healthy laps

It’s been over 7 months and I still have a bit of weight to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.  Yes, it’s frustrating that it is taking so long, but I can’t say that I have done too much these past 7 months to help matters.  Yes, I have been going on long walks and eating healthy when I can, but not like I used to.  Before having our baby, I was extremely motivated to workout and eat healthy.  Now, I still want to do those things, but it is hard to get motivated and even harder to find the time!  My motivation has changed from being motivated to be the healthiest that I can be to being the best mom that I can be.  But, what I have realized is that being my healthiest is helping me to be the best mom to my daughter.

Everyone talks about ‘losing the baby weight’, but no one tells you how hard it is to find the time to exercise.  From sleep loss to just taking care of another person, there really isn’t much time!  Over the past 7 months, I have learned that I need to make time for myself.  It may not happen every day, but each week, I need to set aside some time for me.  It will benefit everyone!

Exercise is awesome.  At times, it is definitely hard to get motivated, but once you do get out there and exercise, you feel so much better inside and out.  However, the key to really losing the weight is nutrition.  You can exercise all you want, but if you continue to eat poorly, then your body will hold on to that extra weight.  I have been walking, jogging and trying to eat healthy since our baby was born, but it is time to kick it up a notch!  So, my goals each week are to:

• run 3x per week
• weight lift & light cardio 2x per week (walking, elliptical, etc)
• eat some type of veggie with lunch & dinner
• eat fruit with breakfast and for snacks
• I also love to take long walks with my husband and daughter, so that will be thrown in there as well.

The nutrition part shouldn’t be that difficult for me because I really do love healthy food.  But, I need to get back in the kitchen to make sure that I know what is going in to my food, and my body.  My downfall for the past 7 months has been sweets.  I can eat healthy all I want, but the sweets are what get me!  Now, I don’t want to completely give them up and I don’t want to go on a diet (if you haven’t figured out yet from my blog, i’m not a fan of diets.  I believe in a lifestyle change, not a diet).  You should want to eat well…and I want to eat well and set a good example for my children.  Plus, good food tastes good!

My daughter has been eating solid foods for the past month or so, which has made me really want to get back on track.  I want to teach her the best eating habits, exercise habits and lifestyle habits as possible.  Mmmm…sweet potatoes!

Michael Pollan said it best: “you can eat as many sweets as you want, if you make them yourself”.  Homemade treats taste better anyways, and you won’t make them everyday, so why not induldge when you do?!  With the holidays coming up, this could be tough.  But, as long as I eat healthy and get enough exercise each week, I am not going to worry about it.

Another goal of mine is to blog more.  Blogging keeps me on track because I love to come up with new recipes, easy weeknight meals, and easy food to bring on the go.  Blogging will hopefully motivate me to do that!  But, honestly, this is the only motivation that I need…

I hope you continue to follow my journey!