I’ve been anticipating writing this post for a while.  So, when I stepped on the scale this morning and it showed the number that I saw when I had my first doctor’s appt to confirm my pregnancy with my first little boy – I did a silent little squeal than ran and hugged my husband.

This has been an almost 3 year journey.  My older boy will turn three in September.  I had a rough delivery and that meant for a very painful recovery.  I could hardly sit or walk or stand without pain for 3 months.  Included in that was a move two states away.  I couldn’t exercise and I couldn’t lose the baby weight then as fast as I wanted.  I had gained 75 pounds and I wanted it off.

Why did I gain 75 lbs?  Well, some of it was baby – but not that much.  It was a hard pregnancy with much sickness.  I remember flying to TX in the late first trimester and having sour gummy worms and salt and vinegar chips on the plain, a Wendy’s value meal in the airport, then more gummy worms on the second flight.  I ate so much that pregnancy including CFA grilled nugget meals and Cook-Out shakes.  I hardly exercised till the third trimester and then I was too big so I just walked in order to get him out!  I should have had stock in G2 because that is all I drank.  Not a way to have a great, healthy pregnancy.  Some of that was sin – my rationalizing my gluttony because I was eating for two.

Shortly after my older was born, we found out I was pregnant with our second little boy.  I had only lost about 30 lbs.  What was I going to do?  I knew I couldn’t gain as much with this one, and thankfully it was an easier pregnancy and it was a 4-week shorter pregnancy.  I walked almost every day at the river near our house or at the zoo.  I just pushed that stroller.  Turns out I only gained about 30 with my second which is much more normal.  By the time I was home about 4 days I had lost it all.  Wow, couldn’t the first one have been that easy?

So, I had almost 40 lbs then to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.  Its taken me 19 months.  We have moved in that time and having two toddler boys is very stressful and hard – and wonderful and lots of hugs.  But, I’m an emotional/comfort eater.  And I love to bake.  Those two are hard when you are trying to lose weight.

Every pregnancy is different and every weight loss journey is different.  What you will find listed below is what helped me.

1.  Admit your sinful tendencies.  I confess my overeating sin often to God and my husband.  Both offer forgiveness.  My husband gives me counsel and encouragement and never holds it over my head.

2.  Make a plan.  Whether it is to eat less carbs, stay away from sodas, eat more fruits, join a program, join a gym – whatever it might be – write it down or tell it to others.  This accountability is such a help!

3.  Have accountability.  I’ve done this weight loss journey before but this is the most I’ve lost.  I have a few friends who ask me how its going via text.  I love that.  Having a husband is good accountability because I want to look good for him.  And knowing he still weighs less than I do is good motivation to keep me going to my ultimate goal.  Some of you may join a weight loss program for the accountability.  I love Weight Watchers.  I’ve lost weight before with it.

4.  Basic: eat less, move more.  Losing weight (if no other health problems) is that easy!  Really.  Try it.  Moving is essential to losing weight.  My mom is so gracious and pays for a gym membership and childcare.  But, if you don’t have that, go to a park and run with your kids, pop in a DVD in the morning or during nap time.

5.  Have motivation.  I’d love to say to my only motivation is to please God but I know that isn’t it.  Yes, it is a part of it because God commands us to honor Him with our bodies.  But, I also want to look good, fit into my skinny jeans and all those size 8 dresses in my closet, run faster, play with my boys without getting out of breath, and not be an overweight mom…I’d rather be a healthy mom!  I want to be a stylish trim mom.  I asked my husband to set my goal prize for losing the baby weight.  He knows I love to bowl but we’ve never done it.  He said let’s go bowling!  It wasn’t a food prize.  That would defeat the purpose!  My prize for getting back to wedding weight (11 more pounds) is an article of clothing from Talbots which I love.  And then my prize for making my goal weight is some time at Massage Envy.  Having extrensic motivation is helpful!

6.  Focus.  Discipline and self-control are both fruits of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit living in me is a great thing and necessary at all times.  He provides my self-control.  I just have to fight the war with my flesh to eat too much.  And as I’ve talked to my husband about my sinful food relationship – I know this is a battle I will never win until I see Jesus.  Then I will have a perfect body and won’t even need skinny jeans – but…the Spirit is here to help me in the meantime.

7.  Pursue the Gospel.  Realize that you may never lose all the baby weight.  Realize you aren’t defined by the scale or the number that magically appears when your feet step on it.  Jesus loves you no matter what you way.  He died on the cross to pay for our sins – which might include for you – a sinful relationship to food.  I have it. I think most people probably have some sinful attitude with food.  God made our bodies.  He made you to carry a baby and birth a baby.  You did it.  Your body may never look the same.  My body may be the same weight but it doesn’t look the same.  God is after your heart.  Jesus died to save you!  He lives so you can fight the flesh and serve Him with your body.

I’m not done losing weight.  I still want my wedding dress to fit again and it to get too big.  And I still have 22 lbs to be in a healthy weight range for my height.  So, the battle of the bulge continues.