Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part VII

Since I had been trying on my pre pregnancy jeans quite regularly after my the birth of my daughter only to find them too tight over and over again, it was a very pleasant surprise to find that my jeans were actually too big! However, I have noticed some size discrepancy between jeans I have owned for several years and the new sizes at the boutiques.  I confirmed my suspicion by going to my favorite clothing boutique and trying on the same skinny jean in the next size down: they fit perfectly!  Needless to say, pushing my workout routine into … Continue reading

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part V

Once I had come to the conclusion that the only way to get some semblance of my stomach back, was to, believe it or not, lose more weight.  I thought that surely if I could get back down to the weight I was before pregnancy wreaked havoc on my midsection, that I might see a slimmer, love handleless, figure in the mirror.   Even though the task was clear and seemingly simple, there really is nothing easy about losing the last few stubborn pregnancy pounds…again since I decided to move the finish line once again.  I wish there was a way … Continue reading

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part III

With weeks and weeks of post partum exercise in the bag, I was feeling pretty good about my progress and continued motivation to get the pregnancy weight off quickly.  I had set goal dates to be back down to my pre pregnancy weight (after my son but before my daughter) and my pre pre pregnancy weight (before both babies).  Even though I was making progress, I was losing weight and my muscles were getting toned,  my goal dates came and went without being met.  Feeling more than a little frustrated, I set new goal dates and switched up my post … Continue reading

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part I

Now that it has officially  been an entire years since my daughter’s birth, I feel that my post partum period has come to a close.  This twelve month phase of my life has been rather incredible mostly because of the precious gift of my daughter’s life and the joys (and frustrations) of being a mother, but also because I seemed to have accomplished my post partum fitness goals.  I felt that it was fitting to bring my post partum journey to a close by divulging some of my fitness triumphs and defeats. I set out determined to get back into … Continue reading

Common Pregnancy Worries

Even if you are not usually a worrier, being pregnant can turn you into one, at least temporarily. It’s only natural to worry from time to time because you can not exactly see what is going on inside your body as the pregnancy progresses. I’m pretty sure that multiple times during each of my pregnancies I placed my hand on my belly and said “Is everything okay in there?” Worrying can make you feel isolated sometimes. It may be helpful to know that many other pregnant women are concerned about the same things that you are. Here are three common … Continue reading

Rejuvenating My Post Partum Workout

After the birth of my daughter, I was super excited and ready to get back to my workout routine. I had mentally prepared for the day that I would finally be able to exercise again. I felt like I needed to get started as soon as possible and when my midwife told me that I would most likely be able to resume my workouts at four weeks post partum, I was determined to get started as soon as possible. With lots of anticipation, I started my post partum exercise at exactly four weeks. My motivation level was extremely high because … Continue reading

Six Months Post Partum

One year ago I was only fourteen weeks pregnant with my daughter (although I did not know I was pregnant with a girl). I was still wearing all of my pre pregnancy clothes and still in throngs of morning sickness. In a lot of ways I am in the same clothes wearing place now at six months post partum as I was a year ago. At six months post partum, I feel completely back to my pre pregnancy state. All of my clothes fit almost the same as they did before. A few more stretch marks make my clothes fit … Continue reading

Fifteen Weeks Post Partum

At twelve weeks post partum I wrote about being stuck in a rut of sorts. While my muscles were getting toned and my clothes were starting to fit again, I was not losing any weight. I made some changes by watching what I was eating more closely and keeping track of my food intake with my food journal. The biggest change has been cutting back on sweets. What I discovered was that I was going way over my breastfeeding caloric needs. I was eating when I was not hungry because whatever it was that I was eating tasted good e.g. … Continue reading

Nine Weeks Post Partum

It has been nine weeks since I birthed my daughter at home into a pool of water with the assistance of my amazing nurse midwife. After my daughter’s birth, I wondered how quickly my body would heal. Now that I have had nine weeks to heal and reflect, I can say that with confidence that I healed much more quickly with my second pregnancy than with my first. At nine weeks my body seems to be entirely healed aside from the extra pounds that I still need to shed. My post partum efforts continue to focus on loosing the weight … Continue reading

Losing the Pregnancy Weight Part IV

Exercising is always a challenge but it seems to be more difficult during the post partum period of a woman’s life. There are so many things to which we as new mother’s are adjusting. It is not an easy transition even if the motivation is there. I began preparing myself for the post partum phase from the very beginning of my pregnancy. I knew that regular exercise and a healthy holistic diet through out my pregnancy would prepare me for the post partum fitness transition. It was my goal to bounce back as quickly as possible. Once my daughter was … Continue reading