Getting in shape after Childbirth (or not!)

Ok, Ok, so I haven’t been keeping up with the Fitness Regime and haven’t even fired up the Wii Fit since my original post! I dread being scolded by a computer game – I feel like a naughty schoolgirl, a feeling I usually reserve for trips to the dentist. In addition to that, the controllers need batteries and I keep forgetting to buy them and I’m pretty sure the controllers are hiding at the bottom of the pile of stuff Hubby keeps stuffing under the stairs…….. Anyway, I digress ……The first week started well and I was walking at least 2 miles each day. This doesn’t really sound much but when you have an unwilling toddler, it is quite an achievement.  The unusually hot weather at the end of September, beginning of October was a real help.

I found this website …. http://www.goodrunguide.co.uk/RoutePlanner where you can plot your run (as if!) and it tells you how far you have been which  is really useful.

There is approx 2,000 steps in a mile so if you walk the recommended 10,000, that’s 5 miles a day. As I was walking an extra 2 miles, I was surely reaching if not exceeding this recommendation but since I didn’t have a pedometer, I couldn’t be sure.  Not wanting to spend money in my quest for fitness, I have no way of telling how far I actually walked each day although I did try to find free pedometers online but to no avail.

In addition to walking more, we have vowed not to eat any goodies which haven’t been made by me which is turning out to be quite a good little rule. It’s encouraged me to bake cookies and cakes a few times a week and kept the ever-increasing food bill down.  I also find baking quite therapeutic and am looking forward to some new utensils for my birthday (so any suggestions regarding good non-electric baking utensils are very welcome).  Boo loves helping with the mixing and eating so its nice for him too.  I always feel baking promotes love and warmth for some reason and would like to think we are making happy memories together.

Now the weather has become distinctly more wintry and wet, the walking is going to become a little more difficult to keep up with so I still intend to get the Wii Fit out at some point and Boo, Chubs and I LOVE dancing around the living room every day so that must be helping. 

The outcome of these little changes have actually made a difference so far and I can now proudly fit into all of my jeans. I have been wearing them since Chubs was born but with the zip and buttons open under my bump bands (find in New Look, Next, H&M etc and are great for covering your tum when Breastfeeding).  Now the buttons do up fairly easily. I have also noticed less ‘wobble’ as I’m walking – before having children the concept of muffin tops and love handles were completely alien to me!  I’m definitely happier now I fit into more clothes and feel healthier in myself.  As Chubs is now 6 months old, it looks like the fat stored during pregnancy to help with breastfeeding is on its way and I know that if I want to lose anymore, I should keep up with the healthy eating and exercise.

The upshot of all this is that I am currently happy with the way things are going and my curves are much more defined than they were. Until I eventually get the Wii Fit out, I’m not planning to weigh myself and to be honest, I can’t actually remember what I weighed pre-pregnancy!

A New Wardrobe or a New Me?

Before Babies - I would NEVER get in those skinny jeans now!

Once upon a time (not that long ago) I was one of life’s skinny minnies.  After having Boo, my body amazingly snapped right back into shape and contracting the Norovirus 7 months later only added to my weight-loss. (unfortunately, I had to give up Breastfeeding at this point also :( )  Having just bought my Wedding Dress, I then had 3 months to put on weight in order to fit into it last year! I bet there’s not many Brides who actually try to gain weight before the ‘Big Day’!

 Although I wasn’t as thin as I had been previously, I was happy with my slightly more curvy but still pretty svelte figure. 

Post Norovirus, Pre George

This was not to last though and after giving birth to Chubs earlier this year, I am still carrying some ‘baby weight’.  This doesn’t really bother me from a cosmetic point of view as I am relatively laid back and happy with my appearance, its just that as a Housewife with no disposable income, I have found that I literally have NO clothes which

A. Fit my new 36 FF boobs

and

B. are suitable for Breastfeeding in. 

Like most women, I am putting off buying a whole new wardrobe not just because we can’t afford it but because I’m secretly hoping I will eventually fit into some of my pre-pregnancy clothes and then my ‘new’ wardrobe would be surplus to requirements.  Auntie Gok could solve all my problems but I can’t really put myself in the same category as the women he helps with my minor grievances.

Anyway, the whole of the above is leading up to the new fitness regime I about to embark on.  Hopefully, the fact that I am blogging about it will force me to keep it up.  It isn’t some crazy new diet where all you can eat is orange peel and dog biscuits or even regular yet gruelling trips to the gym but simply daily workouts on Wii Fit and getting out and about more with the boys.

ACTIONS:   From tomorrow, I vow to get on the Wii Fit Board once a day and to go for a walk in the fresh air (even just round the block) with the boys, although admittedly, the main plus with this will be the fresh air as speed walking isn’t really an option with a toddler, who insists on walking, in tow.

Already I’m feeling nervous about being scolded by the Wii Fit Board and wondering if the batteries have indeed started leaking acid since it has probably been over a year since the last time I fired it up.

AIMS:  To fit in the size 10 (stretched a little since they were bought so probably now closer to a 12) Next jeans purchased months before first pregnancy and to feel more alert and energetic as a result of the fresh air and excercise.  To record my daily statistics and efforts Bridget Jones Stylee for your entertainment.

Wish me luck……………..

Not many pics Post Chubs but you get the picture