once again, same old struggle

once again, same old struggle

I enjoyed a good year and a half or so of not worrying about my weight. It took about 8 months to lose my baby weight, but since then I have put it all back on again. I am now at the same weight I was back a few years ago, when I joined Weight Watchers and ended up losing 20 lbs before getting pregnant.

Weight Watchers was really good for me, but this time I decided to try and go the “I need to exercise more” route. After getting back from our trip, I decided to join a gym. The local YMCA offered the best solution – child care, a swimming pool, as well as (of course) fitness equipment. They have a lot of free classes and also paid classes.

Inspired by Beth and Becky and their marathon training, I have wanted to have a goal to strive for. Running by itself doesn’t interest me very much, but the thought of doing a triathlon is very exciting! I love to swim, and I like to run and bike. Training for a triathlon gives me the variety I crave.

I am not sure I’ll be able to do a triathlon any time soon, as they are mostly held during the summers. I decided I would start with just running and swimming for now, and try to train as if I am going to do one. It’s exciting to be working for something other than pounds.

Today I met with the fitness coach who showed me how to use the machines and set me up with a schedule for strength training (weights). I am sooo out of shape, and when doing the leg machines I had to put the weights to the sissy ones. But when it came to arms, I was able to put the weights heavier. I guess carrying around a 20 pound baby all the time has its advantages!

I look forward to getting back in shape, and also to swimming again! I hope to go swimming tomorrow, but I might take a day off first. I ran for 25 minutes yesterday, and did the strength training today… I’m exhausted!

9 thoughts on “once again, same old struggle”

  1. Good luck! I think having a goal helps a lot. Chris did the “couch to 5k” program this summer and it gave him the structure he needed to make it work. I, on the other hand, have a hard time sticking to anything and probably wouldn’t go to the gym at all if it didn’t have a pool. Ending a workout with some relaxing laps is awesome.

    I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately on nutrition/weight and the consensus seems to be that for overall health fitness matters more than weight. So if you get discouraged if the pounds don’t come off quickly, take comfort in the fact that you are still doing awesome things for your body and for your health. I know that makes me feel better and helps me treat as less of an all-or-nothing proposition. =)

  4. Karla: Definitely. Last time, I just focused on healthy eating habits, and that was good for me too. Sometimes I think we try to take on too much at once. This time I decided to go the exercise route and hopefully the eating thing happens naturally. I definitely do need to work on both.

    Corinne: I agree! That’s why I don’t own a scale – I’d rather focus on all-over health and fitness, instead of being obsessed with pounds. And to be honest, I just want to feel better. Right now I don’t feel comfortable in my own body.

  5. Marianne: Are there moms fitness classes where you are? There’s a company here that offers classes specifically for post-partum moms – that’s the swimming class I took last March. It was great, but it would be expensive to do it for a long time. I think losing that baby weight is hard!!

  6. Yay!!! I am glad you are excited about finding something that will motivate you!!!

    I am not looking forward to this struggle. It was hard enough to lose the 25 lbs I did earlier this year before we started trying to get pregnant. I have been looking into joining the YMCA here because it has “bad back” pool classes, and also sometimes offers a “Mommy & Me Swim” class. I HATE trying to lose weight especially when things don’t come easy like moving, but I keep getting told that moving is what I HAVE to do.

    Keep us posted on how you are doing!!!!

  7. Molly: Our Y also has Mom & Baby gymnastics classes. I am excited about stuff like that. :-) I hope you find a good option for you!

  8. Good for you! Having my first half marathon goal was what I needed to lose weight after Joshua was born. I love racing now…it’s great to set and accomplish goals, and the camaraderie of the other athletes is so encouraging.

    Will you be doing a sprint triathlon, or are you going for the Ironman? : )

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