Yesterday we had perfect weather here in Western NC. Well, almost perfect. The wind had a mean streak up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Other than that... perfect.

So, the hubby, the baby and I seized the opportunity and went for a hike. Well, considering Michael is five weeks old and I am still recovering/getting back in shape, it was more of a nature walk.

This nature walk made me realize that everything takes time.

It's going to take time for us to adjust to being a family of three rather than two. It's going to take time for me to get back into the shape I once was in, and even longer to get into better shape, which was my goal before I found out I was pregnant.

I am excited for the "taking time" process. I am an impatient person in general, and I think that this life lesson is really going to be a process. Normally I'm not excited about learning to be patient, but this time I really think it's going to be a lesson... and I hope I really pay attention to it.

Every woman's pregnancy is different. Some women have trouble gaining weight, some gain too much, and some seem like celebrities: "perfect".

During my pregnancy I had to remind myself everyone is different. I came to the realization a little too late that I was gaining too much weight. Part of this was due to my swelling issues. It made it hard for me to exercise, because my hands and feet would swell up so much I couldn't do anything else the rest of the day. It really wasn't healthy, which seems strange to say. However, I didn't help the situation by indulging in eating some things that I had given up for years because of their unwanted effects on my body.

Now, post pregnancy, I'm suffering the consequences of my actions. But I've found a way to deal.

I'm going to be open about it.

I want others to realize that you don't have to let yourselves go after pregnancy just because you did before or during your pregnancy. I want others to experience the agonizing months following giving birth where it's hard to get back into shape. I want others to be with me when I realize that it's really worth it.

Women do not feel good when they let themselves go. I've learned this through many sources who I probably should not name on here. Let's just say that older women who have had children have told me, "It's not easy getting back into shape. Take it from someone who knows." Then I look at these women and tell myself I won't let myself get that way. It's not meant to be disrespectful, it's just me giving myself motivation.

My freshman year of high school I was severely overweight. After two somewhat traumatizing moves with my family, I had given up on sports and really trying with friends. I let myself go because food consoled me. Once I got my butt in gear and got into shape for my senior year of high school, I promised myself it'd never happen again.

Because of those years, I have some difficulty really dieting. I've never been at that breaking point, and therefore a few extra pounds here and there didn't seem like a big deal. Following high school, my sophomore year of college (after getting married a year before), I went through Rush. For those of you who don't follow, I decided to join a sorority. This was another point in my life where I got into serious shape. There wasn't really pressure from the Rush experience, but I put pressure on myself because I didn't want to end up in a "reject sorority". I know... awful.

After I dropped the sorority, I let myself go a little soft. I wasn't putting as much pressure on myself to stay in shape. When I got pregnant, I was around ten to fifteen pounds over where I really wanted to be. So, letting myself go during the pregnancy only put me past my limit even more.

What does this mean?

It means that now I'm biting the bullet. I can't "diet" like I used to, however, because I'm breastfeeding. I still have to eat some carbs, and I still have to eat enough calories to maintain my milk supply. But I can be strict on what type of calories I take in. I can eat only the good carbs, the good calcium, the good protein.

It's a completely different ball game.

So, these are the only pictures I have to offer right now. Here is where I'm starting:
and I've put two pictures following of where I want to be (or as close to it as possible).


With this diet I'm not paying as much attention to the scale as I am to pictures. I have weight in different places now that I can't control as much, but I can tone the main areas: my tummy, my arms, my legs, and my buttocks.

Care to join me? Let me know your secrets! I'll be posting my results monthly. I'm hoping to fit into a pre-pregnancy outfit by Christmas and a new little black dress by Valentine's Day. What are your goals?