Carmine weighed in at 12 lbs 10 oz yesterday, which was a 7 oz weight gain over the past two weeks (during which I haven't pumped at all), which is perfect. Which means I was given the official ok to stop pumping, stop worrying, and start enjoying nursing my baby. Which I am.
I won't stop worrying completely, as it's hard to let go of the worry after everything we've been through, but the only way I'll let it manifest itself is in a once- or twice-monthly weight check at the support group. Seeing the numbers on the scale will just set my mind at ease.
Our 'little' guy is already almost 11 weeks old, which just blows my mind. It seems like just yesterday I was waddling around, unable to sleep, and on the edge of my seat, waiting for him to arrive. And now we're coming up on his 3-month birthday. Crazy.
Anyway, speaking of weight, the numbers on my scale are not increasing, but they haven't been decreasing, either. I chalk it up to two things - 1. I'm just not able to work out as much as I usually do. Our days are too busy, and although I'm working out 4 - 5 times a week, it's still not the level of activity that I'm used to, and it's not a high enough level of activity for me to lose a lot of weight. 2. I'm old. Not really, I know, but I am going to be 39 in a few months, and it's proving much harder to lose weight at 39 than it was at 34.
So, I did something I never in a million years thought I would do - I joined Weight Watchers. I'm doing the online membership, and so far, I like it. I like it because it's not a diet - it's just a way to make myself accountable for what I eat over the course of the day. And as I've been tracking my meals and my points, I've realized that I do a lot of mindless snacking. And although most of what I snack on are healthy foods, the fact remains that if you want to lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than your body is using, and I just wasn't doing that.
What I am not liking is how quickly the points add up! I'm not feeling deprived or hungry, though - just getting used to being more aware of portion sizes, and stopping myself from picking at stuff while I'm cooking (a bad habit I've developed).
When I was running close to 30 miles a week, and swimming a few miles a week, and biking 30 miles a week, and lifting weights, I didn't have to worry so much about portion control. I didn't pig out, but I certainly wasn't paying attention to serving sizes, either - since I was exercising so much and burning so many calories, it didn't matter. But I'm not at that level anymore, so it definitely does matter.
My ultimate goal is to lose 17 pounds - that would put me at the weight I was at when I ran the marathon two years ago. But once I lose 10 - 12 pounds, I'll feel a million times better.
I'm not obsessed with the numbers on the scale, though - it's more about how I feel, and right now I don't feel comfortable. My clothes don't fit right, and I know that the excess weight is also making the workouts I am doing feel harder than they should.
But I also know that I have to lose safely and slowly, since I am nursing. And when I signed up for Weight Watchers, I did include in my info that I'm nursing, so was given extra points to allow for that.
It seems like a good approach, and that, combined with the workouts I'm able to fit into our crazy busy schedule, should get me back to feeling healthy and fit again by the time summer rolls around. Wish me luck!
I've heard (and seen :-) that nursing is the best wa to lose weight! Your body will adapt in no time!!
Posted by: Wes | April 08, 2010 at 09:20 AM