Losing the baby weight

When I am pregnant, I eat.  Normally (i.e. when not pregnant) I am quite good at staying at my ideal weight and eating lettuce leaves etc, but pregnancy is my time to indulge.  I eat all the things that I don't normally allow myself to eat - cake, chips, chocolate, milkshakes etc.  I don't eat whole cakes in one sitting (not often at least), but I eat things I wouldn't normally. It is one time I have an excuse to have a sticky-out belly, and I embrace that belly with gusto.  Which means I tend to gain more than the recommended weight gain while pregnant. 

So here I am, 4 weeks postpartum and the great news is that I have lost all the baby weight I gained while I am pregnant - all 12 kgs / 25lb that could be accounted for by things baby-related (actual baby / placenta etc). Now all I have to do is lose the additional 12 kgs / 25lb I gained due to aforementioned pigging out.  This is the not-so-fun part.  But even with the not-so-fun bit afterwards, it was still worth enjoying every morsal while pregnant.

I am not always very kind to myself, bodywise. I am my own worse critic and I often feel 'fat', or 'ugly', even though my logical brain tells me I am not. But as I get older I get gentler with myself and I have decided that at age 40, after three children and many pregnancies (and at 4 weeks postpartum!!), I am never going to have the body of a 20 year old*. And that is ok. I have not let myself go (besides the teeny tiny BINGE sessions while pregnant), I look good, I am ok. And, as my mother likes to remind us, it took nine months to get into this state, I should allow myself nine months to get back to normal. Easy does it.  And I think, I hope! I am going to be able to keep this positive, healthy state of mind.  I hope so. 

Which was all good and well while I have been living in track pants, but OMG! I have my first full day of business meetings tomorrow and I DONT HAVE A SINGLE THING TO WEAR!!!  EEEEKKK!!  It is impossible to squeeze this chipschocolatemilkshake ass into anything in my cupboard and I am not sure sweatpants are going to cut it.  Bugger!

So off I went to my mother today to see if she had anything more accommodating in her cupboard.  Depressingly, after being unable to squeeze myself into any of her 'fat clothes', I gave up and stood in front of my cupboard again, trying to convince myself that sweatpants are the new black when I had a brainwave!  Maternity pants!  I could wear my maternity pants!  Nice and roomy, enough space for a milkshake ass and a chocolate belly. I am a genius! (yes, yes, you probably all know this trick already, I am a slow learner.)

So, I will be in my maternity pants tomorrow, but not for long. I do want to lose the extra weight I gained, but I don't want to get full of angst about it.  I will give myself some time and do a few positive things like add some exercise to my routine (excercise! gross!).  I am going to give myself 6 months to lose the 12 kgs, which I think is a sensible target. Let's hope I can do it, but most of all, let's hope I can keep this positive attitude about it all.  Keep reminding me if I start acting all asshole'ish about it, ok!

*Although I might never have the body of a 20 year old, thanks to some excellent skills from my plastic surgeon, I have the boobs of a 20 year old. 

(ok, not really, but couldn't resist a little self-teasing there. I dont have the boobs of a 20 year old, that would be silly.  We are talking AT LEAST 25/26 years old. Heh.)

Comments

[Pictou]

OLD JOKE WARNING:
My dad used to say he had the body of a 20 year old. Then we would tell him to give it back, he was getting it wrinkled.

[Heather]

Yes! That's the trick I've been doing for the past two weeks, maternity pants. Good luck at your meetings.

[Sharon]

Sounds very realistic. But I am sure you still look fabulous.

[Kristin]

Good for you for maintaining such a healthy outlook on loosing the pregnancy weight. I am SURE you still look amazing.

[fw]

9 months to put them on, 9 months to loose them. I am naturally thin, but it still took me the full 9 months every time.

[sass]

ok, i don't get it. i haven't even had any kids and *i'm* carrying around a whole lot of pregnancy weight! ;-)
hey us over 40-ers just need to keep reminding ourselves that we look fabulous - and f@ck those that add, "for your age"!
you look fabulous darling! and so do your kids!

[serina]

Damn! My twins are 18 this year, looks like its time to lose the baby weight!

[Margot]

Hmm. I have six weeks to go before the 9 month deadline. And 5.5kg. Realistic? I don't think so! ;( As a first timer, I don't know, but people tell me 'you're never the same shape afterwards even if you lose the weight.' Blah. You mean this flabby tummy is here to stay?

[Boulder]

So, at least you've now found Marko's birthday gift - the breast of a nubile 25yo. ;)

You look gorgeous pregnant, so you were wise to enjoy the treats. No worries, you'll get to where you want to be. You have 3 kids to chase after, it is bound to come off!

xoxo

[BiancaW]

Shit! 9 months have come and gone.....although, this is not so much baby weight as it is "ate all the pies" weight. :-)

Some day, I am sure of it. Some day.

Good luck with the shedding - keep us up to date with the progress.

[Emily]

Love this post - comes at the right time for me. I am pregnant for the fourth time (have two kids, one miscarriage, and hope this one comes through) and although I am only 7 weeks along, I have gained 5 pounds already because of nausea that only goes away when I have carbs (bagels! scones! crackers and cheese!). I know I will get back to the skinny weight post-birth, but I don't look forward to losing the weight post baby. (And both times for my babies, I gained 50 pounds and this second time around, it took me three years to get rid of the last 15 ....) Anyway, your post reminded me that some of us just eat differently in pregnancy and our bodies are fine for it - and, most importantly, our kids are fine for it! Thanks, Tertia.

[Hanlie]

I'm sure you can do it in six months without too much hassle! Good luck!

[Sister Mel]

I love you my little lettuce leaf eater. I don't believe you though. I wish you could be all zen about having a curvy ass but I know you.
I do believe the 9 months up, 9 months down thing too so try and remember it.

[Amy]

I lost the baby weight sloooooowly with the first born and quick with the twins. Thinking I had no time to eat?!?

Just be good to yourself the weight be damned. I agree, giving yourself at least 9 months to lose the baby weight is reasonable.

Just do us all a favor and enjoy that precious baby, weight or no weight!

[Erin]

I dont know if i've EVER commented before but i've been reading your blog forever. Anyway, you're gorgeous, you're kids are gorgeous and you're boobs are totally hot, i'm 25 and mine don't look anything like that!! Hahaha.

Erin

[Wobs]

Lucky Wench for loosing the baby weight so soon! I also have 12 kilos to loose... want to take up a challenge?

[Aurelia]

Oh lord, well 13 months after the fact, and I have lost 30 pounds plus baby etc, so more like 45, but I still have at least 15 to go, so prepare yourself, after the second "goes til almost the end" pregnancy it seems to take longer to lose.

Or I am lazy, which is quite possible.