Fit Mama Under Construction

Ask and you shall receive...   Advice and a little 411, that is.  I have gotten quite a few messages lately about what I've been doing, eating, etc., since I started this journey of getting in the best shape of my life since Olivia was born.  Bringing another life into the world made me more conscious and aware of the food choices I make and how I should make my health a priority.  Bottom line, I want to live a long life to watch Olivia and my future children do incredible things in this world.  I don't want to miss anything!  I want to be able to run around and play duck, duck, goose without wheezing.  I want my daughter to be proud of her mama.  I am her biggest role model and if I don't want her to be swayed by a fast-food obsessed culture, than I need to be her best form of advertisement.  WE need to be her best example.

Before I began my fitness journey in March, 2013 at 154 pounds.  Sure, this picture is uber embarrassing but it reminds me where I don't want to go back to :)

Almost 3 months into my journey at 137.

My goal.  I am a visual person.  This was me way before I got pregnant.  This picture reminds me of where I want to be.

WHAT I EAT:
I am one GIANT, spoiled, brat!  Since winning the Mommy Makeover contest through U&ME magazine,  I have been eating freshly prepared and portioned foods, that are delivered right to my door, thanks to Fit2Go.  It has been the biggest blessing.  To be honest, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself once I have to start cooking again.  As if my cooking wasn't bad enough, imagine after I've been on a Martha Stewart hiatus.  
I only eat healthy carbs, lots of veggies, lean proteins, a ton of water.  I love everything organic just as much as the next person but I am realistic and I know it's not always possible.  However, I do eat a lot of real foods.  I avoid, fried, processed foods, dairy, alcohol, and soy.  Again, I know it's not always possible to avoid everything but I do my best whenever I can.

COUCH POTATO TURNED GYM RAT:
I don't know when this happened, but I have become a gym rat.  I hated to exercise, let alone, sweat.  Suddenly, I am craving that endorphin high.  I look forward to my workouts.  It is my couple hours to myself, to sweat and have fun.  I also get to hang with my hubby a little bit more (he manages the gym I go to).

Average calories burned during one of my Zumba classes

I do Zumba 3 days a week and strength training/core workouts 2 days a week. This is where the spoiled brat thing comes in again.  Through the contest, the owner and our trainer at Belly -N- Kicks has given us a workout plan to follow.  They have a beautiful studio and are very knowledgeable about nutrition and pre and post pregnancy fitness.  However, I am a total Zumba junkie.  This girl with no rhythm or coordination has managed to find something so fun that it keeps me coming back 3 days a week for more.  It's fast, fun, and a fabulous workout.  In addition, now that Olivia has gone mobile, I'm always chasing after her and that in itself, is a workout.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY:

• It's essential to find a gym buddy, a teammate, to keep each other accountable and motivated. Thanks, to my hubby, sister, Emily, Sarah, my Zumba groupies, Diana, and the #Fucktheplateau group, and everyone else who keeps me motivated along the way 
• If you hate working out like me, it's important to find something you love and have fun with so it keeps you coming back. Kinda like a new boyfriend haha...
• You need a great pair of sneakers.  
• Get a heart rate monitor.  My husband got me a Polar FT4 for all the hard work I've done and to keep me motivated.  It lets me know when I'm burning the most calories and how many calories I've burned, the exercise duration, and much more.  
• Eat organic whenever you can.  Not only is it better for you but the food just tastes so much better.
• Up your veggie intake and eat them raw as much as possible.  When cooking them at certain temperatures it destroys it's nutrients (the main reason for eating them in the first place).
• Drink more water.
• Butter is not evil.  We like KerryGold. Thanks for the referral, Shannon.
• Coconut oil is your BFF and it can be used for flipping everything!
• Soy is not as beneficial as they say.  It is used in pretty much everything because it's cheap.  Red meat contains the highest content of protein, soy has the least.  The body also digests it extremely fast.  Therefore, when you eat soy, it is broken down so fast that you still have to supplement your protein.  Soy is just not enough.  It also spikes your estrogen levels which may increase water retention.
• Avoid dairy when you can.  Try dairy substitutes such as Almond Milk or almond cheese.
• Not all fats are bad.  However, fat is fat, so don't overdue it.
• Eat your super foods!
• Drink lots of water and then have some more ;)
• I take a multi-vitamin, a multi B-vitamin, calcium with magnesium, and fish oil
• Educate yourself on food substitutions: almond flour, apple sauce, Greek yogurt just to name a few.
• Stretch... A LOT!
• The more ripe the fruit, the more sugar.
• I stopped saying, "I'll start on Monday."  I had to just start and I started on a Wednesday.  
• Be organized. Set a goal with a plan and stick with it.  There are several online tools to help keep you on track and maintain your progress.  I use My Fitness Pal on my cell phone (thanks Buck).
• There are no tricks, miracle shakes, or diets.  Get off your ass, watch what you eat, and get moving.  If you don't like what you see, do something about it.  I had to stop whining and just do it.

I've been on this eating right/working out journey for a couple months now.  I love the changes and progress I'm making so far.  Will it get rid of the battle scars on my hips that I acquired while pregnant? Probably not but that's nothing a little Bio Oil can't fix.  Will I ever have a six-pack?  Nope.  Never have and probably never will.  I want to be healthy, look good, and feel good.  I want to increase my energy and stamina.  I want to feel confident with the equipment in the gym and get used to one right foot and one left foot, not just two left feet in Zumba.  What I know for sure is, I'm a fit mama under construction and one step closer to my health and fitness goals than I was yesterday.

Have fun, eat right, and live a long happy life.