I’m working on reshaping my self-image. I haven’t lost all the baby weight yet, and I’m just trying to accept myself in this more “nutritious” state. I worked really hard for the first 4 months after giving birth, exercising every day and eating right. But the pounds just held on tight, and I’ve slacked in my resolve. My doctor said she thinks I’m holding onto the extra padding because of stress—all 17 pounds worth.
And she’s right, I love me some stress.
But it’s done a number on my self-esteem.
And with all the added anxieties of going back to work, I had to let go of my obsession with getting back to where I was pre-pregnancy. I was fast approaching the deadline for going back to the office still wearing elastic waist bands and poofy shirts—all because I didn’t want to admit that I’m a bigger size. And it was depressing.
So I forced myself to try on everything in my closet. And wouldn’t you know? I found a couple of pants that I could actually button—even if they were several years old and a size bigger than I’d normally wear. Then I spent my birthday money on getting a few essentials: nice slacks in my current size, a dress with an empire waist, and ruffly, baby-bump-concealing tops. Essentially, I replenished my closet with a transitional postpartum wardrobe.
I started to feel better about myself. Also, I’m still loving the emotional high of buttoning pants.
But now I’m ready to take it one step further and try some new strategies for getting skinny:
- I’m no longer counting calories, but I’m not ignoring them either—a big step for this OCD girl. Filling foods with lots of flavor in regular portions at regular meal times is the goal. I’m trying new healthy recipes to keep my interest peaked (like last night’s unbelievably good Open-Faced Steak, Pear, and Gorgonzola Sandwich).
- I’ve introduced nuts into my diet as one of my snacks for the day. I portion out a serving with my gram scale, and I stick to it. Eating out of the jar is mindless munching—a game I can’t win. I read an article yesterday that said people who eat nuts are thinner than people who don’t. Neat. Also, it’s heart healthy. Also, it’s filling because of the protein.
- Gum. The single best trick for keeping extra snacks out of your mouth.
- Weight Watchers ice creams. Have you tried them? Lots of variety. Minimal calories. This is my trick for getting over the sweet tooth attack at night. It also keeps me from bingeing.
- Zumba. Because it’s fun and highly energetic. And because I can jiggle and wiggle behind closed doors with the blinds tightly shut.
Simple things to do. But mostly I’m trying to focus on attitude. In Candace Cameron Bure’s—that’s D.J. Tanner to you Full House devotees—new book, Reshaping It All, she talks about being positive and setting yourself up to succeed. When it comes to weight loss, we need to approach it positively. You know, find the good parts about it. For instance, instead of thinking about how much I hate running when I’m already tired, I can focus on how much I love being outside when the sun sets. Instead of thinking about how much I long for that chocolate glaze cake donut, I think about how much I love trying new Cooking Light dessert recipes. Instead of thinking about the 17 pounds I still have to lose, I think about the fact that I can now button some pants I couldn’t button for the last year.
Get it?
It sounds touchy-feely, I realize. And much easier said then done. But I like the positive spin—replacing the negative with a positive—especially since diet and exercise revolves so often around guilt and deprivation.
I just have to think about all this differently. My usual maniac calorie counting is not working, probably because my body has physically changed so much. Four months of zero weight loss does a number on your psyche. And discouragement is the chief instigator for those late night trips down chocolate chip alley.
Basically, I’m relaxing my obsessive standards for myself while still embracing the game.
What are your healthy body tips and tricks?
I’d really like to know.
i swear it’s a rite of passage to have lots of body issues after the first baby. i did the obsessive calorie counting thing, and it never worked for me because when i got to my goal weight i would be so sick of the hypervigilance i’d swing back in the other direction.
for instance, my stomach is pretty much jello after 3 kids and i just decided not to beat myself up about anymore—i just buy more flattering shirts 
and yes, i am still wearing maternity pants. i love not dealing with buttons. haha
don’t worry; you’re on the right track. nuts are a wonderful snack and they will leave you satisfied. these are some other things that helped me.
1. chasing after toddlers–you’ll be chasing tea everywhere in a matter of months and that will help.
2. trying to pick healthy foods, but not being rigid about it and not thinking of it as a diet. if i get the tiniest sense that i am on a diet or restricting myself, my body revolts. if i want sugar in my tea, i have it. if i want a little butter on my bread, i have it. a scoop of ice cream? absolutely. i just make sure i have a lot of healthy alternatives in the house.
3. drinking mostly water. lots and lots. i have juice and soda pretty rarely. the occasional smoothie– but then i think of it as a meal and put lots of yogurt in it for protein. i have wine/beer only occasionally because they give me the munchies. i do drink a lot of tea.
4. dark chocolate with nuts. just a little bit relieves a bit of stress and feels very indulgent. whole foods has a store brand that is decent.
5. accepting my body. i realized my body is always changing and it will be bigger or smaller depending on what is going on in my life and i try to focus on the things that i do like about my body at any given point in time– and then i camouflage the parts i am insecure about
I have no tips for you. Just I’m so in the same place! I’m still holding on to over 20 pounds of prego weight. I went clothes shopping the other day to try and find something in “my current size” and I was at least 3 sizes bigger for pants. I know I really NEED to get some “regular” clothes again, but I just don’t know if I can do it.
I love the positive thinking. I so associate dieting and exercise as negative. You go girl!
It’s a hard place to be. I’m just glad we’re all in it together.
Sounds like a good way to start thinking about it…and one thing I think a lot of new moms don’t realize (myself included) is that after a good chunk of weight goes away, we’re still left with some leftover. Also, a postpartum transition wardrobe (I think they call it the 4th trimester, though that makes no sense since tri = 3) is something I didn’t think about either until faced with the same thing you are facing — a whole lot of clothes that I couldn’t wear.
Eating healthy can be easy once you make the change. A gluten-free/dairy-free diet can help and do wonders to boost your energy — at least it did for me. And I stick to it — my only cheat is goat cheese.
I used to subscribe to Cooking Light — they have a ton of really easy and tasty recipes.
Good luck!
(I love goat cheese too!) I read somewhere that when your pregnant you make more fat cells, which is what causes you to carry the leftover 5 or 10 pounds. You work harder than ever because you have more cells to shrink than ever. Weird, huh?