Getting My Sexy Back
One of the challenges for me (and many others!) of having a baby is the weight loss journey. With each of my kids, despite having terrible sickness in the first half of my pregnancies, I still gained 50-60 lbs.
Both times, I managed to lose most/all of the weight. But I have been told that it gets harder with each child and it certainly seems to be true this time around.
In March, after noticing that I had plateaued weight-wise (having lost about half of the weight I had gained), I decided to sign up for Weight Watchers again. I did Weight Watchers with Adeline and it was SO helpful in helping me see where my eating habits could improve. I lost the last bit of baby weight and felt so great.
It has been awesome. If you haven’t done Weight Watchers, you set up a goal weight, track what you eat (everything is assigned a point value and you get a certain amount of points a day), track your activity and see the weight come off!
With going on spring break at the end of March, I was a bit nervous about if I would be able to maintain the weekly weight loss. It’s definitely hard when you are eating out, but I was intentional when we went out to eat and I packed good snacks.
Right after I joined Weight Watchers (and before our trip!) Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods asked if I would be up for trying their Salted Caramel Brownie Bites and blogging about them.
I have a big sweet tooth, so happily agreed.
I packed a box and when I had a sugar craving, had one of those. At only 2 points, they were a great way to have a dessert that didn’t drastically impact my points for the day. More importantly, they are delicious. (Confession: sometimes I would have two instead of just one.)
They were also great for our car ride. The kids had their special snacks and activities and mommy had hers!
I’m in month two of my weight loss journey and have totally purchased more Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods. (They are doing an awesome campaign right now called tasting is believing. If you don’t like it, it’s free!)
To date, I have lost 7 lbs and should hit 10-12 by the end of the month. Weight Watchers recommends 1-2 lbs. a week, which has been my trend.
It feels good to be eating better and taking care of myself. I still have a ways to go to hit my pre-pregnancy weight, but slow and steady wins the race. I’m getting my sexy back, if you will. 🙂
If you follow me on Instagram, you also know I have also been taking exercise classes. The best part? I’m liking them! I have never been big on exercise, so finding classes (barre and pilates) that I enjoy has been huge.
Sometimes as moms, caring for our kids becomes consuming and we neglect ourselves. This can negatively impact our families and is not a healthy way to live.
I’m proud to be taking charge! I want to model a healthy lifestyle for my children.
What do you do to take care of yourself and maintain a healthy weight?
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods. However, I am a paying member of Weight Watchers and all thoughts are my own.
So glad you are making yourself a priority. I think the healthy habits + new class will equal success.
good for you! Taking care of ourselves is so hard but has to be a priority. Going from being an active high school athlete to a college rec center coed to a mom with three kids – HUGE CHANGE. Now I have a hard time getting motivated to exercise but I know that at age 40 it is more important for my health than my appearance.
Good for you, Jessica. Being a weight we feel comfortable at is so important for our emotional wellbeing, I think.
I eat three normal meals a day but add in three healthy snacks too: it’s do-able because I’m never far from my next nibble. Plus, I don’t get hungry or get those low-blood sugar shakes! I save desserts and sweet treats (other than fruit or yoghurt) for special occasions or when it would be rude to refuse.
I don’t do much exercise beyond housework and cycling here and there, but it seems to be enough.
Keep us posted on your progress (though you’re already looking fab!)
Congratulations for losing more of your pregnancy weight with the help of weight watches, exercise and a healthy attitude. 🙂 As for the Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods, oh my gosh!!!! I love them all but my favorite one is the triple chocolate bliss brownie. I eat only one a day but could eat an entire box. They are sooooo delicious. But I remind myself that I’m watching my sugar and one per day ought to do it.
I lose weight by eating some of the WW dinners aprox. 3 times a week, I walk (my only exercise)when ever I am able to, I eat lots of vegetables and fruits. I do not eat meat. When I was able to workout with weights and do aerobics I did. Eating right and exercise has always been best for me. As I get older it sure is difficult. But I’m doing good.
Your baby boy is so beautiful, all 3 of your children are! Good luck on your weight loss journey, sounds like you are doing great!
Mary from NH
Congrats to you for taking back your health. I know it can be hard to get back to the pre-pregnancy weight. I had lost all of my weight with my first one that I gained (80lbs) and then after my 2nd one I never lost it again. Luckily it was only 35lbs. But as the years have gone by and I have neglected myself for the sake of taking care of the kids, working and so forth that we all do as moms I am finally taking control back. I also am on a weight loss journey. Best of luck and thank you for sharing about these little gold mines. I will have to check into getting me some of these.
I used Weight Watchers after my pregnancies. It really works. Good luck!
Way to go, Jessica! You’re beautiful, and preapproved, and really quite amazing. I love how you accept the YOU that you are today, without the self-loathing that so many of us do, but that you also work toward goals to improve who you are. You’re an inspiration.
Get it, girl!!!!!
(Can you hear me cheering through the computer screen?)
So good for you!! I have resumed jogging since I was 39, and did aerobics before that after my four children. But I must confess I never had trouble losing baby weight. But strongly encourage fitness. It’s good for your energy level, your mood level, stress reduction and overall health. I recently fell of my horse and broke my femur neck (hip). Had to have hip repair surgery and stay off the leg for 2 months. Had I not had the fitness level I had, I’m sure getting around on crutches for two months would have been FAR more difficult. Plus my recovery from the surgery was amazingly fast, making me fairly comfortable within a couple of weeks. I am now 54. It has made me an even stronger health and fitness advocate.
Oh, this really, REALLY makes me want to join Weight Watchers again! The combination of having babies and working from home has pushed me to an outrageous, all-time-high weight. And it’s so overwhelming to think about the work it will take to lose it. (Even though I can tell myself I gained it over a few years, I still want to lose it now! #iknowbetter) How do you like the new program? Is it a lot different from Points Plus? Or basically the same?
The program hasn’t changed since I had Adeline, so I like it. 🙂 I think it is easy to follow. My biggest hurdle is remembering to track EVERYTHING. It’s amazing how quickly things add up. The good thing about doing Weight Watchers going into summer is SO MUCH PRODUCE and produce is free “0” points. YUMMY AND EASY! You can do it, girl!
Hi Jessica – I have been reading your blog for quite awhile and am so happy for you and your family You do know how to keep occupied!! I too have been a Weight Watcher over the past years – at various times. Went back again May 2014, lost 35 lbs by Feb 2015, had open heart surgery 4 weeks ago and have now lost a total of 40 lbs…. Didn’t know about the surgery at the time I joined, but I know it was no accident. Slow and steady is the way. Please tell your Mom and sister I said “hi”. Love, Carol, Carol, Carol
Weight Watchers helped me lose all the baby weight TWICE – first two kids – and then some. Really great program. Get it gurl!
Yeah!! So proud of you….taking care of yourself AND seeing success. There is so much good in this. I love that you have found a way (with Weight Watchers) to still enjoy eating – (this is so important) – while making your journey to feeling like your best you a priority. Good for you, friend!