Obligatory New Years Post: Post Baby Body Plan

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is enjoying these first few days of January. Something about the start of a new year, a new month, is so refreshing. I know everyone makes fun of the false promises made in a New Years resolution, but I completely understand that mentality.

Don’t we all enjoy a fresh start?

I actually don’t quite feel the same way this year since I’m still pregnant. I feel that the start of 2012 is more of a continuation than a new beginning and the “new beginning” will occur at the end of January/beginning of February when my daughter arrives.

Still, I thought I’d offer up some obligatory New Years resolutions in the form of my Post Baby Body Plan.

Up until recently I haven’t thought too much about “getting my body back”. Well, okay that’s a lie- I have thought about it, but I’ve also been in denial about the work I may have ahead of me. It would be great to believe that I will be one of those people that will lose all of the baby weight quickly, but I’ve never been one to lose weight quickly, so I think it’s going to require some serious work on my part.

But how am I going to find the time to commit to working out and eating right ? Lately, all I hear from everyone is that my life will be impossibly busy and I’ll be so exhausted that I’ll be lucky if I remember my own name. It’s discouraging, but I know I’ll find my own way. I also don’t have extreme goals of running a marathon by summer or getting back into my pre-pregnancy jeans after a month.

My Post Baby Body Goals:

1. Be Kind to Myself- This is number one for me. And I think it will actually be the hardest of all of my goals. I tend to be really hard on myself and critique my body more than I should. I look at pictures of myself pre-pregnancy and I’m now just realizing that I like what I see. Wish I could have been more appreciative of my body at the time. Also, pregnancy has showed me how absolutely incredible my body really is. I need to respect and honor it, give it time to heal and recover. I will have goals and expectations, but I am going to treat myself as I would a friend…with kindness and understanding.

2. Join Weight Watchers

Yes Jennifer Hudson, you’re a good spokesperson. But more than that, I think Weight Watchers will be a good plan to help me lose the weight because it’s based on eating real food but it still provides structure and guidance. I think it is going to be hard for me to get back into a routine of counting and measuring, but I know I need to do so in order to lose the baby weight.  Not only do they have a plan designed for nursing moms, but they also have an online program and there is a child friendly express meeting in my area. I think I’ll start with the online tool and then attend meetings when I’m leaving the house more.

3. Get exercise in whatever form works

I don’t have any specific fitness goals for right after the baby is born, except that I want to move more. At this point I have not been working out for at least a month and these days I can barely walk without discomfort. I can’t wait to be able to move without pain.  Once cleared for exercise, I plan to get walks in with the baby (at the mall, or wherever), do on-demand short workouts at home, join Stroller Strides, perhaps join a Zumba class through the township, and ease my way back into short runs on the weekend when Joe can watch the baby (I’ll have a running stroller thanks to my sister, but I have to  get an adapter and also wait a little to run with an infant, especially in the winter). Long term I’d like to try out P90X or P90X2.

So there you have it. My post baby “get my body back” plan.  I look forward to sharing with you how things turn out.

What are your goals for the New Year?

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Faking it

Sometimes things aren’t always as they seem.

Study zone on the other side of the “clean” table

With this idea of faking it in mind…. I’ve decided on a new goal.

For various reasons I can’t sign up for race right now. But I really miss training for one. Ever since my half marathon in November, I’ve been craving that focus and dedication to running that I previously had.

I need some new goals, and therefore, I’ve decided to start training for a fictional race, called the 15 by 30 Race.

I’m planning on working up to a 15 mile distance by the end of March, which is right before my 30th birthday.

Here is the training plan I am going to follow as best as I can starting next week.  I am using an outline done by Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point. Her plan includes tempo and speed runs, which I’ve never done before. But I think that incorporating them will help me to become a better runner.

I’m hoping that with a new plan, I will be able to find my running mojo again! With my new student teaching schedule as well as the yucky winter weather, I know this might be a tough goal, but I really think I can tackle it.

Do you believe in faking it until you make it? In what ways do you do it?

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Similar but Different

Hi guys!

Thanks for the nice feedback on the vlog.

I’ve been cooped up studying science stuff all day, and I really needed a break!

I thought I would share a yummy lunch combo I ate today that was very satisfying and delicious. I got the idea from my friend Audrey.

 

I ended up using two of my recipes to make a new one. It’s similar to the other recipes, but it’s different too!

The recipes I referenced were my baked tofu and Bulgur with squash, mushrooms, chickpeas and lemon.

First I cooked up some bulgur with chicken broth.

Then I sautéed a few veggies in a pan -  onion, mushrooms, zucchini. This time I omitted the chickpeas and the lemon, and I added a little chicken broth to the pan.

 

The tofu I had made the other day and just reheated. (Does anyone else think tofu tastes better after a day or two?)

I had marinated this tofu in soy sauce, red pepper flake, garlic powder, and a tsp. of toasted sesame oil. Also put some sesame seeds on top. (follow the prep and baking instructions in this recipe )

Once everything was done, I put it all together and topped it with a little more soy sauce. YUM!

I had a little reading material on the side

Kelly Osbourne looks really fit!

 

However, I just hate how celebrities are such a big deal when they gain or lose weight. It’s like Kelly finally MADE it now that she’s thin, and nothing else she ever did before really mattered. (Not that she did that much?)

I think it just hits a personal chord with me. I remember when I lost a lot of weight one time, I felt like people treated me differently. Like as if I finally figured out my life or something. I felt like they assumed that losing weight was the most important goal I had. What about the bigger and more important things I accomplished? Why does this matter so much?

On a brighter note…I also wanted to add that I’ve been doing well with my goal to drink more water.

Thanks to this new cup

Isn’t it cute?

I’ve been putting a little crystal light in it (1/2 a packet) and I’ve managed to drink 40 more ounces of water a day! WOO!

 

Okay, time to finish up studying. TEST TONIGHT!

 

What do you think about celebrity weight loss in the media?

What are your tricks for drinking more H20?

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Little Pizzas & Little Goals

Today’s lunch really hit the spot!

 

I enjoyed some loaded up little pizzas.

 

The "crust" is a TJ’s low carb whole wheat tortilla. On top is my mom’s tomato sauce, some peppers and onions, TJ’s Meatless Meatballs, and some low fat mozzarella. Sprinkled on some parm, and baked at 350 for about 20 min.

These little pizzas pack lots of protein and fiber so they have great staying power. And they are SO cute too!

Little Goals:

As the next round of holidays approach, it becomes clear that another year will soon be over.

I don’t know about you, but I think that 2010 flew by. It seems like just yesterday I finally got used to saying "twenty-ten" instead of "two thousand and ten".

 

Instead of waiting for the new year to make a bunch of goals, I wanted to start making a few small changes. Little goals, just like little pizzas, are always a good idea

 

My current little goals

• Drink more water - just a few extra glasses that aren’t with meals or during workouts
• Listen better to my hunger- lately I find that my stomach is growling by the time I get into the kitchen, and by that point I am snacking while cooking and it can ruin the meal.
• Start doing some weight training - Now that I’m not training for the half anymore, I am going to be doing more cross training. I’d also really like to start lifting weights again, even if it’s only a little, and not every workout.

And that’s it for now!

 

What are your little goals? (or big goals?)

Do you make new year’s resolutions?

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Now What?

I remember thinking to myself, what is life going to feel like once my half is over?

 

The past few months have been nice in that I’ve had a long term goal that I’ve been working towards. It’s been a good thing for me both physically and mentally.

 

Now that the race is over, I need to evaluate some things, and figure out what I want to focus on next. Things will be changing over the next few months as I finish up my classes and transition to full time student teaching. My time will be lessened and I will have other things to consider. Fortunately, nothing needs to be decided right away.

 

While I do get a little fearful of change, I know that I am in control of my life and each decision I make is my choice. Furthermore, as my mom always says, "All things are negotiable." This is just a way of saying that, not every decision you make needs to be FINAL. Just because you choose to do something, doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind or adjust your path.

 

After my major post race caloric consumption yesterday I was also saying "Now What?" when it came to food today. Breakfast was greek yogurt w/peanut flour and a vitamuffin.

For lunch I whipped up some bulgur, and tossed with roasted eggplant, chickpeas, goat cheese, and balsamic glaze. The warm bulgur melted the goat cheese and the meal was hearty and satisfying.

 

 

Time to get ready for class!

 

Do you fear change?

What goals are you setting for yourself in the next few months?

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