Body Talk: Pregnancy, Wellness, and Health

Body Talk:  Pregnancy, Wellness, and Health

I have received several emails from you guys about some of my previous posts discussing body image, self confidence, and pregnancy and how it changes your body.  I think these have been the posts that you guys have connected with the most based on your emails over the years. I have decided to try to do more of these, especially now that I'm pregnant again and my body is going through those fun changes all over again. I would love to hear from you guys in the comments what you'd like to see, topics you'd like for me to touch on, etc.  Its more fun when I get to do this in community with you!

If you are new to following I thought I would share a few of my past posts on body talk below while I work on something to share with you this week or next on the subject!

3 Months Postpartum, BODY TALK: POSTPARTUM PRESSURE

4 Months Postpartum, BODY TALK: Healthy eyes to see

Pregnancy And The Female Body

Also a 20 week pregnancy update coming this week!*

& dont forget to leave your ideas below!

 XO

8 Months Postpartum + Behind The Scenes of Swim Spot Shoot

 8 Months Postpartum

So I 've been 8 months postpartum for a couple weeks now but I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my heart with you ladies.  I've really been doing the same thing for the past 6 months that I've been working out since having my sweet angel: cardio & weight training. I do the precore for 45-60 mins 3 days a week and then a 50 minute weight training class 1-2 times a week.  I haven't changed anything about my diet besides eating more because im always hungry while breastfeeding.  I definitely have way more of a sweet tooth while EBF too. Which i've embraced to the fullest. For me I eat healthy because I enjoy putting delicious nutrition packed real food into my body because I care about my health and well being as a wife and mother.  I appreciate that God has thus far given me a heathly body that doesn't have any handicaps or ailments, is pain free, a body that can be strong and idependent and get me to and from where i want and need to go, a body that can birth a child, feed a child, have fun and play! This body is a gift and that is why i take care of it. With that said, I definitely indulge at least once a day in something and its usually dessert after dinner or eating something less nutritious and more processed because lets face it, we gotta live a little and enjoy some delicious and naughty foods like nachos, pizza and bread and butter, YUM! I always say everything in moderation, but sometimes you go a little overboard and just have to let it roll of your back and get back to the grind of eating health  and being active the next day or week as best you can. I hope that answers some of the questions I get asked about "what i eat", "what I do for work outs", and "what my mentality is about healthy eating and living". 

I was asked to model for Swim Spot this past week and took the opportunity to get out there and feel free and confident in my postpartum body. There was a tiny distant voice inside tempting me to believe the lie that I wasn't a "good fit" or "what they're looking for" but they chose me and that reassured me that even though im a mom that doesnt make me less appealing, less beautiful, less free to be myself, less of a women, any less sexy, any less strong, or any less confident.  It actually makes me even more proud of my body, and forces me to look at the evidence of my strength and feel empowered by this body God has blessed me with. So I said yes and I am so happy I did! Swim spot brought the best team of people who were so easygoing, fun, and sweet! I had a blast shooting with them yesterday and will be sure to share with you all the finished product once the article comes out in the Orange County Register at the end of the month.  Check out their bikinis, they are the cutest!! I'll share more on that in a separate Swim Spot post. For now I just want to encourage you mamas to enjoy your healthy bodies, learn to love yourselves, it takes time and a TON of effort and fighting off negative thoughts and lies about yourself, but you CAN do it, you can live with self confidence and accept yourself the way you are. There is no such thing as perfection so if you are seeking it you will always fail and that is no way to live. We can always better ourselves, its a journey, not a destination..so get rid of the idea of wanting to achieve perfection and be accepting of your best self.. whatever that looks like it will be personal to who you are. You are God's creation, so you are exactly the way He wanted you to be, unique and beautiful.. a stunning image of His handy work.

This little guy and I make an effort to get outside everyday and go for a walk or hang at the park or pool.

Him and his daddy are my home and no matter what my day is like the path im on always leads me home.

Here are some behind the scenes snaps from the SwimSpot crew's Iphones. Cant wait to see the real photos and share them with you all! These cute bikinis definitely make a girl feel gorgeous and playful!

Lauren of Swell Beauty touching up my red lip for this retro look

How about this Hurley one piece... SO CUTE!

* all photos were taken with an iphone in this post *

 Black & White Retro Bikini by Guess

TIger One piece by Hurley

White Lacey Two Piece by Reef Girls

All Bikinis c/o Swim spot

Makeup by Me

Hair Styled by Swell Beauty (Dee & Lauren)

2 Months Postpartum & My View On Losing The Baby Weight

2 Months Postpartum & My View On Losing The Baby Weight

2 Months Postpartum (cant wait for that dark pregnancy line to fade away!)

Oh boy I'm a little behind on my posts because I have a few giveaways in the works for you lovely readers. So Needless to say, the above picture is from a few weeks ago and my sweet boy is now 10 1/2 weeks old! They just grow so quickly (ill try my best to finish his 2 months old post as well this week). 

My little work out buddy 

This is 8 weeks postpartum after a cardio session, feels so good to sweat again!

I lost 19 pounds of my gained pregnancy weight by 3 weeks postpartum. Since then I haven't lost any more weight. I gained 21 lbs while pregnant so I have 2 lbs to go until I reach "pre-baby weight". I just think "pre-baby weight" is such a silly term because although you might reach the same weight, your body can look & feel completely different than "pre-baby". I think I have a few lbs of body fat to lose & a few lbs of muscle to gain back. Our society has this strange fixation on getting back to "pre-baby weight" ..of course theres weight to lose since you have to gain a healthy amount while pregnant, but the biggest difference is toning up and letting your body adjust from having a huge baby inside of it (not necessarily losing that last bit of weight). For example, your uterus has to go back to its normal size (it goes from the size of a watermelon at 40 weeks pregnant, to the size of a pear while not pregnant) this takes at least 3 months after you've had your baby. I think it's about feeling confidant and great in & out of clothes again. And maybe it's a new confidence as a human that has now birthed another human?!. My point is, weight shouldn't be the goal.. The number on the scale really doesn't mean much & shouldn't define us. I aim to be strong, to be healthy & happy for my husband & son, to be an example & light for my Savior to use, & to feel great inside & out while taking care of my body so I can live a long joyful life with those i love while feeling good and energized. That's MY goal. I've done the whole "I'm hunnnngry and starving and cranky all the time" thing & the "overwork yourself and miss out on life" thing AND the "eat crappy and feel crappy" thing. Its a mess, it makes you feel like a mess, and its no way to live life abundantly the way we are meant to, the way God intended for us to. 

So if you are coming on this journey with me lets look at this from a healthy lens and encourage and lift each other up to be our best selves, love and embrace ourselves, and get to a place were we feel confident, and for lack of a better term,.. g r e a t. 

Making time to work out is tough and requires a bit more planning than when you can just pop into your car and go whenever you want (pre baby).  I have to either plan it perfectly for him to be napping (hes still young enough to do this and take him along in his carseat while i work out really quick), or on nights when my hubby is home early enough for me to go really quick, i will sometimes go but its hard to miss out on time alone with my husband while the baby is sleeping.  I work out probably 4 days a week doing cardio and i've been trying to do weights at least 1 time a week in a class..sometimes i can get in 2 times a week.  

I havent been as focused on getting back in shape (or more toned rather) than i have been on being happy and enjoying these moments with my family & juggling going back to work twice a week & spending quality time alone with my husband. Its tough when you also cook & clean and JUST moved a month ago and still have so much that needs to be done.  I slowly but surely will get to a place where im completely satisfied with my level of fitness and strength, but right now its not on my list of top priorities and i think thats a great thing.

I will work out when I can, stay motivated, and be okay with that.  I feel great right now, I may not look the same as I use to prebaby but I feel so amazing for just having made a life and getting to spend every day with my two boys. I feel healthy.. minus my stinkin sweet tooth (i can thank breastfeeding for that one).  I feel like my body is naturally going back to its shape somewhat, and i didnt have expectations of how long that would take or what the end result will be. Im not on any diet, im actually eating a little less healthy than i use to just because my cravings are really strong for fatty foods and sugar while breastfeeding but im okay with that too. My goal is to not be hard on myself and to ENJOY living in the present with my family.. because why strive so hard and stress myself out when i could be gone tomorrow and lose out on the really important moments with my two favorite people sharing giggles and cuddles.  

I havent noticed that much of a change since a few weeks ago, other than my uterus shrinking day by day (not using a wrap or anything for it just letting my body naturally do what its supposed to).  I think i'll kick up trying to tone up maybe in a few months when we're more in a groove of doing things around here and when we can establish more of a routine as he gets older and my husband and i figure out working and babysitting etc.

Stay tuned for my 3 month postpartum check in next month! I love doing this journey with all of you other mamas. Share your thoughts below!