Valentines 2015

Valentines 2015

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Can you learn to love your body again?

While I was pregnant with the girls I kept going back and forth in my mind about how I felt about a C-section vs. vaginal birth. I really wanted to have a vaginal birth. Really really. I thought it would be an easier recovery and easier to lose the baby weight (which was 74 LBS!!!) after the babies were born. When the time came though, I wasn't really given the option....pre-eclampsia was in full swing and while they could "try" inducing me, there were absolutely no guarantees that it would work and I could very likely end up with a C-section anyway. So...I opted for the C-section. Good thing I did. When the OB was in there (taking the babies out) he told me there was no way I would have been able to deliver Miss Olivia vaginally, so I would have been forced into a C-section anyhow.

So what's my point with this rant?

Well...I have had a difficult time accepting my post baby body. After being on pelvic rest and a no exercise restriction for the last 6 months of my pregnancy, I felt fat and unhappy. Sexy was by far a thing of the past. Post C-section my tummy was anything but toned (more like deflated balloon!). I am sure many many of you share my sentiment. So, once I was given the okay, I started trying to tone my body again in my "free" time (HA). Unfortunately I continued to weigh the same from 3 months post birth to 8 months post birth. It was very disheartening. Then for the last 4 months I decided to change things up. I have been doing 75 sit ups every day, speed-walking a mile, and done other miscellaneous toning exercises (and a smidge of yoga) along with watching what I eat.

The results?

As of the girlies 1 year birthday, I am only 3.1 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight!!! Can you believe that?! Now of course my body is never going to actually be the same as it was pre baby girls, but I can go and buy (relatively form fitting) clothes and feel comfortable in my skin again! 71 lbs...that is just crazy!!! It took me a FULL YEAR to get there....I'm just glad I kept working on it!

Now here's to hoping that once I stop breastfeeding I don't gain any of it back! Fingers crossed! And then of course I still have 20 lbs to go before I hit my pre-IVF weight....I'm not holding my breath...

So for full disclosure....

Here's me 6 weeks pregnant with the girls (documentation picture of what size I was going into it - lol)

Before giving birth to my two princesses:

Now, 1 year post babies (no spankx or any other suck me in's involved!):
Sure, my body is totally different, and I still have the extra "deflated balloon" skin, but I'm okay with it =). My OB said if/when he delivers our next/final child (via C-Section) that he will go ahead and do a tummy tuck free of charge....sweet....

So, where are you in your post baby weight loss journey? Is it something you are having to constantly work on? What has helped you lose the weight that you have lost so far? If you have lost all of your baby weight, have you been able to keep it off?

Oh, and a breastfeeding update since I just brought it up....I am in the process of weaning. I am pumping 3 x a day now, and Bri has stopped nursing entirely, even in the mornings. My supply has dropped significantly in the last 3 weeks, so I suspect in another week or two I will be able to stop pumping all together. Bittersweet! The girls don't need it anymore though, so I'm okay with it =)

Okay, that's all for now!
Have a great weekend ladies!

Megan

8 comments:

  1. I don't know if this will make you feel better or worse- I delivered my two vaginally and I have lost all my weight. And I still have a floppy belly. I think the skin can only stretch so far... On the other hand, its not THAT floppy- its not like I have a flap of skin hanging down or something. I am mostly comfortable with how I look now. Especially when people say "YOU had twins?" LOL That makes me feel good!

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  2. Good for you, Megan! I bet that feels tremendous! It took me awhile to get into the swing of working out after my girls were born too. We took lots of walks that spring (they were born in February), but beyond that it was hard to feel like I could fit much more in.

    Now it's part of my regular routine. Fit mama= happier mama=happier papa=happier babies. So we're all better off :)

    I pumped until the girls were 13 months, I think and I breastfed till they were just shy of 18 months. I, too, was worried about weight gain once I stopped (especially after I stopped pumping) I'm pleased to report that I've maintained my weight, and maybe even lost a pound or two. I hope that's encouraging to you :)

    Best wishes to you as you go through the weaning process. It was bittersweet for me too. You work so, so, so hard to get there--totally worth it to provide such good nourishment for them, and of course the snuggles and bonding is absolutely amazing. :)

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  3. You look so good! SO good. Good for you! What a great post!

    Flaunt it Sistah!

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  4. GREAT job!! You look fantastic! I did really well after my girls were born (got down to 26 pounds BELOW my pre-pregnancy weight by their first birthday), but unfortunately, I've gained almost all of it back :( I blame it on the traveling ;) Trying to get it off again, but for some reason, it's much harder this time!!

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  5. You look G-R-E-A-T!!! I am talking SERIOUSLY Great Girl!! I need to get my butt in gear and take some weight off....I should bookmark this page for inspiration!

    :)

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  6. I think a year is an eminently suitable length of time to get your weight back down. And I bet as the girls start to get more and more active and you run around more it'll fall off with out you even thinking about it!

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  7. Meghan you look great! I recently gave birth to twins and felt the exact same way you described, very un-sexy. I did my research, and decided to do a tummy tuck. I feel like the old me again and I am in love with the results! It was an expense, but luckily for you it will be free of charge! Congratulations on your beautiful little girls!

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me!