Gaining Perspective

So I’ve been gaining perspective on my post-baby body. This isn’t a sob story, but it is an honest one. Suffice it to say that losing my baby weight has not gone as smoothly as I would have hoped… …

  • The pounds didn’t “melt off with breastfeeding”.
  • Finding energy and time to workout has been a struggle.
  • I’ve felt frustrated that the things I’ve done in the past to lose weight haven’t worked the same.
  • I have beastly breastfeeding hunger.
  • I’ve felt embarrassed by my struggle while being a “healthy living” blogger.

But two things have happened this week.

First, I caught a glimpse of my post-baby body in a window and I didn’t think “gross” or “she’s fat” or “she still looks like she’s pregnant”.

I thought, “She looks normal.”

Not ripped or in great shape; not admiring a tight stomach or sculpted arms. Just normal. And it felt really good to feel like I look normal.

I’m not back in my skinny jeans or anything yet, but I feel like I’m getting closer to having my brain in the right spot. Accepting of where I am, yet pushing to be better.

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#SweatieSelfie—How else do you know a blogger has exercised?

Second, I’ve also been falling in love with exercise again. Like actually wanting to get up early and workout. (It doesn’t always happen the way I envision it; I still have a four month old baby’s schedule to work around.) But it has been fun to push my body again.

I went for a run last night and it was the perfect West Michigan evening…the kind of day with the wind in the trees and sun sparkling on the lake that lured us to Michigan in the first place. I felt that running magic again.

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And it felt good ya’ll.

Is there something you’ve done or someone said to you that helps you gain perspective or does it “just happen” for you?

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13 Comments

  1. I’m glad you are feeling normal again and wanting to work out! I am a new reader so I’m not sure how old your baby is, but she looks pretty tiny still! Your body will come back!

  2. You’re kinda my hero.
    7 months post pregnant and I still feel gross.
    It’s SO HARD to find the time (not to mention the energy) to exercise.
    I feel like the “I just had a baby” excuse doesn’t fly anymore.
    This post helped though. I gotta figure something out. I really miss running.
    Miss you!

    1. Uh, false. You are MY hero! And I think you look great, so maybe we just need to be as kind to ourselves as we are to others. 🙂 Looking forward to Monday night!!

  3. You’re on the right track to being where you want to be. Perspective just seems to hit me when I’m least expecting it. In fact I’m working on my perspective now 🙂

    I love that you shared a sweaty selfie! I always hesitate to share a selfie after a run. You know the saying if you still look good you didn’t work hard enough (or something like that). I work seriously hard LOL

    1. Haha! Yeah, that was a better one…sometimes I take them and they immediately get deleted and I feel bad for anyone I saw afterwards. lol!

  4. So, first of all, I’ve never had a baby, so obviously can’t speak to that side of the struggle. However, I just wanted to respond to some of the points you mentioned (and thanks so much for the honesty!).

    Being a “healthy living” blogger means so much more than being thin,or losing weight, or the equivalent – which I know you know :). So I can understand your feelings of being embarrassed about your struggle as a blogger in the community, but you’re doing so well in your day to day business as a new mom AND pursuing health! That alone is cause enough to feel proud of yourself! It might just be one of those things where if you take the mind of it (aka, the goal of losing weight) it may happen. And even if you were a little heavier than you were before you got pregnant for a while, is that the biggest deal in the world? In my book, you’re loving the journey of healthy food choices and exercise, and that’s what truly matters. You’re killing it, lady!

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