After the summer holidays I seem to be carrying a few excess pounds, brought on by a few too many wines and far too many meals out. It got me thinking about how I lost my baby weight so thought I’d share with you how I managed it.
After having my first baby in November 2011 I had put on 3 stone and gone from a size 10 to a size 14 and wasn’t happy about it. I’d enjoyed the being pregnant part and had taken the eating for two far too literally. I remember shopping with hubby and Baby O in Selfridges on Christmas Eve trying to find something that fit and didn’t make me look like a whale. I panic bought the most hideous green elasticated waisted skirt which I then wore on Christmas Day. If ever there was a picture of a frumpy mum, I was it.
After ending up with an emergency c-section after a failed induction I couldn’t exercise for 12 weeks, but once that was up and I was signed off my the consultant I decided extreme action was needed.
I’d been a gym member for years before getting pregnant and would go a couple of times a week and generally faff about, and tell myself I was exercising. The thought of going outside (in the cold and rain!) horrified me. In order to lose the baby weight I knew something more drastic was needed. My sister in law had joined after having my nephew and she was looking in great shape and suggested I come along. My first morning was one of the coldest of the year, but after just one session I was hooked and couldn’t wait to go again.
I was lucky as with both sets of grandparents minutes down the road I could drop off Baby O, be at a training session for half 9 in the morning and be done and showered by 11 so we could enjoy the rest of the day. Some mornings (especially after a bad night with 3 or 4 hours sleep) the last thing I wanted was to be running around a wet and muddy field, but I always felt better afterwards and more importantly it gave me that very precious “me” time that as a new mum you rarely get. An hour or so where I was Jo and not Baby O’s mum.
In 6 months I lost 1½ stone and 33 inches and my fitness levels massively improved. I was really worried about turning into a frumpy mum (as you may have guessed by my blog title) and the extra weight was adding to that, but by shifting the baby weight I got my self confidence back and gave Baby O a much happier mum.
Well done you! That shows real determination and guts and a great example to your little one to have a mum who enjoys doing positive things.