I’ve always been active and involved and running here and there to be involved in whatever I was involved in. I was probably in my best shape when I got married. I had a great pregnancy and was able to manage my baby weight fairly well. I really got into all natural and organic eating and self-care during that time. I continued to be a loyal follower of the yoga mat and we had almost daily meetings, she and I. Yes, I refer to my mat as a she. She’s purple and speaks calming whispers to me. After Andi was born it took little time to drop any prego weight that I had held on to due to the unbalanced life of a new mother and the calorie sucking activity of breastfeeding. It seemed like no matter how much attention I paid to what I ate in an effort to make sure that I was eating enough, I was always hungry and always snacking just to keep my energy up. I was still learning and spending more time at the whole food stores around town, especially as Andi started eating table food. I had little time for workouts. Correction – I made little time for workouts and my lovely yoga mat found its way under a table and then into the closet. I just couldn’t seem to find the time, the energy or the motivation to get back into working out and since my weight was down it didn’t seem to be an issue. I’m not sure exactly when it started to happen and honestly at first I thought that my clothes were shrinking – so honest there. I didn’t feel like I was gaining weight and I couldn’t tell in the mirror like I always have been able to in the past but sure enough, things are a little more snug and it takes a little bit more effort than I would like to pull on my fave pair of jeans. I don’t own a scale, probably never will, so in terms of weight I don’t know where I am and the number itself makes little difference to me. I however don’t like the struggle of pulling denim up over my behind let me tell you. I have found peace and love for the changes in my body since becoming a mother. There are things that will never be exactly the same but that’s ok because my life will never be like it was pre-mommy either. Plus I find that there’s a different understanding of what a woman can do and what her body will do in the process of bringing a child into life that I find powerful and inspiring. Every women does it her own way but I am so glad that my path of bringing Andi into this world was one done naturally. All that being said, within the past week I have come to terms that there is no evil being hiding in my dryer that is shrinking my clothing and my health and teaching my child about healthy eating is very important to me so I have done an evaluation and the results are in. I need to pay a bit more attention and get a bit more active. I typically get a full nights sleep so it shouldn’t be a problem for me to get up at a time that allows me to start out with my old yoga routine and eat a more mindful breakfast. Andi is more independent now and there is plenty of time in my day to add in a short but beneficial workout at couple times a week. I’m not going all commando on this; as I’ve written before balance is very important to me and I need to find a new balance to my life in terms of eating and exercise. I think for probably the past year my scales have been a bit off-balance but only slightly so that it’s taken me this long to come to recognize that I need a new plan of action. So my plan is to do more, pay more attention, be more mindful and specific about intake and output, listen to my body and do what feels right. I truly believe in healthy living and the benefits mind, body and soul so I need to walk-the-talk a bit tighter and get my butt into action…or at least into that pair of grey slim jeans hiding in my closet!!!
To be continued…
