Good Article to Share!

In prepping for the upcoming diet and exercise after little BB is born, I've been searching the internet to come up with my "plan of attack."  I'm not going to use anything gimmicky -- just hard core common sense and a promise to be honest about it on this blog. Oh, and I am going to wrap my belly and bind my hips... but that's as gimmicky as it will get.  Not sure if that will help... but...

Anyhow, I found this article and thought it was worth sharing.  Nothing earth-shattering, but good food for thought.  I've only shared some of it as I was having formatting issues, but it's interesting how some women lose NO weight and I've heard of others actually gaining after they've come home -- yes, these women actually weighed more after birthing an 8 pound child, placenta and losing all amniotic fluid -- how depressing!! Basically, it all has to do with fluid retention, and when we're pumped full of IV fluid through a long labor, I guess we shouldn't be surprised...
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How to Lose Weight after Pregnancy

Source:  http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_lose_weight_after_pregnancy

1. Drink at least 10-12 glasses of water every day. Replace your high sugar beverages such as sodas and juices with some water and a squeeze of fresh lemon. You could also try flavored seltzer water which has no calories. You can cut out hundreds of calories a day this way.
2. Keep healthy snacks handy such as raisins, popcorn, wheat crackers, and nuts. Refuse to buy store-bought baked goods or junk food.
3. Eat lean meats such as boneless chicken and the leanest cuts of beef.
4. Eat whole grains (breads, cereals, pastas) instead of the "white" versions
5. Don't be fooled by foods that are labeled as nonfat. Some are loaded with calories and can have hydrogenated vegetable oils and/or high fructose corn syrup, neither of which are healthy. Read your labels!
6. Resist the urge to indulge in a fast food meal. Or if you do, order the salad and not the fat-filled burgers and fries.
7. As soon as you feel ready, start light exercise. Weather-permitting, take a 10 minute walk with the baby every day and slowly increase your time to 20 minutes per day. Babies can be worn in a snugli or sling or you can use a baby jogger or stroller when they get too heavy. Even better, walk at a regular time with a friend.
8. Find easy ways to increase your exercise like parking farther away or using stairs instead of elevators.
9. Breastfeeding uses up your fat stores! Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories per day so the longer you breastfeed, the more calories you burn.
10. Consider joining a gym and trade babysitting hours with a friend so when you each go to do your workout, the other can watch the babies. Some gyms may offer babysitting services as well.

Just remember it took 9 months to gain the weight; give yourself at least that long to take it off. I am not a fan of completely avoiding or drastically reducing food groups such as the popular diets of limiting carbs or sugars. I believe the more you deprive yourself of an occasional treat, the more you will crave it.

Soccer fields and speed bumps

I wonder if trekking through soccer fields for my daughter's practice tonight will have any affect on "encouraging" labor.  Probably the answer is no -- as was the speed bump I hit earlier today going a little too fast.

No baby yet!

Still no baby, but I have to post as I'm extremely anxious to be finished with this pregnancy and meet my new little guy.  With both girls, I went past my due dates.  I think I was due May 3 with Quin and had her on the 5th.  With Korrie, I was due on Jan. 21 and she was born the next evening.  Both were spontaneous labors.

On Tuesday, I will be 38 weeks, so you would think I would just sit back and wait this one out knowing I have at least two weeks remaining.  Ugh! But, alas, I cannot.  I am beyond ready to have this baby, and there have been a few signs he might be ready a little sooner.  I lost my mucus plus on Friday.  With both girls, I lost it the day before I went into labor.  I'm having lots of irregular contractions and he's very low.  I'm not sure if the whole plug loss means anything really, and I don't know if my previous births will be any indication.  All I know is that I feel so ready! 

This coming Thursday (at 38 weeks and 2 days), I have my next appointment.  My midwife has offered to do something called a membrane sweep.  I am familiar with the procedure but never had it done in the past (that I know of).  It sounds painful, but I'm going to go for it.  My mother (being very opinionated), is vocally against me having the procedure done, but it's my decision.  BB is more than ready at this point and if he's not ready, everything I read says that the procedure won't do anything.

Thursday is April 1 and also happens to be my last scheduled day at work.  The 2nd is a Friday, but our offices are closed in observance of Good Friday.  Timing-wise, I'm ready to take a small leap and see if anything happens.  I'm already buying romaine and eating oregano at home to no avail, so what's the real harm here?

I also learned something this week after a baby gift item (a baby sling) was recalled.  I took it to Toys R Us and received store credit.  My stroller / baby seat I purchased with Quincy were recalled and we bought a new one and I've been unsure of what to do with the old ones.  Well, apparently there is no time limit and I can take it back (used or not with receipt or without) at any time and get my money back.  So, good news to me -- store credit is on the way! Just passing this little tid bit on. 

My plan

Today, I have 2 weeks and 5 days until my third child is due. I'm anxious to not be pregnant anymore and get back to feeling like a semi-normal person. Pregnancy does so many things to you besides simply changing your stomach. And, more altering than any physical changes are the emotional and mental ones.

I am 30 years old, and thus far have probably gained about 33 or so pounds. I had lost a little weight right before my pregnancy for my wedding and of course, gained a few afterward with the honeymoon. Matt and I were married nearly a year ago on April 11, 2009. I found out I was pregnant in the beginning of August that same year.

I have two monster daughters from a previous marriage -- Korrie is 11 and Quincy is almost 6. I struggled with weight loss after the birth of both of them -- and I gained a lot too -- I weighed less to start with and climbed 45 - 50 pounds with each. Losing it was no trip down easy street.

In both instances, I didn't lose a pound breastfeeding, and with Quincy, I was on a calorie restrictive diet of 1800 calories and did some jogging. Shortly after I weaned her (6 months), their father and I split and the stress finally pulled the pounds away. I basically maintained that weight within 10 pounds for the next 5 years.

Staying healthy is very important, and while I didn't quit smoking like I had planned before conceiving, I stopped smoking the minute I found out I was pregnant. It wasn't hard -- surprisingly. I exercised regularly at first until I hit about 5 months, and then running was awkward and walking just wasn't fun on a treadmill. So, I fell off the exercise wagon. I'll basically be starting from scratch.

My plan is to listen to my body and post pregnancy beginning building up to run again. I won't be calorie restrictive as I do intend to breastfeed at first, but I will be more conscious of what I eat. And, I WILL post pics -- even ones of my stomach as I under go the weight loss journey.

As a pregnant person (and even though I've been through this a few times) seeing postpartum belly pics has been something I've looked for without finding much available -- so I'm offering them up!

I'll be back to report on my pregnancy and the birth of the baby in the next few posts and then then begin my journey to reclaim my body shortly their after.