problem or chronic fatigue. I cannot lose weight and I am exhausted even after sleeping eight hours at night. My mom told me to try going to the gym. *Sigh*

Something exciting-

Filed Under Me, Milestones, Weight | 1 Comment

My wedding rings fit again! It’s been way too long. I was able to get them on a few times just here and there since B was born, but for about the last two weeks I have worn them consistently, every day. They are still a little snug but I love being able to have them on again, and not wearing the random sapphire ring on my wedding finger anymore. I feel married again

Also, I am so glad that I didn’t end up getting them resized. They even fit those few warmer days so I don’t think it’s just because of cold weather. If I had resized I would have lost the engraving, so that would have been a last resort.

I am giving up

Filed Under Blogging, Weight | Leave a Comment

on my weight loss blog. I never update it, and it has not inspired me or kept me accountable like I hoped it would. So from now on, my weight loss updates will be here. So far, I am down about 5 pounds from when I started. I think I am going to put a weight loss ticker on here when I have a few minutes. Right now my daughter is being very demanding! Also I started two days ago with writing down ALL my Weight Watchers points again and I know that help my eating habits.

My Ring

Filed Under Weight | 2 Comments

I really wish I could get my wedding ring back on my finger. Some days it fits and other days, it doesn’t. I was going to get it resized until I found out that the engraving on the inside of the band would get messed up. I am hoping that if I can ever lose some more weight, it will fit again. In the meantime I am wearing random gemstone jewelry because I like to still look married

Weight loss shakes, supplements, etc

Filed Under Input Needed, Weight | 1 Comment

So I have been doing the working out thing lately- but I know I can’t really “diet” while I am BFing. What I am trying to do is cut out the junk but still get enough calories. (You can read about my weight loss issues on my other blog, Nine Months Off).

But what I am wondering is if I can do any sort of nutritional supplements or shakes or anything to help me get the stuff that I need. I am always afraid that I am cutting TOO much out of my diet. Has anyone had a really successful pregnancy plus previous extra pounds weight loss/exercise plan? Want to share?

Errrrrrvvvvvvvvmt

Filed Under Five Months, Weight | 3 Comments

That is the sound that our camera has been making.

Best Buy has our digital camera. It’s the one thing we actually bought that stupid product protection plan on, and thank goodness. There is a little thing that slides across the front of the camera and that’s what makes it turn on and the lens come out. This thing is kind of dying a slow death… which results in the camera randomly turning off and closing mid-photo shoot. Ug. Also sometimes the screen decides to be black instead of showing me what I’m photographing.

So I have these pictures of Bailey from before we turned our camera in. The good news is, they said it would probably be easier for them to just replace instead of try to repair it. And since the camera is three years old, newer models have been made. Know what that means? New camera for Jonathon and Tara! Woo hoo! That cloud has a silver lining, I suppose.

Also, I joined a gym/community center today and I am looking forward to going to work out with my mom tomorrow. Her asthma has been acting up a little bit. Sometimes it is brought on by allergies, and other times by exercise. She has switched inhalers and meds a few times recently trying to get it straightened out. I hope she doesn’t get to the point of needing a pulse oximeter or nebulizer or something like that. But anyway now I am off track… I am seriously dieting. Well, not really since I’m BFing, but I am planning to eat better at least.

Anyway, I leave you with these old, but cute, pictures of my Muffin.

Squeezing Back In

Filed Under Complaining, Weight | 2 Comments

Um, yeah. I’m trying to squish my finger back into my wedding ring/engagement ring. I had to quit wearing them about 34 weeks, and then when Bailey was around two months old I was able to get them back on (they are soldered together). If you didn’t know me/read me back then, I got insanely swollen toward the end of the pregnancy. But for the last month or so, I haven’t been able to get them on at all. I am hoping it’s just swelling from the heat/humidity.

Has everyone else been able to wear their rings by now except for me? Just curious- I thought about getting mine resized but Jonathon and I had our wedding bands engraved (mine says All My Love and his says Forever My Love) and they said it would mess up the engraving… we could always get it redone but it’s the thought…

I am going to at least hold off until the weather gets cooler and see if it fits any better. This SUCKS!

Baby Weight

Filed Under Sponsored, Weight | 1 Comment

Losing the baby weight is really frustrating to me. Jonathon commented tonight that he thinks my stomach is firmer than before. Which makes me feel good… but I haven’t been getting to the gym like I should. I just can’t make myself go when it’s this hot out. It’s like the last thing I want to do is get even hotter and, God forbid, break a sweat.

Sometimes I am jealous of people who use stuff like hydroxycut. It makes it seem so easy, but I know there are risks associated with it and I’m not willing to take those risks. For one, I am breastfeeding and Bailey definitely doesn’t need that stuff. And two, I had corrective heart surgery as a child and even though I don’t have any restrictions, I try to be more careful with my metabolism and heartrate than probably the average person would be.