Body After Baby... again!

Well, friends, I didn't do a great job the first time 'round in Samantha's Body After Baby Challenge at Mama Notes, but I really want to do it this time.

I have clear-cut goals and I know what I need to do. It's just up to me to do it.

I haven't been "good" through the holidays, and by that I don't mean just enjoying treats. If it was just that, it would be fine. Treats are a good thing, meant to be enjoyed.

It's just that I have been kind of out of control with the treats. Eating stuff just 'cause it's here. Even stuff I don't really like.

I know I have gained back the few pounds I lost in the first BAB challenge. I haven't ventured on to the scale in a while, but I'm willing to bet on it based on how my jeans are fitting (Uncomfortable and not pretty!)

So, we're starting up the challenge again. This time there is no end date or prizes or anything like that. It's an ongoing challenge for us mommies out there to support each other and keep each other accountable.

Here's what I have.

Goals
*Be as close as possible to pre-pregnancy weight by the beginning of March. I have an estimated 15 pounds to go to get there. (Was 13 to go, but I'm sure I have added another couple pounds in there.)

And we all know how tough that last 15 can be! It really holds on!

March is when Hubby is in a wedding and we'll be traveling down South to attend it. I'd love for once in my life to get a hot little dress and LOOK SMOKIN' in it! I don't want to shop for a dress to cover my flaws. I want to shop for a dress to accent the good stuff!

*I want to regain the strength and general feeling of fitness I had before I got pregnant with Jordan. I was happy and healthy. I felt good about how I looked, and what's best, I didn't have to do much to maintain it. I exercised because I wanted to and I ate healthy because it made me feel good. When I wanted a treat, I had one. I was in a very good place.

As part of this goal, I'd like to regain my ability to do five unassisted pull-ups (Yeah, the real GUY kind), which I could do before I got pregnant!

Another part of this goal is running. After I had Logan, I started to run in an attempt to lose the baby weight, and in the summer of 2006, when Hubby and I ran 5 races, running felt GOOD. I think my cardiovascular health was the best it had ever been. It was wonderful to be able to run ten miles without stopping and actually feel like I could go farther. I want that back, and am working toward that. We are planning to run our first half marathon in October to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. 13.1 miles is a long way. I have never run that far in my life. I am up to three or four miles right now, and need to work on both my endurance AND my speed.

Also, I just want to look better. I want my self esteem as far as my looks back up where it was before I had Jordan.

This is my goal photo. It's when I was about 5 weeks pregnant. I had just found out Jordan was on his way two days before this. I wasn't SKINNY. I will probably never be SKINNY. But, I like the way I looked at this point. I weighed 146.5 (At 5 feet 4 inches tall, this might seem like a lot, but I am pretty muscular. Going strictly in terms of BMI, that's still considered overweight. To that I say "WHATEVER!")



And now, I need a plan!

Exercise isn't my problem. Never has been, and probably never will be. I work out most days. My husband and I make it a priority to make sure we both get in workout time, which I appreciate. It stinks to take away from our family time, but we both know that keeping ourselves healthy is good for the family as a whole. Plus, the little bit of "me" time going to the gym gives me is absolutely essential for my mental well-being!

No, the problem is the food, friends. I love food. I love full-fat cheese and real butter and chocolate and I am completely addicted to my half-caff coffee with cocoa mix and skim (AKA cafe mocha) every morning. I have cultivated quite a sweet tooth lately too.

I know what I need to do. I need to lay off the sugar. Cold turkey. I need to give it a couple weeks when I just want to go nuts on the sweet poison. I know it will get easier and I will be amazed at how much better I will feel. I know for a fact the afternoon exhaustion will actually GO AWAY once that sugar addiction is out of my system. I've done it before. And what's more, I know that cutting out sugar and processed foods will make the weight come off slowly and it will STAY OFF. That's how I did it before, and it wasn't easy but MAN it WORKED!

In addition, I need, and I mean NEED to track my food to keep myself accountable. I am not sure if I'm going to do it via fitday.com or Weight Watchers points. Both are good ways that work for me.

So that's that. Body After Baby, here I come.