Jennifer's Journey

 

I have been implementing a "healthy living lifestyle" for about 10 months now.  

It started because I couldn't lose the baby weight after

baby number five quit nursing last year.

Once I wean, at least 5 pounds

fell right off the next week.

Not this time.

I was not a happy camper.

So, I used my amateur body building husband's

Excel spreadsheet program

to create my own "diet" plan.

It's not really a diet.

It's a lifestyle change.

I FEEL better.  I look better.

And yes, I lost weight.  

In fact, it worked so well,

that I lost ALL my babies'

weight.

Now I'm back to the weight I was

pre-children.

A great place to be.

Except...

my body isn't the same.

I'm mostly okay with this.

That's what a good push up bra is for.

But, I'm not okay with

loose skin and excess fat

hanging over my jeans

when I sit down.

I'm not used to it

I'm not comfortable.

Time to implement strength training.

Again, advice from my fitness obsessed husband.

Thank you honey.

It's nice to be married to my 

own personal trainer.

So, here's what I did:

I eat whole grains, lots of vegetables, lean protein

all the stuff we know we're supposed to eat.

But, it's the percentages that made the difference for me.

I read Jillian Michaels' book

Winning by Losing: Drop the Weight, Change Your Life

I calculated my BMI, the level of calories needed to maintain

all that.

Then I put it in Excel.

But, I changed how much of each

macronutrient I was eating.

The weight FELL OFF.   

I lost

about a pound a week

for a total of 14 pounds

in about 4 months.

Finally!

I thought I had to live with it.

It wasn't so bad.

I was still thin.

Just not as skinny as I used to be.

I told myself

I wouldn't trade my kids to have

my 24-inch

waist back.

But, maybe I can have

both.

Right now,

my waist is about 25 inches.

I can live with that

But, still a little more 

squishy

than what I'm comfortable with.

Now, I'm doing cardio

light running/jogging

30 minutes a day

at least 3 days a week

some weeks I'm able to do it

6 days.

Then I do some weights.

My husband has power bands.

Those are great.

I also have some home weights.

I do the AB Wheel

for a great  ab burn

and other times I do

leg lifts for lower abs

and crunches on lats

and upper abs.

It's only been two weeks

so I will be patient.

I do this all from home.

My husband goes to the gym

5 days a week.

I will just work it

in between dishes,

laundry, vacuuming,

kids' homework,

etc.

It's doable.

And I feel better.