Weight Loss Wednesday: Game on!

But only for like eight minutes because my alarm is set for five o'clock in the morning, which means I should've gone to bed yesterday. I promised you a Weight Loss Wednesday, though, and a Weight Loss Wednesday is what you're gonna get.

Minus the actual weight loss.

CURRENT WEIGHT: 145
GOAL WEIGHT: 130

With numbers like those, a sane and rational person wouldn't let the clerk at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles assume she was still a hundred and twenty pounds when updating her driver's license last week. She wouldn't delude herself into thinking her weight gain wasn't that noticeable or that wearing a black tee shirt would totally camoflauge her bowl full of jelly.

God, would I love to meet HER.

And things were going so well, too. Remember back in January when I was all, "Look at me, I've lost all this baby weight, I'm gonna be the best me ever, blah blah blah"? I used to wonder how a new mother could possibly gain weight when she's on her feet for ninety percent of her day, feeding the baby, bouncing the baby, changing the baby, the baby, the baby, the baby. Now I know that stress and sleep deprivation bring on the mad munchies more powerful then even the strongest pot (I'm assuming, I seriously never took more than a drag, and even that I messed up). Somewhere between then and now I forgot what apples looked like and stuffed myself with potato chips. I've consumed Reese's Cups at 9:00 a.m. and Snickers ice cream bars at noon. I'm not proud of this. But I didn't care enough to do anything about it until I was crying in Eddie Bauer's dressing room because I couldn't squeeze my ass into a pair of jeans.

Life is already hella-emotional right now without throwing my body issues into the mix, but I actually think returning to work will play a key role in forming better eating habits, mostly because the lab doesn't stock their freezer with Ben and Jerry's and my fingers will be too busy pecking at the keyboard to open a candy wrapper. That alone should shave at least five pounds off my mid-section, but just in case, I'm also vowing to pack lighter lunches and increase my water intake. Today started strong; I began my morning with Honey Nut Cheerios and sliced banana, had two cups of hot chocolate for a little caffeine rush, and devoured a roast beef deli sandwich, handful of raisins, and one sorely missed apple for lunch. But Luke and I were both so disoriented from our very long day that come dinnertime we said "Screw nutrition" and grabbed a pizza from Papa Murphy's. At least it was vegetarian.

I originally planned to talk more about my fitness plan and how I decided on my goal weight, but seeing as it's already eleven o'clock and I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn, you'll have to make do with my not-entirely-cohesive ramblings and one adorable baby picture.

Friday can't come fast enough.

Comments

[Katie]

I have the best weight loss tip ever. No, seriously, it works. Get the flu! It totally worked for me to get rid of 5 stubborn post-baby pounds. I mean, it wasn't fun feeling half dead and missing work and not eating for 3 days and then having a minimal appetite for 3 more, but hey, I really can't complain about how my pants fit now.

[Sara]

I can't tell you how many of those pizzas (and the cookies too!) we had after the birth of my daughter. So many. For me, eating became easier when my daughter developed food allergies. Not that I would wish that on anyone, but it made things...simpler. We "cook" dishes with only a few ingredients (most of the time).
She gets cuter every day!

[eva]

Look at what a genius Kara is - holding her own toy! Amazing how fast they develop isn't it? Oh and the weight will go, or it won't go, and we'll still love reading about your perfect baby :)

[Becca]

Sounds like you are on the right track... eat well when you have the time and energy and don't worry about it the other times. The times when you have the energy will be more and more frequent as Kara grows up. Good luck!!

[Virginia Gal]

I wouldn't beat yourself up too much. You've only been back at work a couple days, and your routine and Luke's time at home with Kara haven't had a chance to settle out. Most importantly, you are aware of your nutritional issues, which is a great first step.

I love the expression on Kara's face - "Who knew world domination would be this easy. What should I do next?"

[Must be Motherhood]

Oh, I hear ya, honey! I lost all the baby weight by 3-4 months post pardem, but within a year, I was back up 5-8 lbs. The fatigue and the lack of me-time starts to wear on you...and pizza is easy and cookies give you quick energy.
The key is to not feel guilty about it--you are doing what your body wants, just as you probably tried to do (and rightly so!) while nourishing Kara inside you.
Add a little sweat and trade some cookies for an apple and it'll come off. Good luck :P

[Liz]

Go, working mom! You are awesome.
I'm going to be a working mom, too, so I'll be looking for advice by the end of 2008.

[Molly]

I have to agree with you about work making it easier to lose weight -- I seriously had a way easier time losing weight while teaching than I did at home, just because there's a whole lot of self control involved when your kitchen is only a step or two away. That being said, once I got really serious and knew I had to do it, I did. And I will have to again, after this baby arrives. Cheers to the Bowl Full of Jelly (and baby!) Club.

[Dorie]

Going back to work will definitely help you lose the weight - no cookies and chips calling your name from the kitchen. Once you guys get settled into good routine, you'll figure out quick and healthy things to do for dinner.

Glad to hear about your first day back on the other site. Sounds like it went pretty smoothly. I hope it continues.

[Michelle]

I wish you strength and a strong will. R was born December 2005. I lost the baby weight April 2007. And somehow, over the last year, five pounds creeped back on. I need a good stomach flu or something.

[Hilary]

Aw crap, I just had this big, long comment typed out and I hit the "esc" button on accident.
I just can't get over how adorable Kara is. There really are no words.

Damn the snacks! Why do they have to be soooo good? Control yourself at the grocery store and it won't be so easy to cheat at home. And remember, your body just went through an amazing 9 month experience. Pace yourself. You did good on 2 out of 3 meals yesterday. That's S.U.C.C.E.S.S. girl! And wonderful spring walks with your cutie pie are right around the corner. (Goodness she's cute!)

[Christar]

I absolutely love that you do Weight Loss Wednesdays because I try very very hard to eat healthy. Not just because I want to look hot, but because I want to be healthy. Reading your blog and reading your hits and misses makes it easier for me to do good, and makes me not completely feel like a fatty when I mess up.
Thanks so much for being awesome enough to do this! And congrats on your victories so far! Honestly, I don't think 145 is bad at ALL! :) My goal is 136.

[Professor Art Nerd]

I know that I, personally, thrive more with a structured schedule. I'm actually a bit worried about the first few weeks, before we settle into a routine, than I am about going back to work. Oh, and the expected damage to my womanly bits, that part is scary too :)

Do you bring your lunch? I find that this is so much better, for me, than deciding what I want around 11am. Because at 11am? I always want Wendy's.

Good luck with your new schedule, and I hope you settle in pretty quickly.

[Grandma Molly]

On the other hand, since you will soon be the target weight, telling the BMV personnel your target weight is realistic because with your busy schedule you will be at your goal weight in no time. (Besides, I wonder how many people have accurate pound numbers listed on their driver's license.)

The picture is sweet. We miss her already.

[daddy d]

A regular lunch at work will be a good thing. I do the same lunch each day at work. That is a constant and a move ahead. The baby has real grip, such a joy.

[CPA Mom]

I totally get how hard it is. I'm up at 4:15 to work out and that means bed by 10. I don't know how you do it with an infant. It's hard enough with my two older ones. I'm cheering you on all the way!