Starting Weight: 161#
Starting BMI: 24.5
I’m 5’8″ and have a goal weight of 150# (BMI of 22.8 – normal range is 18.5-24.9). I might reevaluate this goal someday when I get to 150#, but for now, I’d feel good if I was a fit and toned 150# and could fit into all my skinny clothes again!
I’m not going to be writing in weekly for awhile, I don’t think. I still neurotically weigh myself all the time to keep myself on track, but I’m going to try to focus on toning right now, and I think I’ll check in every 25 days of this 100 day challenge with weight and measurement comparisons. I dunno…that could change, but that’s what I’m thinking for now. 🙂
My milk supply has definitely been lower lately, and it kind of makes me nervous to be cutting calories on top of that, but I’m so tired of this weight that I really don’t care anymore at this point. We are 9 1/2 months into nursing, and I have almost 300oz in the freezer, so I’m feeling pretty confident that even if my supply dips more I can supplement with that and keep nursing to get us through one year. I’ve been drinking SOOO much water lately that I’m hoping my supply just picks back up, but we shall see. For any working/pumping mamas out there, did you notice a drop around 9 months? Do you just think it’s from the kid eating so much more solid food?
At any rate, here is a pic of my non-existent abs (aka, baby/beer belly) at the beginning of the 100 days. This is after a huge week of drinking, so let’s hope that I’m just bloated and most of this belly will just melt away with the decrease in alcohol in my diet + doing more ab exercises over the next 3+ months! I basically look how I looked at 5 months pregnant in the pictures below, except the belly is squishy instead of hard. NOT COOL.
11/2009: when I started this blog because of my unhappiness with my weight
Belly 37.50″ – Natural Waist 31.75″ – Weight 169.0#
05/2010: my lowest weight in a long time
Belly 34.25″ – Natural Waist 29.50″ – Weight 152.5#
04/2012: 4 months postpartum (feeling good about myself!)
Belly 36.00″ – Natural Waist 30.0 – Weight 156.5#
TODAY: 9.5 months postpartum – UGH
Belly 39.0″ -Natural Waist 32.5″ – Weight 161.0#
That’s an INCH up on both measurements since 2 weeks ago, and those are WORSE numbers than my numbers 3 years ago when I was the most unhappy with my body and weighed 8# more than I do now. Whoa. I had no idea I had back slid so far, but I guess that’s what taking measurements is for.
So here we go. I’m at ground zero, and it’s time to kick it into gear.
It’s hard not to beat yourself up when you see higher numbers on the scale, but try to remember that weight loss is a journey, not a sprint! You can get to your goal weight I know you can! Maybe writing down what things helped you lose weight originally and sticking to that will help you again? I’m SO super jealous that your belly doesn’t have stretch marks…mine is beyond hideous and so flabby even though I’ve been losing weight. You are really being too hard on yourself, you look great 🙂
Good idea about writing down what worked for me last time. I went from 172# down to 152# over a period of 6 months 3 years ago, and I felt SO good. I’m going to get writing tonight!!
My supply started dropping about 6 months but I feel even more lately. I also feel every time my supply drops I’m gaining weight. All I can think is that I’m not burning the calories like I use to. It sucks and I also look like I’m 5 months pregnant again. I’m hoping I can kick it into high gear with you starting Monday!!
Yeah, I noticed it a bit at 6 months, but much more now. I know that Stells is eating a ton of solids now, but it still makes me nervous about if she is getting enough! Thanks for letting me know your experience with that.
You can do it! Be kind to yourself – this shit is hard!
(kuddos to you for posting pictures. I’m not sure I could do that just yet. You’re brave and courageous!)
Dude, I went back and forth on posting those damn things, especially when I realized how far I’ve slid back lately. BLEGH. However, it keeps me accountable, and I know that I want to see RESULTS at the 25, 50, 75, and 100 day marks, so it’s good to know how far I’ve come. Keepin’ it real over her. 😉
I don’t know about working and pumping, but I asked McMister’s pediatrician uncle when Gracie was about that age how often I should be nursing her vs. giving her solids. He said up until then, you should offer the breast, then solids at every meal (except right before bed, of course). Then at the 9-month appointment, they tell people to switch it up and offer solids first, let them fill up on that, then offer the breast to finish off the meal. If you want to agree with that (which I did), then I’d say it makes sense that your supply would decrease around 9 months. Maybe she just doesn’t need as much milk anymore, and your body is accommodating that change in need.
Oooh – good to know! This is kind of what we’ve been doing, so maybe that is a big reason my supply is going down. So weird how everything is always in flux. Thanks for the input on what happened for you!
Not many people can/are willing to do this. But I lost 20 pounds in 5 months effortlessly, by cutting out all meat and dairy(and by effortlessly, I mean, I didn’t exercise, like once..I know I should have). Basically cut out all animal products and became a vegan. I mostly did it to lose weight but my cholesterol went down and even though I’m at my goal weight(and pregnant!), I still eat vegan because I feel SO. MUCH. BETTER. when I do. Just a thought 🙂
Ugh, I just don’t know if I could cut out cheese!! Maybe that will be in my next 100 day goal, to give something like that a shot. 🙂
Congrats on being pregnant!
You can do it!!!!
I definitely think this 100 day challenge will be the extra little boast to get you to your goal. Summer is so tough because drinks just seem like the perfect thing… all the time!! But now that summer is over, hopefully it will make things a bit easier. I really need to get my tummy toned too but still haven’t come up with any great exercises to get there. If you come up with any good ones along the way, please let me know! You can do this! 🙂
Ya, summer is a big time drinking time for everyone around here. Colorado summers are just so gorgeous, and we have BBQs with friends pretty much non-stop!! I think it’s good that this challenge is coinciding with coolers temps and more of being a homebody. 🙂
I’ll let you know about exercises – I’m definitely going to have to find some sort of variety so I don’t get bored / give up with this!
Thanks for the reminder!! i was lost for a while. Good luck with the weight loss. I still have 15 lbs to go and it a very slow process. Good luck with the milk too. Drinking water and beer 😉 should help.
LOL, thanks Iveta! You can do it too!
Hi Josie. I have been reading your blog for a little while and just wanted to say that I really enjoy your honesty! I’m 16 months post partum with my 2nd and my belly is similar to yours…only with wrinkled stretched out skin! In any case, about milk supply dropping at 9.5 months; this happened to me with both kids, and coincided with the return of my menstrual cycle. My milk supply would subsequently drop each time I hot my period.
Thanks Liz! Honesty is the best policy, right? 😉 You should get back into blogging – looks like it’s been awhile!
My supply slowed down a lot at 9 months. It was really hard to keep up and I was going back to work so I have switched to formula. A lot of my friends stopped about 9 months due to lower supply and baby was harder to feed ( often distracted). Here (nz) they say offer food first and baby should have about 600ml milk a day.
You still look really great you really shouldn’t be so hard on yourself but I do know what you mean about feeling a lot better with a bit less weight. You’ll get there.
Good to know – that’s right about how much Stella is eating lately. So far on my work days it’s a struggle to pump enough for daycare, but I pump on my non-work days and am able to have enough overall. We shall see!
Yeah, I TOTALLY am impressed by your honesty. I don’t think I’m even that honest with myself!! You’ve inspired me to go take my measurements tonight. They’re more important than the number on the scale anyway! You CAN do this!!
Way to be so honest and forthright with your journey! I love the pics – they definitely make you accountable. And when you look at your belly later, even with a critical eye, it will be nice to pull out these pics and think about how far you’ve come!
Hey there! I wonder, have you checked your diastasis recently? My belly was getting bigger and bigger (I had gotten really bad about doing the exercises), and I found it was back at 3 fingers again! Also, I had major decreases in supply with both A&T at around 8.5-9mo, started supplementing both with formula at that point, despite having totally overproduced at the beginning. 300 oz frozen is awesome! I did keep up with nursing morning and night, but dropped the mid-day feeds because of the lack of supply and distraction factors. I hope operation 100 drinks is going well!!!