The Baby Weight, Unhealthy Obsessions and The Changes that May Last Forever
This weekend, my husband and I were cuddling a little and he said:
“Remember when we used to go to the gym every night and you had a line all the way down your stomach?”
Of course, that was about 7 years ago, pre-pregnancy, pre-children. That was when we both used to leave our high-paying jobs and spend the evening working out for two hours four nights a week.
These days, I seldom get 30 minutes to do a yoga DVD and I know that I just can’t spend another 2 hours a day away from my children. That line down my middle may never be coming back.
Sure, we take walks together, we play together, we try to be an active family. Still, those aren’t the kind of exercises that define your abdominal muscles or return your pre-baby shape. My husband doesn’t get to go to the gym anymore either. And, to tell you the truth, I am not sure I miss the man who used to get out of bed, look at himself in the mirror and flex as he admired himself every morning. I much prefer the guy whose slightly less defined and comes home to play with his kids at the end of the day. Sure, he’s not as good-looking, but he’s much more attractive if you can understand the distinction I am trying to make. It would help a lot if I knew he felt the same way about maternal me.
That said, I do want to be fitter and healthier. I want enough energy to meet all of the challenges life throws my way. I want to be there for my children.
I guess you could say I am looking to make a healthy compromise. I want something between being fitness obsessed and giving up completely. I have no idea what that compromise might look like. It’s certainly not a lifestyle I see when I look around me. I see people who spend all of their extra energy exercising or monitoring every gram of fat, or I see people who do neither to either degree.
Have you found a balanced path or achieved a compromise? How did you do it and what does your day look like?
Tags: balanced-lifestyle, gym-bunny-no-more, my-husband-has-let-himself-go, my-wife-has-gotten-fat, not-fitness-obsessedRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Mental Health
7 opinions for The Baby Weight, Unhealthy Obsessions and The Changes that May Last Forever
Summer
Sep 24, 2007 at 7:09 am
Today actually, was my first day of planned excercise to try to get my pre-baby body back. I jogged for about 10 minutes with a friend. Not much, but it’s a start. We’ll be jogging every other morning for 15 minutes or so to start and hopefully build from there. It’s been hard this time around finding the motivation to excercise, but I’ve been feeling crummy and I knew it would help. Finding a friend to do it with makes it so much easier.
Madame M
Sep 24, 2007 at 9:40 am
I think this isn’t the moment to admit that right before coming to your blog, I was looking up information on the Master Cleanse huh?
I wish I could find a balance myself.
workoutmommy
Sep 24, 2007 at 9:45 am
Ironically I just started a blog devoted to getting myself back into pre-pregnancy weight and shape.
I too used to workout for hours a day before kids. Now, it’s a daily struggle.
I try to do little things throughout the day (lunges around the house, push ups here and there, long walks with the kids, etc) I also try to utilize the time when my husband is home for some tougher workouts. The hardest part for me is nutrtion. I snack a lot and really need to make an effort to STOP!
Maria
Sep 24, 2007 at 9:53 am
Well, Kevin still gets his 3-4 hours of gym time a day, but I can’t fault him for that…considering it’s his job and all.
Me– I try to watch what I eat, without denying myself the joys (cookies, etc) of food. I do not count calories or fat, but I try to think about what I have eating for the past few days and what I will eat for the next few days, and then balance it all out. Obviously if I am going to eat fatty/high calorie/sugar filled foods at a tailgate on Saturday, I try to eat more veggies, low-fat, etc food during the week.
I also make a lot of my foods myself rather than eating stuff from packages. I make and freeze soups, hotdishes, lasagnas, etc. Foods that pack a punch, but I can warm up in a pinch without resorting to the high-fat/high sodium/high calorie foods that come in cans/boxes.
I used to exercise, but now that I am staying home with The Boy and Kevin is in Turkey, I don’t get that done…probably less so when I return to the office– at least until I stop pumping. However, I do take walks and play with the baby, which keeps me active. Plus all of the laundry and household chores.
I have one of those “freakish” bodies though, because I am actually lighter now than when I got pregnant. If only I could get rid of that little jiggle in my lower tummy where there is still a little layer of fat jiggling around.
Kerri
Sep 26, 2007 at 11:21 pm
After regaining all that I lost last year (grrr), I’m now a few weeks back into a good routine. Back to counting calories and regular exercise. Exercise basically consists of going up and down the bottom stair while reading (and the kids are watching a movie or TV show). That’s the only way to get it in. Or doing the same thing in the backyard while they play. That’s all I can offer for now! :D
kbaggott
Sep 28, 2007 at 12:36 am
Summer- Sounds like you’re off to a wonderful start!
Madame- I am thinking “cleanse” too. I figure it will shrink my stomach so that I feel fuller with less in there.
Work Out Mommy- I am off to check out your blog.
Maria- I am not sure Kevin is the only pro-athlete in your family. There is probably a work out video in your future.
Kerri- You do what you can, just like the rest of us.
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