This wasn't supposed to happen!

I am about to do something really really humiliating. Truly. But it needs to be done. For my own sake.

I'm going to post my stats.

Before we start, I have a few things to say. First of all, I am having a hard time losing the baby weight this time around. I gained 50 pounds and have only been able to get off half. It's starting to become more than a little embarrassing. The other day I was talking to my girlfriend and I squatted down to tie my shoe. Trevor comes running up behind me, grabs giant fistfuls of my overhanging tummy, and laughs hysterically. He continued on in maniacal fashion, pulling and squishing my tummy, increasing the intensity of his laughter and the speed at which he kneaded my soft, pliable skin. I stared up at my friend, smiling and amused, and said "this is my life now," to which she returned an even bigger smile and replied "join the club."

While I'm all for amusing my children, I think there are better ways of doing so than having a silly and inviting spare tire hanging around my midsection. But I will admit, that memory will forever be one of my favorite mommy moments. That kid's reaction was pure glee.

Anyway, I was making some headway with the weight loss, but then I started birth control. I have not only stopped losing weight, but I have begun to gain some back, and at a rapid pace. None of my clothes, including my new pants I just bought a month ago, fit me anymore. It's frustrating. I just assumed after you have a baby, you LOSE weight. Gaining was never ever ever part of the plan. Especially not when I'm still so far from my pre pregnancy weight. So I'm going to have to work a bit harder if I want to win this battle. I am up for the challenge. Here are the stats of my journey so far:

March 30: the day Charlie was born, I weighed 175.


Day 1: (this was the point right after the pregnancy where I'd dropped that giant amount from the baby, and then plateaued)
May 9th
Weight: 152
Bicep: 11"
Chest: 37"
Waist: 33"
Hips: 41"
Thighs: 24"
Calves: 15"

I started running 1-2 miles a day and lifting weights, coupled with eating high protein, low carb meals. I took more measurements 2 weeks later.

May 20th
Weight: 146
Bicep: 10 1/2"
Chest: 37"
Waist: 32"
Hips: 40"
Thighs: 23"
Calves: 14 3/4"

I was very pleased with my progress. I was working hard and not only lost weight, but inches as well. At this point I could fit into some of my pre pregnancy clothes. Then I started birth control, and things took a wrong turn......

June 11th 
Weight: 154
Bicep: 11"
Chest: 38"
Waist: 33"
Hips: 40 1/2"
Thighs: 22 1/2"
Calves: 15"

Yup, so I gained it all back and then some. Depressing, huh? I'm hoping it's mostly water weight and once my hormones start regulating, it will be easier to lose it. Fingers crossed?

I am increasing my miles and activity this week and reevaluating the diet, so I'll be posting new (hopefully better) measurements soon.

The "before"

I love before and after photos. I think they are insanely motivational, and they tell such a tremendous story of sacrifice, dedication, strength, and hard work. I hope I will be able to have some good "afters" one day to tell my story. For now, here's my before.

We'll just ignore the fact that I'd just gone running and have no makeup on. Which brings me to my next point. I keep seeing women with full face makeup on to workout out here. I'm in the no makeup camp. What are your thought on this? What do you wear to workout?

Another Go

Since I last posted here, I have run 2 marathons, 3 half marathons, a handful of 5 and 10k's, and had a baby. Needless to say, my body has been put through the ringer and stressed in myriad ways.

I feel like any time I've needed some motivation in my fitness goals, this blog has helped. Journaling my journey helps me to see how far I've come. And since no one reads this blog, it has become essentially that - a journal. I have used this as a way to track weight loss, and a way to track running goals, and now I'm using it as both.

I am almost 2 months out from having had baby #3, and I am now trying to lose the weight. This pregnancy was rough on my body. I gained 50 pounds. 50! I've lost half that, and now I'm working on the rest. I also would like to run another half marathon the end of summer, and a full sometime this winter. Here's the beginning of my journey!