Body After Baby {part 3}

Need to catch up on my other posts? Read part 1 here and part 2 here.

I have 9 pounds left to reach my pre-pregnancy weight!! I am so excited because I am under 10 pounds to my goal weight! My pre-pregnancy weight was a perfect weight for me, and I am so happy to be so close!

Some of my pre-pregnancy pants and jeans finally fit! Granted, they're my fat pants. I have bought some new clothes to hold me over and I am only one pant size up from my pre-pregnancy size! Yay size 6! This is seriously awesome to me, because gaining 50 pounds can do a real number on ya, girls.

9 POUNDS LEFT!

You know that my shirt rolled like that is too sexy.

I'm pretty sure that my boobs make up 2+ pounds of that weight I need to lose. They're actually really throwing me off because they're so big. I don't know how to dress myself with boobs this big. Oh well. Not like anyone else is complaining...

I know if you look back to my previous post on this topic, you'll see that I've only lost 3 pounds in about two months. Let me tell you something about weight loss while nursing (I know I've said it before). It's sooooooooo slooooow. I know there are tons of women who swear that breastfeeding is the best way for them to lose weight, but it has seriously had the opposite effect on me. My body is holding on to that fat to nourish my baby! I have also read that a lot of women hold onto the last 5-10 pounds until their baby is weaned. I have a feeling this might apply to me. It took a month just to get under the 10 pound mark.

So, what am I doing?

DIET:
The same still applies to me - I can't restrict carbs or calories while nursing otherwise it would have an adverse effect on my milk supply. For the most part, I have been really good. However, while we vacationed, I didn't worry too much about what I was eating. I didn't gain any weight, nor lose any, but I consider that a win. Greg and I started the clean eating plan for dinners on Emeals recently and I have felt better almost immediately. The plan focuses on whole, natural ingredients. Nothing processed, whole grains, plenty of veggies, and lean protein. We have loved it! No, I am not a perfect eater, but it's not worth it to beat myself up over small setbacks. I think what keeps me motivated is the thought of being able to cheat on the weekends or splurge every once and a while.

EXERCISE:
I have been consistently hitting the gym 5 days a week most weeks throughout the summer. Kennedy and I go Monday through Friday, and it's a great part of our routine. She loves playing in the kids club and I am happy that I can have some time to work out by myself uninterrupted. Most days I focus on at least 30 minutes of cardio, and I do strength training on the weight machines and some free weights. I alternate muscle groups. Other days I might take a spin or zumba class. Just depends what strikes my fancy. I don't have a rigorous plan. I just make sure that I'm there, no matter how unmotivated I might feel. I'm so sad that next week is our last week to go to the gym in the mornings because I go back to work August 20th. I'll have to get creative about how to get my workouts in once the school year starts because I am so busy!

I will admit that it can be really discouraging at times to be doing all of this without quick results. I see other bloggers losing weight so quickly and I feel like I must be doing something wrong. Friends are losing at least a pound a week. But I'm not. I'm a nursing mother, and that's the most important thing over anything else. My daughter is beautiful, happy, healthy, and well fed.

And, you know what? I am starting to really feel comfortable in my skin again. I've been this current weight before, and I've always been able to get back. It's just going to be a longer process this time.

Linking this post up today with Kristen and Raven!