Milkbank Blog
Losing Weight
If you’ve been following my pregnancy, either here or on my blog you’ll know that I’ve struggled with weight issues throughout this pregnancy. Whether its being told I shouldn’t gain any (hogwash) or trying to deal with the changing landscape of my body its very hard to flick that switch in your brain that thinks that gaining is bad to gaining, in this case, is necessary.
Now, as we move closer and closer to actually having this baby (four and a half weeks!), I find myself fantasizing about being back in shape. But the real question is how do I do it? I do not want to start a fresh cycle of yo-yo dieting and find myself riding the emotional and physical roller coaster that comes when you feel out of control of your body. I’m coming to terms with the fact that now I’m a bit older my metabolism isn’t exactly kicking it and the sad truth that if I want to lose weight and get back into shape I can’t do it with diet alone. I need to kick it all up a notch and get moving. I know, from a past experience with losing a load of weight that my body needs to be moved and exercised pretty much every day (at least 6 days a week). And I mean moved - not walked or yoga’d but full on running or weight lifting. I can do other things but really is it worth putting in effort if its not going to give results?
So I’m building my plan of action, and right now that plan includes not doing anything, well at least in the beginning. I definitely want to use the momentum and desire I have at the moment but I also know that I have to be realistic. I’m not some Hollywood star who has to be back in a bikini 6 weeks after I give birth so why push things? I want to take some time to adjust and adapt to the newest member of our family and I know if I pretend that I’m going to head out to the gym on week two then I’m going to fail before I’ve even started!
So my plan is to take at least two months (but no more than three) and then start up an exercise program. I want to reshape my body as well (and reclaim by pre-pregnancy arms which have bizarrely ballooned) so I know that’s going to include three days a week of weight lifting as well as at least three cardio sessions a week. My long term goal is to get back to the weight I was on our wedding day three years ago, by our wedding anniversary in June.
I grew up as a relatively inactive child. We didn’t really play any sports so I wasn’t exposed to the idea of activity and exercise until later in my teens but it was never ingrained in me as a way of life. I definitely want something different for our daughter. I don’t want her to struggle with her weight like I have and I want her to see activity as a part of daily life (rather than having to fight to reprogram her thinking). In order to give her these things I know I need to lead by example, I need to BE active and not try every fad diet that comes along - to show her that strength and fitness are more important than what the number is on the scale.
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