Hey hey friends, how was your weekend?
The days are blending together for me, but the weekends are still nice because it means people are around to play with me (and the lil man!).
We spent Saturday cheering for the 49ers and their incredible last minute win. Such a good game. And thanks to our friends Dan and Kate who came over equipped with groceries to cook us a meal. Awesome!
I mentioned last Friday that it’s time to kick my bootie into gear after having Sawyer. I’ve been semi-cleared by the doctor to be somewhat active and with that means reining in the horrendous eating. Yes I can still indulge, but no more binge eating.
Though I realize I’m only 19 days postpartum, I’m feeling a little down about my body. Again, this is my feeling. And the reason for it is because I have assumed that I could eat whatever I want and breastfeeding would just melt the pounds off. So not true. I should know better than to assume there is an easy fix. It takes discipline and hard work.
My good friend Laury just wrote a fabulous post about Body Image After Baby and I really resonate with what she wrote. Check it out!
So, now what?
Now I resume my healthier lifestyle and get moving more. This will mean long(er) walks using the Bjorn or the stroller and reduced snacking with more balanced meals. I’ve already noticed that eating is tough with the soybean since he tends to want to eat when I do, so I just wolf down my food. I think I can eat a few bites, feed him, and then nuke my meal when he’s done so I’m not scarfing it down and reaching for a snack immediately after.
I also mentioned last week that I’ll be tracking calories. For me, this helps me account for all my eats. Because breastfeeding is estimated to burn approximately 500 additional calories per day, I am going to target 2100 calories for my daily intake. If I find myself starving or low on energy, I will increase the calorie take accordingly. And per usual, I will have more calories on the weekend cuz that’s how I roll 
Alrighty, so here are the stats as of January 16, 2012, 19 days postpartum:
- Weight: +13 pounds
- Ribcage: 30”
- Waist (bellybutton): 32”
- Hips: 35.5”
- Right Bicep: 11”
- Left Bicep: 10”
- Right Thigh: 21”
- Left Thigh: 22”
(all measurements at widest part)
And wow, I feel very vulnerable right now. Ugh. But by putting out the honest numbers, I know I will work that much harder to see them come down – in a healthy, maintainable way.
Here are two photos I took on Friday, 16 days postpartum (casual clothes for sitting at home with Sawyer all day):
If you have any good at-home (mild) workouts, please send me a link or offer suggestions.
I think you look amazing so soon after the baby! With getting extra eating under control and being more active hopefully you’ll be back to normal in no time.
You really do look great Shanna. You’ll get back to a weight you’re comfortable at in no time.
Also, I love that your comfortable clothes still look cute, whereas when I’m dressing comfortable, I look homeless.
Oh believe me I have some comfy clothes that make me look homeless too..love that comment..haha
Oh S, I totally feel for you. I think all throughout pregnancy the most fearful thing for me hasn’t been pushing out this kid or giving up my life to raising him, but of being 20+ lbs. overweight and *not* having another life form inside of me. Even if I’m still on maternity leave and people won’t see it right away, I’m terrified of what it will do to me emotionally. I applaud you for posting your stats for all to see. It’s tough, but that accountability will really help you to track the changes and to look at your progress in a positive way. Many people will continue to tell you you’re beautiful, which of course you are, but I’ll stick with this uplifting comment instead: The feeling of accomplishment after losing the rest of that weight and getting back into pre-baby shape will be so intense, that from then on your 1-2 lb. weekly fluctuations will seem completely trivial by comparison. And that, bestie, will be one awesome victory.
Oddly enough that didn’t bother me almost all through pregnancy…I think I assumed I would lose a ton just giving birth and then with breastfeeding. Now I’m realizing it really isn’t that easy. Sigh. I know that the pounds will come off once I can truly exercise, but it’s hard seeing the scale and still feeling like clothes don’t look right.
It will be a victory when I get there though!
I visited my friend a few times a few weeks after she had her baby and I always made sure to do it around dinner time- that way I could hold the lil’ peanut and she could eat with two hands! (something she said rarely happens)
Yes yes yes, such a big help to have extra hands to watch soybean so I can eat like a normal human being
You look great for just having had a baby! But, yes.. the pounds sure didn’t melt off for me either. To top it off, I gained 60 (!). With whatever exercise I can fit in and a pretty strict diet I’m losing about 1lb/week now and still have 20 to go until I’m at my pre-pregnancy weight. Just hang in there! It might take a while, but with the right mindset you will get you to where you want to be.
As soon as you fall into a rhythm with the baby, things will get much better on the cooking and exercise front too!
Congrats to you Mandy! It isn’t easy but we’ll both get there
Thank you for the shout out, love you.
It gets better. And yes, I started counting my pro, carb and fat cals/percentages, not directly to lose weight, but to make sure I was eating enough! I was so gung ho in the beginning about eating so healthy..I was eating A LOT but everything I ate was low in calories pretty much. Your body NEEDS so much more fuel while BF and it will hold onto fat regardless. I’m going to cover a lot of this in part 2…but just be patient. I know how you feel, and just so you know, even though you are feeling down, I sincerely thing you look amazing.
I need to incorporate more healthy options and less snacky stuff because that’s what’s really holding me back. That and the complete and utter lack of exercise. One dog walk a day just ain’t cuttin’ it.
And thank you Laury
Girlfriend you look FANTASTIC!!! I am really into the low-impact at home workouts right now but thankfully, I have a treadmill and ET so I’ve been enjoying incline walking and intervals work on the ET. Have you heard of the Body Core Fusion workouts? They are awesome, only 10-15 min each and low-impact. They work on all different areas of strength building like butt and thighs, core and abs, arms, etc. You can do all of them for a full body workout (about 45-50 min) or break them up for what you have time for.
Thank you Lauren!
Where do I get the Body Core Fusion? On Demand or DVD? I’d love to check them out!
Thanks for getting real yet again, Shanna! I love when bloggers do that… makes the shared experience that much greater! I definitely understand that it’s ultimately what you think that counts, but I do think you look lovely!
I’m glad you appreciate it Katie – that means a lot to me!
omg he is beyond adorable!! and you look fantastic! Pinterest has been a great way for me to shake up my workout routine in the new year. I pinned so many different workouts that now whether i have time to go to the gym or not I pull up a few on my app and follow them. It’s gotten me to do different circuits, making time go by faster instead of just zoning out on the elliptical.
I think you’re just trying to get me on Pinterest Mila
Awe too cute! I can’t believe he is already two years old! Holy Moly! I know a lot of light cardio videos that are pretty inexpensive if you go on half.com You will get it lose the weight girl and inspire so many people along the way!
Cool, I’ll check it out Hollie
He’s so beautiful and you look absolutely AMAZING Shanna!
Shanna, you look beautiful! You have a new Mom and you look so slim! As soon as you can do some real work outs, I’m certain those 13 lbs will melt right off. Keep the Sawyer pictures coming – he is adorable.
You’re so fashionable and fierce in your “hanging out watching a baby outfit 16 days post-pregnancy” picture that it makes me question my not-so-stylin’ “24 years old and wearing more sweatpants than I knew I owned”. Love your plan, though, and I think you’re going to own it and get back to loving that rocking body as much as pre-baby!
Haha, Jordan you crack me up. Admittedly I don’t get dressed until noon so my outfits are pretty short lived
Shanna, you look amazing! And I have no doubt that the baby weight will melt right off. And you’re going in with a plan, so success is inevitable!
I just found this workout and thought I would share. I don’t know it’s safe for you to do at this point, and if it is, maybe you can modify the movies.
http://images.teamsugar.com/static/imgs/fit_fullbodycircuit.pdf
I can do pretty much all those moves — thanks for the link
Shanna you are going to rock those last 13 pounds right off!! Would you be interested in taking up running? I notice when I run that I drop a lot of weight quickly!
You are looking so great for being 2 weeks postpartum! Remember it took a while for the baby weight to come on so it will take a litle time coming off! But I get where you are coming from. I’ll probbaly have those same feelings and will be antsy to get the weight off.
Your son is so adorable! I love all the baby pics! Are you taking 100 of them a day? I’m sure I’ll be snapping pics around the clock each and every day!
Yes, tons of pics! Thank goodness for camera phones because that’s what is usually in reach so I just snap away and send them to my family instantly. It’s fantastic!
2 weeks out & you look insanely good! Like, not fair good. Stop stressing.
You’ll get there! I know nothing about post-partum weight loss, but I have a feeling that it’s going to happen when you’re not even paying attention.
Plus, as he gets heavier he becomes an automatic arm workout. True story.
Your body was amazing to produce a baby so don’t get too down about the extra cushioning! It’ll come off with time
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