50 pounds ago

I just had to post this because I've been working hard the last 8 months (I can't believe Annaliese is 8 1/2 months already) losing the weight...I've officially lost all my baby weight- 50 pounds!!  I really gained way too much weight with this pregnancy and I blame it on the stress of Craig being unemployed, relying on food pantries which have really unhealthy food donated (I really want to do something about that when we are more on our feet), and more stress. 

It's been hard getting motivated because usually I eat right, breastfeed, and exercise and it comes off before the baby is a year.  This time my back pain and the kidney infection had really gotten me down.  I wasn't sleeping and the last thing I wanted to do during the day was go work out.  But after taking the antibiotic, Craig getting me a lumbar support pillow for my back while nursing Annaliese, doing pilates the last three weeks, jogging/fast walking the last few months every other day, AND logging my food intake on myfitnesspal.com it has come off.  And my back pain has almost completely gone away.  Praise God!!

It was rough and I was a a little overweight when I got pregnant so I still have about  20 pounds I want to ultimately lose.  We'll see if I am that determined and focused.  I really want to do this for my health.  After losing Grandma to cancer and reading so much about how being overweight our hormones actually contribute to breast cancer growing.  I want to do what I can to reduce my risks.  I also want to teach my kids how to eat healthy and be physically fit every day. 

I read in my Publix Greenwise magazine today that a woman can reduce her risk of getting breast cancer by 60% by doing moderate to high intensity cardio 3 times a week for an hour.  And in my fitness magazine it said that same number about breast cancer AND said it can reduce my inflammation from endometriosis.  If my girls do this before hitting puberty they are much less likely to even get endometriosis (it's hereditary in most cases).  All of that gives me motivation to change my way of life.  I mean is it really worth it to be in pain and miserable when I can be active and eat nutritious foods to fuel my body and actually enjoy my life?  I'm realizing through this process no it's not worth eating that garbage nor is it worth sitting on my behind all day not working out my muscles.  It hasn't been easy (this has been the hardest time ever) but I feel the old Kari coming back...I thought I'd lost her.  I'm glad to see you old friend...let's not lose touch again!