Monday, May 17, 2010

McFatty Monday - Week 1

Even though this blog is usually dedicated to all things Conor, I am making an exception to start a weekly weight loss post. I am joining McFatty Monday, a community of (mostly) new moms who blog about weight loss.

I gained 50 lbs. while pregnant with Conor. Within 2 months after delivering, I had shed 35 of that (it was a lot of water weight, probably at least 10 lbs. in each ankle) and slowly over the next 7 months lost every. last. pound of my pregnancy weight. WOOT! 9 months on/9 months off was exactly right for me, but I was doing absolutely nothing to lose weight except breastfeeding. 30 ounces a day x 20 Calories per ounce = 600 Calories burned each day sitting on my butt doing nothing. (Wow, after typing that out I can totally see the benefits of extended breastfeeding!) We have been slowly weaning since 9 months and I'm down to producing about half of his intake with the goal of totally weaning over the next 6 weeks.

As I'm breastfeeding less, I've noticed the number on the scale slowly creeping up. At first I thought it was a fluke and would go back down, but 8 lbs. later I'm pretty sure that weight is firmly planted on my gut. Swimming lessons start July 3rd and I don't want Conor to be embarrassed of me. I need to nip this in the bud so here's the plan:

1. Diet - I don't do well with restrictive diets. I need to work on being more sensible with portion sizes and food choices. Last night for dinner I had a bag of popcorn (Orville Redenbacher Natural Lime & Salt, mmmmm) and part of the leftover dessert assortment from Brian's graduation lunch (chocolate cake, Tiramisu, and cheesecake.) Completely unacceptable. Consider that my rock bottom, like the time Tim consumed an entire case of Big Mo chocolate bars in less than a week (which spurred him to start running and he subsequently lost 25 lbs. and became a marathoner.) Emotional eating is also something I need to work on.

2. Exercise - I know if I set some lofty goal of working out X days a week I will let myself down. I have never once been able to stick to a workout routine for more than a few weeks (or days.) (Case in point - I signed up for an exercise program this year at work logged a grand total of 1 workout.) Let's face it - with a full time job and a baby I only have so much energy left at the end of the day. My goal here is to just get moving every day. Go for brisk walks or even a light jog with Conor after work and on weekends, take the stairs at work, stuff like that. I just need to be less sedentary and see where it goes. My eventual goal is to train for and run that 5K I was working towards when pregnancy sidetracked me, but I'm not ready for that just yet.

3. Reward - I need a tangible goal other than warm fuzzies and increased self esteem (and, oh yeah, better health.) If and when I make it to my goal weight I'm going to buy myself a pair of really nice designer jeans to show off my less fatty self.

4. Motivation - Hopefully this McFatty Monday post and community will hold me accountable and motivate me to stick to it. I'm also counting on Tim for encouragement. Seeing him lose weight and become a marathoner over the past 2 years has been inspirational. I really don't want to embarrass him as the fat wife cheering on the sidelines - I want to be the skinny wife cheering on the sidelines (in hot jeans ;) )

We'll see where this goes. I may find that this open wishy washy plan isn't working and I need more structure, only time will tell. I'd like to lose these 8 lbs, plus another 5. I'm not setting any time restrictions on this because the ultimate goal of this is about developing a more healthy lifestyle and setting a good example for my son. I think if I work on building better habits the weight will eventually come off and stay off this time.

Here's where I'm at:

Today's weight - 143
Today's BMI - 23.1
Goal weight - 130
Goal BMI - 21.0
Total weight lost - (0)

10 comments:

  1. You can do it! Our little guys are almost the exact same age. I just got back on the Mcfatty wagon and am yet to be brave enough to post my weight but I have many of the same issues and need to lose at least 20 lbs... yuck makes me cringe.

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  2. Yay for you!!! There is so much unbelievable support out there from all these other McFatty Bloggers! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

    http://itsjustmeheidid.blogspot.com/2010/05/mcfatty-monday-herbal-life-review.html

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  3. How cute are you about not wanting Connor to be embarrassed! Congrats and losing the weight that's awesome! I'm a new follower and will be checking back to see your journey! Thanks for the comment. http://nicolesspirit878.blogspot.com/

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  4. Welcome! I have found McFatty to be a great way to stay motivated/accountable - hopefully you will too! Oh and I read some of your other posts and can I just say that Connor is adorable! What a head of hair! Good luck!

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  5. I'm struggling with the eating right too. It's hard to eat well when time to cook is limited. I'm cheering for you!

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  6. You've done amazing! Losing 50 lbs after having a baby, breastfeeding or not, is incredible. And so jealous your BMI is already in the normal range. :) I know it's the grind of making yoruself resist the goodies and exercise that is so hard to do. I'm considering one pig out day - at the very end of my week. Like where I just let go at that point and eat whatever I want that day. Save all my points and workout until then.
    I'll let you know how that works out for me. :) Good luck!

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  7. Welcome to McFatty Mondays!

    Setting yourself smaller goals are more rewarding, especially if you treat yourself for every goal met ;)

    I started out at -10lbs, then -15...I am almost at my -20lb goal...If I had to do it all over again, I would have stuck with -10lb goals...keeps you more motivated. This - 20lb goal feels like it's taking me FOREVER to get to

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  8. That is so sweet that you said you don't want your son to be embarrassed. That is part of the motivation for me too...I don't want to be the fat mom.

    Good luck to you! Your goal is very reasonable and I think it is great that you're not setting a strict timetable.

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  9. Wow! I can't tell you how close to home this hits right now. I am not a Mom, so it's a different context for sure, but since I have made some changes over the past couple months I have lost 7 lbs. and a pants size! The best part is that I just feel better physically, and in my own skin. I have another 5-8 lbs. to go to reach my goal (the size I was when my hubby and I first started dating).

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  10. Thanks for the support everyone!

    (Oh, and Tim corrected me that it was actually TWO cases of Big Mo bars.)

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