I'm (Just About) Back!

My body, anyway.  Today marks 7 months postpartum and I am 1 pound away from my goal weight.  I'm sure it will come off sometime in the next few weeks while running like a crazy. 

There are a few things that are different after going through a 46 pound weight gain during my first pregnancy.

• My back seems to be holding onto fat more than it used to(bra fat and love handles)
• My tummy isn't totally completely flat like it used to be, but it's close.  The muscles are - I just have a small tire going around my middle.
• The arm acne.  Never had it before, but it popped up while pregnant and has not gone away and has gotten worse and worse.  It really really bothers me.  I don't know why it's there and why it wont go away!  
• My breasts are different because of breastfeeding and will never be the same.  Kind of bummed.
• I'm a bit weaker.  Can't do as many push ups like I used to.
• My thighs are a little more shapely. 
• A few fading stretch marks on my outer thighs (never got any on my tummy!)

But these things really aren't bad.  The only noticeable thing I think is the layer of fat around my middle.  And it's not much, just a little.  Maybe others may not notice it much.

I haven't posted a recent body picture, but I had Jaren take these 2 weeks ago. 

Except this one.  This is me a year ago 6 weeks preg.

6 1/2 Months Postpartum

Overall I'm very happy with how I've bounced back.  I am not exactly as thin as I was before, but I feel like if I keep exercising hard I can be with time.  If not, that's ok.  At least that's the mood I'm in now.  Tomorrow I may feel differently.

Training For A Half Marathon

One of my new years resolutions is to run a half marathon.  I'm on track to run one at the end of June and possibly one at the beginning of June.

I ran through my pregnancy until the pain caused me to only walk and then to stop all together.  It felt really good to be 6 months pregnant and running 3-4 miles a day.  But that was in July and I haven't ran since.  Until last week.

I can't believe how out of shape I am!  I mean...  having to be put on bed rest and then having a C-Section will put you out of commission for a while I guess...  but seriously, this is ridiculous.

This is what I'm doing for now.  I go for half an hour and try to get further each time in that amount of time.  If, for some reason I don't even get 2 miles in that amount of time (which is what happened the first two times) I will go until I get to the 2 mile mark.  I went 32 minutes and hit 2 miles.  But the last time I ran I went 2.2 miles in 30 minutes.  So it's better!  Not to mention the 10 (literally) times I ran up the stairs and into Naomi's room because she was screaming during her nap. 

I don't run the entire time (yeah right - OUT OF SHAPE, remember?).  I try to not walk below a 3.5 on the treadmill and do intervals of the walking and then running at a 5.8-6 for a few minutes.  I've gone 3 minutes at a 6 so far and each time I try to go for 30 seconds longer.

My goal is to get to 3 miles in 30 minutes by the end of February.  It's very hard to get myself back into shape.  And it's not been fun to get on the scale and see that I've only lost half a pound when before without exercising at all I was losing a pound a week.  But, knowing what I know about the body and exercise I am retaining more water.  So, that goes up on the scale.

If in 2 weeks I'm not back on track to losing a pound or more a week I'll be sad!  Especially since I finished off my chocolate and have stopped eating that.  And I'm eating better because I'm making dinner.

Another goal?  To be within 5 pounds of my pre pregnancy weight by my 3 year anniversary.  Holy cow... 3 years.  It's in less than 3 months.  Crazy.  10 pounds in 3 months is VERY do-able. 

16 weeks

I couldn't decide which picture to do this time, so I did two.
This one was taken Tuesday. I took one of my naked belly and the love handle was too big. So down came the undershirt - so much safer!
Jaren took this one today. I had just eaten a big Bajio salad, but really, I'm huge. I don't know if you can see well enough.. but seriously.... even my Young Women girls, "Whitney... your REALLY big... your going to be HUGE" Think I will?? I'm only 16 weeks and I feel like I should be 22 or something. Okay... looking at this picture it doesn't do the belly justice. I'll see if I can dig a better one out.

This last week has been good. I think my belly has doubled in size. A few times I felt sick again and that wasn't exciting. I had to stay at the in laws because I can't go without a toilet for a night. I only exercised once and it ran it's toll. I put on more weight this one week (week 15 of pregnancy) than any 4 weeks combined so far. I'm having a bit of a hard time with the weight going to other places than my belly. Like my face, arms, thighs.... I know you are supposed to gain weight while pregnant, don't start on that. I'm fine with the weight gain, it's just when it's on other places other than my belly or chest. I mean, I'm not carrying the kid in my thighs! It's just taking some getting used to and the only way I can be happy about it is if I exercise on most days. So, that's something I'm trying to work on - more than three days a week.

Sleep: falling asleep is hard. But once I'm out.. I am OUT. Until I have to pee.. that wakes me right up, then I have a hard time falling back to sleep again. I've been so much more tired this trimester than in my first and so I need naps. If I don't get one I'm ready for bed at 7 p.m. It's so crazy, though, because once I fall asleep it's like it's nighttime. I wake up and my body feels like it has been woken from only 5 hours of a needed 10 hour nap. And if I don't set my alarm, I sleep for 2 hours. It's been interesting :)

I am still just trying to feel movement.... I know it will probably not be for another week or two, but I just keep trying anyway! Why not? I've thought I've felt it a few times, but usually I toot so that must mean gas and not baby. I am so sore down there around my uterus that I'm wondering if I'll even know when I am capable of feeling it. It will probably be mixed in with all the other ouchies that have been goin on.

Less than two weeks and I'll know what I'm having! Then what? Just wait for another 22 months, I guess? I can start shopping!

I think this one is at a better angle for the hugeness. The hole in the wall is supposed to have a light switch for lighting on the ceiling that hasn't happened yet, but has been talked about for the last 2 years :) Jaren's a busy boy....

And since lately all we've seen is me and my big belly here is my very good looking helpful husband who I get to see maybe, if I'm lucky, for 2 hours out of a day. It's wearing on me.. it's been going on for over a month and before that I was in school so I saw him maybe 3 hours a day. I think we need to just get away for a day or two. I miss him. And I live with him! But I miss him like crazy.
Our vacuum was smelling horribly, so he peeked and it was the belt (which is what I thought). Worn too loose so it was slipping and just burnin rubber. I'm picking up a new one tomorrow.