I got pregnant right after hitting my
goal weight of 133 pounds on Weight Watchers (I'm 5'5). I thought
pregnancy was a free ride to eat whatever I wanted, and not exercise.
I gained 50 pounds with my first pregnancy and 55 pounds with my
second (my boys are 19 months apart).
It's safe to say that my body has been
through a lot over the last 2 years. And now, as my youngest baby is
11 months old, I find my face on a stranger's body when I look in the
mirror. I've been trying to lose weight for several months, and not
very successfully. But with the New Year, I decided I needed to get
more serious about my weight loss, especially if we were considering
having a third baby (call us crazy).
I started focusing on eating clean
(they say you can't out exercise a bad diet). I essentially try to
think “if it doesn't grow from the ground or have a mother, don't
eat it.” I've seen great results with this mindset. The scale has
reflected my dietary change as have my pants and my reflection! But
I've also come to learn that even though I am 8 pounds from my
original pre-baby weight, these last 8 pounds are a totally different
8 pounds. My body is totally different than it was before.
I've had to come to terms with the
fact that although my body may never look the way it once did; my
body is AMAZING. My body created, and birthed two beautiful babies,
and nursed them for over a year each. My body has gained and lost
over 50 pounds on multiple occasions. My body has stretch marks,
baggy/extra skin, scars, saggy boobs, saddle bags, worry wrinkles,
grey hairs and extra pounds. But despite all the “flaws” that
have left their mark on my body, my body has still given me the most
beautiful gifts that I could have ever asked for, and for that I am
grateful.
I may never have a “perfect” body
again. And maybe I'll never lose these last 8 pounds. But I've come
to terms with my amazing mom body. A body that has done more than I
even knew was possible and has given me more than I ever dreamed of
having.
