11 Weeks Postpartum

Weight: 13.5 lbs over prepreg. weight (I lost 2.5 lbs. this week!!)
Weekly Activity:

1- Kickboxing
2- Swam 1200 yards
3- Ran 3 miles with Blakey and Caleb
4- Ran 6 miles
5- Swam a mile (1600 yards)
6- 10 minute warmup and a Pilates Class

10 Weeks Postpartum

Weight: 16 lbs. over prepreg. weight (Lost 2 pounds this week!)

Weekly Activity:

1- Brutal Kickboxing class

2- Awesome 1 hour pilates class and then a 2 mile run at a quicker pace

3- 2 mile run, abs workout, lifted weights, did the stair climber, and the rowing machine with Karli (2 hour workout)

4- 4.5 mile run with Blake and Caleb!

5- 5.5 mile run

6- 15 minute warmup on the stair climber, abs workout, then lifted weights with Karli

Diet: Kendra asked what I have been doing about eating. To encourage my weight loss, I have been very careful about what I have eaten. I do not eat any fast food or any sweets/desserts except on special occasions and even then I will not eat much. My rule is to continue doing this until I reach my goal weight. Being so strict about 2 large things makes it easier than counting calories or starving all the time. Plus, Caleb is still getting plenty to eat through nursing, so it's working very well.

As my dad says, "Nothing Tastes As Good As Being Thin Feels!"

This week was great. I am so grateful to see the scale continue to go down.

9 Weeks Postpartum

Weight: 18 lbs. over prepreg. weight. Lost 1 pound this week.
Weekly Activity:

1- Brutal kickboxing class for an hour
2- Swam 2000 yards with my Popito
3- Ran 2 Miles, did a one hour pilates class, and lifted weights with Karli
4- Elliptical warmup 10 minutes, abs workout, lifted weights, and swam 500 yards with Karli
5- Ran 5.5 Miles!!! (with Blake!)

Dare to Dream, and Dare to Achieve

I went to the Cougarette's dance concert with my best friend Nitti last weekend in Utah. It was amazing. I teared up several times because they dance so beautifully. When I was a Sophomore at BYU, I had a dream of becoming a Cougarette. I had very little trained dance experience, with my dance lessons as a 5 year old and one year of dance when I was 15. That semester, I took 2 jazz classes, attended a ballet class, and stretched for hours every day. I got really good really fast. Then, one day, I just gave up. I stopped pursuing my dream. Everytime I see the Cougarettes dance, I remember that dream and feel very disappointed in myself for ever giving up.

Now I have a new, almost equally challenging dream. I dream to be my normal size again. I want to be Danielle again. I have never lost weight in my life before... it can be so discouraging from day-to-day. I have been praying for God's help, and I know that is the only way I will make it to the end. I can do this. But, I cannot be lazy. I cannot give in. I cannot skip a day's workout. I cannot allow myself to accept anything less than achieving my dream.

8 Weeks Postpartum

Weight: 19 lbs. over prepreg. weight (0.5 lbs. lost this week. Discouraging, but I am building muscle)

Weekly Activity: 4 three mile run/walks

This week we were in Utah, and my best friend Nitti gave me a whole new wardrobe of her clothes!!!!! I have clothes that are not maternity or Blake's to wear now!! She made my week.

7 Weeks Postpartum

Weight: 19.5 lbs. over prepreg. weight
Weekly Activity: This week I was allowed to for real work out!

1 - run/walk 3 miles
2 - 1 hour Zumba class
3 - 2 hour workout with Karli, abs, cardio, and weights
4 - 2 hour workout with Karli, cardio and pilates
5 - run 2.5 miles, walk .5 miles

This week has been awesome with being able to work out and really feel the burn. But I have to admit I am beginning to feel discouraged. It is a huge difference being 19.5 lbs. over my normal weight, and I am really struggling with it. I just pray for patience and help in getting back to normal again!!

6 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made it and I cant believe it. Today my genious doctor gave me the thumbs up to start running and exercising again! I stopped running at 12 weeks along, due to some bleeding and my doctor's orders. So it has been 34 weeks, or about 8 whole months since I have ran, and let me tell you I missed it! So today I went to the gym 1 hour after my appointment and ran/walked for 2.5 miles on the treadmill, grinning ear to ear! Woo!

Weight: 21 lbs. over prepreg. weight
Weekly Activity: 4 good walks

5 Weeks Postpartum

Weight: 21.5 lbs. over prepreg. weight

Weekly Exercise: 2 30 minute walks, 1 45 minute fast-paced walk

Well... today a woman asked me when I am due. (I officially know I am not pregnant because I did not rip into her like I would have when I was pregnant.) I just simply said, "I already had my baby. Ouch." She was very nice about it afterward, saying I look great for 5 weeks postpartum, blah blah blah. It still hurt.

Sometimes I like to consider the new ring of fat around my waist to be a built-in Boppy. Makes it easier to hold Caleb... but it sure does feel gross!

Six days til my 6 week check up! I hope my doctor gives me the thumbs up to start running and exercising again! I've added Pilates to my set of workout plans! I cannot wait.

25 Days Postpartum, 3 1/2 Weeks

Weight - 22.5 lbs. over prepreg. weight

Weekly Activity - two 30 minute walks (Both with little Caleb. He loves walks!)

Yay! I lost 2 more lbs. this week! Hooray! Go team!

18 Days Postpartum

Weight - 24.5 lbs. above pre-preg. weight
Weekly Activity - ???? This last week was unproductive. Lots of sitting around, hence the slower weight loss! I'll do better this week!