P90X is the DEVIL!

Do you all remember the movie The Waterboy, where the mom refers to everything she fears as the devil?

Well...after more than a month on P90X, and now on phase 2 of the 3 phase cycle, I'm convinced: it's the devil!

This thing kicks my butt around the block so routinely that at the start of each workout, I begin by cursing at the instructor.

And the sad part is that I've only exercised about 60% of the time that I was supposed to...there are just some days when I'm so busy/lazy (depends on the day) that I couldn't drag myself into exercising.

But kudos to my husband, who has not only followed the exercise regimen faithfully, but is also doing a bang up job following the related diet.

I suppose I'd be more concerned if I hadn't lost so much weight simply by breastfeeding like crazy after the baby was born - any way you crack it, losing 35 pounds in 8 weeks is fabulous. But now I'm flabby.

So mama's - how did you tone up post baby? Am I overthinking this P90X thing? What do you do to motivate yourself to exercise more often??

The floor is yours!

Weighty Wednesdays

My original intent for Wednesdays was to post on the efforts that I am taking to get down to my target weight post baby.

But...without trying in the least (but breastfeeding a VERY HUNGRY baby, who is still gaining an ounce a day!), I reached my target weight about ten days after my child was born. Pre-pregnancy, I started out at 100 pounds. When we checked into the hospital on October 8th, I weighed in at 150. On the 11th, when I was released to come home, I was down to 138, after delivering a 7 pound 7 ounce child. By October 20th, I was down to 120! Yee-haw!

And yes, 120 was my target weight - it's what my doctors have wanted to see me at for years, based upon my body type and height - but what I was never able to achieve because of my hyperthyroidism.

Better yet, I haven't loss any weight since then, so it seems my body knew not to let me lose too much weight. Better yet!

But that doesn't mean my job is over! My hips and butt have taken a majority of this extra weight, added to my pooch of a tummy. So it's time to start firming up!

I have my four-week check up with both my OB/GYN and my endocrinologist on Thursday (tomorrow). With their approval, I'll begin my new weight training regimen ASAP.

To remind you, I'd already chosen P90X as my preferred post-baby workout. It's great, because it's not meant for losing weight, but for kicking yourself into shape.

I'm going to go ahead and order my copy of the workout DVDs and equipment by week's end so I can get started soon...ideally the Monday before Thanksgiving. (Theoretically, I will be getting my wisdom teeth out next week if my consultation goes well...so I don't want to start until after that.)

I invite you to follow along with my Weighty Wednesday posts, where I'll tell you each week what I like and don't like about P90X and give my own tips for firming up after being pregnant.

Instant Weight Loss

My friends and coworkers continue to comment that I'm "all belly" and that I'm going to be back to my pre-pregnancy size as soon as I leave the hospital. I protest! At +45 pounds versus my pre-pregnancy weight, that'd have to be one dang big baby!!

But that leads me to this thought. We're anticipating a baby that is within a few ounces of 7 pounds. So between delivering the baby and all of the other fun stuff that comes out at the same time, it would be sensible to anticipate leaving the hospital 10 to 15 pounds lighter than going in, right?

What have you experienced, Mamas? Is that a reasonable amount to figure on losing while in the hospital?

What about in the first few weeks afterwards, especially if you breastfed your babies? I've also heard that breastfeeding can stimulate weight loss...even though I've also heard that I'll need to consume an extra 500 or so calories a day to feed Spoiled Baby adequately.

So what do you think? Tell me all about your experiences!

Weight Gain and Pregnancy

We're all different in our body compositions and how much weight we gain during the normal course of a pregnancy. Since we got pregnant, I've had people tell me they gained 5 pounds (they were overweight prior to being pregnant) all the way up to 70 pounds. Supposedly, you aren't supposed to gain much weight in the first trimester, moderately in the second trimester, and then a pound a week in the third.

Well...

Yeah, my body doesn't work like that. I gained something like 20 pounds in the first trimester - granted, I was about 10-15 pounds underweight, but yikes! Then I gained about another 15 in the second trimester. We're talking holy cow territory where my legs started hurting just to walk since I had gained such a percentage of my body weight. Now in the third, I've barely gained any weight at all. I think I'm up 3 pounds in 5 weeks.

I know that just through delivering baby, I'll lose quite a bit of weight, but I'd anticipate I'll still have around 15 pounds to lose afterwards. I plan to go on the P90X exercise plan once I'm about 4 weeks post-delivery.

How about you, readers? Did you have a specific exercise plan in mind for post-baby? Care to share what it is?