So, I have one month exactly from today til I am due with this little baby girl, our third child. I started out this pregnancy weighing about what I did in high school (I was on the swim team in high school). I did the Ironman (2.4 mile swim in the ocean, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run marathon) triathlon when I was 2 weeks pregnant. I had no idea I was pregnant. When I found out I was pregnant, I was thrilled! We definitely planned this one. However, I was also determined to not gain 55+ lbs. again. For the first 22 weeks of my pregnancy, I exercised 5 to 6 days a week, including workouts like a 3 mile run prior to spin class, or 7 mile runs, or anything that lasted about an hour and a half. I was working out really hard and probably burning much more calories than I thought. On top of this, I calorie counted. I tried to stay below 2400 calories, factoring in my workouts, but I was starving. I think I felt hungry for 4 1/2 months straight. Very hungry.
Finally, at 22 weeks along, I quit calorie counting and began to EAT. My body craved FAT because I had been cutting it out of my diet for so long. Food has never been such an intolerable temptation for me before this - this was insatiable hunger. I ate to my heart's content and continued to run until I was 6 months along, or 26 weeks. At that doctor's appointment, I found out that the little baby girl growing inside of me had been suffering from malnutrition. My doctor factored it to my exercise and calorie counting, although she is uncertain.
Finally, I quit running and really, quit exercising altogether. I have been eating a healthy diet that also includes any sweets if my heart desires. I would not have quit exercising altogether if it weren't for what my body was telling me. Walking hurt REALLY bad. Yoga was impossible. Swimming created the same pain in my right side that running caused. I do like to do a weight lifting and sculpting class. I can do really light weights and keep up well with the workout. Anyway, I have had a major lifestyle change! And I have had MAJOR weight gain.
I did not start gaining weight til I was 16 weeks along this time, due to my stubborn will. In the last 20 weeks since then, I have gained 55 pounds already. I have 4 weeks left and will probably gain about 10 to 12 more pounds. This is a total of 67 pounds!!!! SIXTY SEVEN.
That being said, trying to CONTROL weight gain during pregnancy is REDICULOUS. I HATE all the websites that say "TRY TO GAIN WITHIN SUCH AND SUCH WEIGHT." Eff them all. That is the stupidest thing I have heard. Like we want to gain more weight than that. Like we enjoy gaining weight and OH LET ME TRY NOT TO, yeah RIGHT!! Giving up control of weight gain in pregnancy is definitely the BEST thing to do for your body and MOST of all for the baby. That little baby is relying on you to provide him or her with a safe environment to grow and become a person in. This is not your body. This is your baby factory. Your body will come back later when the baby doesn't need the factory anymore.
I can't wait til I look like I did in the picture above, and have the energy I had then, and fit into the clothes I fit into then. But for the next 4 weeks I am this baby's sanctuary and by gosh I need to gain 12 more pounds. And I probably will.
MY POSTPARTUM GOALS:
Due date July 19
Date to start exercising August 30
At that point, I will begin
marathon training and will also start
P-90X. I will not miss a workout!
Date to finish P-90X November 28
Full Memphis Marathon December 1
Eating goal: One sweet a week, no fried foods, NO CALORIE COUNTING (I want to be able to feed this baby out of the womb!)
Weight loss goal:
At postpartum weight by May 25. I will need to lose approximately 70 pounds.
