19 weeks postpartum

I think this will be my last post (unless I get completely ripped!! ;)) since I have made it to my pre-baby body. I still have the extra skin (or something) thing on my stomach I talked about and I still want to lose a couple more pounds and tone my legs, but I am not sure that has much to do with my pregnancy.

I feel like my metabolism is just now back to normal. I can eat a burger without gaining 2 pounds now!

I am really happy with my 14 Day Summer Shape Up results even though I wasn't able to work out for the last 5 days of it....and didn't work out for 8 days after that. And these results and pics are from today.

	Weight	Body fat %	Waist	Hips	Thigh	Arm	Upper Thigh
4/21/14	135	25	31	38	19	9.5
5/3/14	133	24.2	30	37 ¼	18 ½	9
5/18/14	132	24.2	28 ¼	36 ¾	18 ¼	9 ¼
5/24/14	129	23.3	28	36 ½	18	9 ¼
6/4/14	135	24.2	28 ½	37	18 ¼	9 ½	21
6/13/14	127	23.1	28	36 ¼	18	9 ½	20 ¼
6/28/14	126	22.3	27 ¾	36	18	9 ½	20
7/21/14	123	22.1	27	36	18	9 ½	19 ½

16 weeks    vs.   19 weeks 

I haven't forgotten

I realize I haven't updated in a couple of weeks. I'm disappointed that I got the worst cold of my life for the last week of the 14 day challenge I was doing. I didn't work out the last 5 days of it. Bummer! Then we left for vacation and I haven't worked out here like I'd planned because I'm still coughing up my lungs!! But before we left my weight and measurements were pretty much exactly the same. Which I'm okay with, but not in love with. I can't wait to resume my workouts. I've done pretty good eating clean on vacation...except for yesterday. That's a whole other story!! I'd still like to lose 4-6 pounds and bring my body fat % down. But man that thing trickles down slower than Christmas!!! That's what I've been doing. Really this blog is done since I've reached my pre prego self. I'm super disappointed with my stomach though. It's flat and even defined some when I'm standing...but when I sit or lean over, there's a mess of skin, fat??? I don't know what. I'm using a skin toner and tightener. Maybe that will help. Updates to come soon.

14 Day Summer Shape Up

This is what I am currently doing. I started Sunday. The goal is to really lean up and get more cut. I'm being really strict with my diet since it's only 14 days-no dairy, 1 whole grain carb per day, other than that, all protein and fruits and veggies. 

I love that the Catalyst will keep me from losing muscle mass even with a very low calorie diet because that's something I've worried about. When I post in two weeks, I will show the results!!

16 weeks postpartum

Making progress and I am happy with where I am...especially for less than 4 months out. BUT I still have toning to do and a few pounds to lose to be where I ultimately want to be. Considering how lenient I've been with my eating, I am very happy with my progress here:

	Weight	Body fat %	Waist	Hips	Thigh	Arm	Upper Thigh
4/21/14	135	25	31	38	19	9.5
5/3/14	133	24.2	30	37 ¼	18 ½	9
5/18/14	132	24.2	28 ¼	36 ¾	18 ¼	9 ¼
5/24/14	129	23.3	28	36 ½	18	9 ¼
6/4/14	135	24.2	28 ½	37	18 ¼	9 ½	21
6/13/14	127	23.1	28	36 ¼	18	9 ½	20 ¼
6/28/14	126	22.3	27 ¾	36	18	9 ½	20

I am starting an Advocare 14 day Summer Shape Up tomorrow, so hopefully that will help build muscle. I will be in a swimsuit at some point on our trip to Ruidoso in a couple of weeks and I am not quite completely comfortable yet, so I am excited for more changes before then.

Pardon the sweat...I thought a post run pic would be more beneficial. Ha. Clint already informed me this was cheating! 

Week 14   vs.    Week 16

I am really tired of posting pics of my 1 week postpartum body. Ugh!

1 week     vs.  16 weeks

14 Weeks Postpartum

I feel both very grateful for how quickly I bounced back to looking fairly normal...and like I really took my flat stomach for granted! It's taking work to get it back. But I am happy with my progress. I have reached my pre-pregnancy weight. Yay!!! Do I look the same?? No! I think it will just take time for my skin to tighten up, my muscles to close back up, and all my organs to get back in place. I also read that for a while after pregnancy and breastfeeding, your body is still in "hang onto all the sucrose and fat for the baby" mode. When it goes back to normal, losing weight should be much easier. I feel like my body may have just changed to normal mode. It's feeling a little easier. I think doing Power 3 times a week is the best thing I'm doing though. Lifting burns so many calories, even after the workout. And as muscle builds, that muscle will burn fat. Plus it just makes me feel great.

If I'm going to be honest about my diet, it is not Whole 30. I seriously think I NEED carbs. I have a high metabolism and I really think my body was going into starvation mode and holding onto fat. Plus I would go crazy and then cheat big time! And I really do need carbs to absorb the protein I'm eating and build muscle. I'm still eating mainly protein, fruits, and veggies with one carb a day...usually steel cut oats, whole grain 45 calorie bread, or an energy bar. I'm also having a cheat meal every few days. I feel so much better and I'm still liking how I'm looking and the progress I'm making. And I don't feel so deprived. I am having some diet cokes also :-/ I know it's terrible, but if a zero calorie, zero fat little treat keeps me on track, so be it!

Okay, so here are the results...the chart is updated with where I was last Wednesday when I started my diet again and where I am today. Today I have the lowest numbers of all!! :) I also added "Upper Thigh," which is the part that touches! Ew!

	Weight	Body fat %	Waist	Hips	Thigh	Arm	Upper Thigh
4/21/14	135	25	31	38	19	9.5
5/3/14	133	24.2	30	37 ¼	18 ½	9
5/18/14	132	24.2	28 ¼	36 ¾	18 ¼	9 ¼
5/24/14	129	23.3	28	36 ½	18	9 ¼
6/4/14	135	24.2	28 ½	37	18 ¼	9 ½	21
6/13/14	127	23.1	28	36 ¼	18	9 ½	20 ¼

This week's pictures really don't look much different from the ones 3 weeks ago, but in person, I feel like I looked more toned...especially my legs. You can see slightly less back fat. Ha

Just for fun...

37 weeks pregnant       vs. 14 weeks postpartum 

14 weeks Postpartum

11 weeks postpartum     vs.    14 weeks postpartum 

1 week postpartum       vs.    14 weeks postpartum

Just to note...I do actually get ready and put on make-up most everyday, but it just never seems to happen for pictures because Clint has to take them before he leaves for work ;)