No More Baby Weight Blues

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No MoreBaby Weight BluesConfession: I somehow weighed more at my yearly check-up two weeks ago than I did 4 weeks post delivery.

Confession: My eating hasn’t been the best. Maybe I’ve had an extra thousand calories instead of 500 a day while breastfeeding. Large fries, why not?

Confession: I may have freaked out when Santa, who I asked to go light on the chocolate, placed literally 3 pounds in my stocking. (I’m lucky I didn’t get coal).

Confession: The most consecutive working out (past walks with the stroller and dramatic dog) I’ve done is 2 days in a row.

Confession: Sometimes when my baby is napping, I definitely could workout (or clean, because that totally needs to happen to), but I end up sitting on the sofa and staring at social media instead.

Confession: I may or may not feel a little jealous of moms who deliver and wear their regular clothes immediately.

Based on my confessions above, it probably doesn’t surprise you that I have “Eat better” and “Workout 4-5 times a week” on my list of 2016 Resolutions. Five months after baby, I am not expecting overnight miracles, but I want to chip away at about 15-20 pounds of baby weight.

I’m probably going to sound stupid, but I thought my baby weight would just kind of slide off in the months following delivery. That’s right, I thought the combo of walking and breastfeeding would get the job done. (Naïve? Maybe.) Everyone had given me rave reviews of how breastfeeding helped them lose weight. Yet I have come to learn that this “rule” was not true for my mom and it is most definitely not true for me.

I am thankful it is sweater season and the baggy top with leggings look is in. At times, I find the changes in my body make me feel discouraged and perhaps even a little overwhelmed. And then I get frustrated with myself when I have a late afternoon piece (or three) of chocolate and have take-out for dinner… again.

Then I get annoyed with myself. My body carried and nurtured the biggest blessing of my life. It feeds my little man daily. Those facts alone are simply amazing. And I know that I would do it again in a heartbeat, because this baby brings so much joy to my life. I do not want to take these things for granted. I know that I am so lucky.

Conclusion: I guess this is all part of being a new mom: the joy, the emotions, the sleep deprivation, the wonder at your changing body, and the struggle to feel comfortable with it as it adjusts. What I’m learning is that its okay if I don’t feel comfortable in it 100% of the time, but I can’t just complain or stress too much about it either. (After all, there are like a million other things to be stressed about when you have a new baby). I don’t need to be one of those celebrity moms that looks amazing in pictures immediately after baby. (Though having my eyes in them open would be great…) But I do want to be able to model a healthy lifestyle for my child. A life where exercise and being active are valued and a balanced diet is important. I want my child to know that I am comfortable in my own skin almost 100% of the time and I am excited to take steps to do this in 2016.

Got any good health goals for the New Year? Leave them in the comments below.

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Courtney Redding
I am a Cincinnati transplant. My husband and I moved here last October from Washington, D.C., where I was an Early Childhood teacher, instructional coach, and most recently principal at a charter school. I’m now a mom to a precious 8-month-old boy and a dramatic 2-year-old golden retriever. I am passionate about education and love spending time with family, reading, walking/ hiking, Pure Barre, taking pictures, discovering new restaurants, fantasy football, and “quick” trips to Target! I’m excited to start exploring all that Cincinnati has to offer a family and to share my journey into motherhood (and undoubtedly some first-time parent laughs) with you!

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