Body After Baby: The Goal

Posted: December 21, 2010 at 11:54 am

Time for another post in my “Body After Baby” series. I recently discussed my thoughts on whether or not to share progress photos as I carry out my post-baby fitness journey. I wanted to let you all know that,after some consideration, I have decided that I will plan to post progress photos here on the blog at regular intervals. I really hope to show the reality of the process and that restrictive plans are not the only way to get to a healthy physical place. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful feedback and honest insights.

Now that I have established progress pictures will appear on the blog, I feel it is time to declare what progress I specifically hope to make. The simple answer: I hope to arrive at my body’s “happy place”. The difficult answer: I don’t know where that is.

Sure, I know where I found my happy place post-Makenzie. I truly felt fabulous there.

summer09

Like I mentioned in my Q+A post on all things weight related, I believe that was my happy place because I physically felt amazing and didn’t have to obsess over food or workouts to get there or maintain. My body happily found that set point with consistent healthy choices.

However, I don’t know if after two children my body will go the same route. Instead of stressing myself and focusing on the past, I plan to venture into this upcoming “body after baby” time with simply a goal to care for myself and once again allow my body to take me to its happy place. It could be the same or it may be different. No matter what, I will focus on appreciating my body.

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I admit that ideally I will achieve something similar as I did after Makenzie. I will do all I can within reason to make it there. I will NOT, however, resort back to over-exercising, food rules, or other unhealthy habits to get there.

My goal, therefore, is to spend 2011 working to regain momentum with my passion for healthy living and fitness. I believe that a year (more or less) with focus on treating my body well will naturally bring me to the best place for my body. I will have to see exactly where that path takes me. No matter what, though, I am determined. I am determined to grasp onto my love of exercise and accomplish new things or reach old achievements anew. I am determined to fuel my body the way I know suits it best and learn more in the process. I am determined to make myself a priority…and see the changes I know that care of self will bring. I am determined. And I WILL reach my goal…even if I’m not quite sure what it will look like in the mirror. The mirror isn't what matters anyways. It's the feeling I'm shooting for.

Question of the Day – How do you determine the best place for you physically?

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59 Comments to “Body After Baby: The Goal”
  1. I have no doubt you will succeed in your goals!!!

  2. I am still trying to figure out how I determine where I am happy with myself physically. I know I am not there yet. I am trying my hardest not to keep weighing myself everyday because muscle does weigh more than fat. But I can’t seem to stop. Its a habit. I get up in the morning, go into the bathroom and undress and weigh myself. I also measure myself every two weeks or so. But I think mostly, I am just wanting the baby belly to go away. I keep telling myself that it takes time and I will get there. I am not that hard on myself though when it comes to food, so I know I could do better I just haven’t gotten there yet. If that makes sense?

  3. I love this post! Mainly because of how “real” it is. So many think they can achieve a celebrity’s body after having a kid. That’s not the case. Its a lifestyle change, a lifestyle that involves a kid. With two kids, I can only imagine the change.

    If anyone can do it..you can 🙂

  4. whoa hot mama 🙂 i have no doubt you’ll find that happy place for you body…and the reality is that you’re a mom and have 2 huge blessings! i would say the best way for me to find my happy place is to just love myself where i’m at…everything else just comes naturally then!

    • Tina says:

      I will certainly focus on loving myself throughout the whole process. Although I will have goals, the main focus will be caring for myself, which certainly includes loving my body at any moment too.

  5. I’m very much still looking for that sweet spot where I feel my best. But what I have figured out along the journey is that it is when I actually listen to my body’s hunger signals and exercise because I want to, not because I feel like I need to.

    I’m sure you’ll fall right back into shape. You’re too motivated to let anything stop you. I can tell. 🙂

  6. Angela says:

    I love love LOVE your outlook! I think the ways i determine the best place for me physically are
    – when i feel strong
    – when i feel confident
    – when i know i’m eating good foods that are fueling my body and keeping me healthy
    – when i find ways to balance work with relaxation

  7. You look great in those photos! I have no doubt that you will find your happy place again! 🙂

  8. I love how you phrased this– “regaining health momentum”– because that is SO how it works! One smart decision leads to another!

  9. I love your mentality around post baby body. LOVE it. For me, I’ve always struggled with my body and my body image since I was obese for so long. I am trying to work on accepting my body for what it is despite the damage that I’ve done to it (stretch marks, skin, etc) but its tough.

  10. This is a great post! You have a great mentality. I’m looking forward to following you on your journey!

  11. You will succeed!!!! 🙂 You did it after your first and it melts off the second time!!!

  12. I am so with you on this! Goals are the best place to start. I was there and honestly, if you set realistic goals with health in mind, you can achieve it! I focused on nutrition and exercise when I was ready to get back to being “me” after Max was born. It helped me feel good about myself knowing that I am doing great things for me and him!

  13. Oh such a good post Tina! Love it!

    Finding my happy body place has taken some time. A lot of time actually. Many back and forth’s, slow downs, back pedaling and everything in between.

    My body is in it’s best place when I eat for nourishment and I do this with consistency. My body is happiest when I exercise for strength, power, confidence and release and I do this with consistency. The motivation behind my actions is what must be real. The minute my motivation is to look, weigh, or fit into a certain mold…I lose the focus and I lose ME.

    • Tina says:

      I love how you bring up consistency. I agree that that is the biggest thing to reach a goal – consistently working towards it. BUT it has to have the right motivation, like you said.

  14. Peggy says:

    I definitely have faith in you! I think that I’m in my “happy” place when others notice I’m happy. I know, it should be a personal assurance, but when others help me out, it helps me find that personal happiness too! If that makes any sense lol

  15. Jess says:

    I’m always so blown away by your perspective and insight, especially as it relates to body image. Even though I try my best, I still have too many “fat” days or days where I’m constantly down on myself versus praising my body for what it is and where I’m able to take it. You are such an inspiration to me.

  16. Melie says:

    You can do it! And the great thing is that since you know how your happy place feels, you can recognize it even if it looks different this time! 🙂 Me, I am going with feeling good, completing my runs without feeling like I am dying and fitting in a couple of nights out here and there without my clothes starting to get tight!

  17. Great post! You look amazing in those pics. It sounds like you have a fantastic approach post baby. I’m in a bit of a strange place at the moment, I’ve lost well over 60lbs in the last couple of years and 14lbs of that in the last couple of months without actually trying! I’ve just been exercising and eating happily – but the weight I am now is lower than I ever dreamt my happy weight would be. I guess I need to give myself and body a bit more time as I feel that I need to be a little heavier (a totally alien concept to me at this point) to actually be at my best. I’m just trying to put healthy things in my body as much as possible and then see where I end up!

    • Tina says:

      I think that’s all you can do. Eat nutritious foods and do activities you enjoy – if you’re feeling good, have energy, and other health checks out, I would say things are working out right.

  18. the best place for me physically is when i am not stressing mentally and i feel good about how i look, doing it exactly as you said: without over-exercising, food rules and restricting myself. listening to my body, eating intuitively and making good choices is when i feel best! it has taken me a long time to get to that, and honestly i am still working on not being so hard on myself if i do choose to eat a few cookies or take a break from working out. my body needs it, its just my mind that gets to me! really looking forward to your journey post-baby!

  19. Heather says:

    I have a hard time determining where my “happy weight” is. Right now I’m at a weight where I can indulge frequently while maintaining my workout regimen and not gain any weight. However, I’d like to be about 10 pounds less, and that puts me back to restricting my food and watching my “diet”. Not sure if that’s where I want to be mentally.
    It’s a hard balance and I love your outlook on it!

  20. Dorry says:

    I love what you said about it being a feeling you are looking for, not necessarily what you see in the mirror. I admire and relate to your love for fitness and I have no doubt you will achieve your fitness goals in a healthy, realistic way after baby B is here.

    I determine what’s best for my body by my energy levels, sleep patterns and following hunger cues.

  21. FUN! I can’t wait to read about your healthy choices and progress post baby, especially since everywhere I look my friends are pregnant 🙂

    I think I finally reached my body’s happy place just in this past year. Where I am eating delicious, healthy foods, no obsessing, and working out as much as I can (which isn’t a whole lot, but I try ;))!

  22. Sarah says:

    Like many above, I love your outlook!

    I think a healthy balance allows us all to reach our happy place. For me, my balance is between sleep, food and working out. I have noticed if one is off, usually the others follow. This coming year, I will strive to keep my body in balance!

  23. Lori says:

    I think your goals are spot on with a HEALTHY life and the key to fitness. You are working on respecting your body and working with it- instead of against it- which does so much more mentally and physically! 🙂

  24. I think it’s great that you have goals to get yourself back to a happy place but you should feel right now that you are in a happy place with your body! I realize that I have never been preggo and can’t even imagine what it is like but you should be cherishing you belly bump while you still have it and LOVE that body!! 🙂

    • Tina says:

      I realized after publishing the post that its coming across that I won’t love my body until I reach that place. Totally not what I intended to express! Oops. I will clarify that in my post later. You’re right that it is so important to love where we are now.

  25. It’s hard to describe, but when I am at my best place physically, I can just FEEL it. I feel my best physically AND mentally. You have to have both.

  26. lindsay says:

    I agree with you! Its not about how I look anymore, its about how I feel and act towards food. About nourishment for mind, body, and soul. I think your body will bounce back to a very healthy form because you take care of it now. Great post Tina!
    LC

  27. Kristi says:

    I think your goals for 2011 are great. I used to think I would be at my happiest when I was skinny… but I want to be able to learn how to be healthy and enjoy food without becoming obsessive about it.

  28. I can’t wait to hear about your journey! It’s a great idea to dedicate the time to treating yourself healthy!

    The best place for me physically is when I am eating healthy foods almost all the time and exercising on a regular basis. This means I’m not over indulging in foods that my body doesn’t need. It’s also means I’m not obsessing about my body and working out 7 days a week straining myself.

  29. What a great goal!! I hope to make a similar one for the upcoming year, and I’m also working on finding the best place for my body 🙂
    (love your blog!)

  30. I go with how I feel about myself. I feel OK about me but I know I need a little work in the fitness realm. But last night, I made a comment about being “a little piggie” (based on something from South Park) and eating my queso dip because that’s what I wanted and I said something about being fat or something and then naturally just said “actually, no, no I’m not fat.” Just out of nowhere! So something must be rubbing off on me! Something good! I’m not much for fat-talk in general but sometimes I slip when I get down about myself but hey! I corrected myself all on my own and naturally! I’ll take it.

    • Tina says:

      That’s a great step in the right direction! I have times where I do that too. Let a negative thought slip, but have to correct myself. I think that is a wonderful thing to be able to do.

  31. I sadly haven’t found a good place with my body just yet. It hasn’t been since high scool I’ve really felt good about my body (or had a belly as flat as your post baby belly! haha). I’m hoping I get there soon, I just haven’t found what works for me just yet as far as losing weight and maitaining a loss. Someday!

  32. Ryan M. says:

    I still struggle with finding a happy place for my body. It’s been a few years since I think I have felt truly amazing, but as corporate life has taken over, my health and my body has been last priority. Not in 2011…I’m taking my power back!

  33. Like you, the best place for me physically is based largely on a feeling. At different times in my life I have looked differently, but have known I was in a good place because of how I felt. You don’t have to always look exactly the same to be in a good place physically, that’s for sure. I love your outlook and look forward to hearing about your journey.

  34. Wow you look amazing in those photos! I’ve no doubt you’ll find the ‘best place for you physically’ again! I just go purely on how I feel- not on a number on the scale 🙂

  35. Allie says:

    You look great and I know you can put your mind to anything you do! Love, love your attitude ! 🙂

  36. Tina says:

    I LOVE how realistic you are and how much you put your body before a certain number on the scale! Health is not measured by jean size! It’s about how you FEEL and how happy you are in your own skin!

    I feel my best when I am listening to my body, eating clean and working out several times a week because these things make me feel great, not because I want to look a certain way!

    xoxo

  37. I love the Louise Hay quote! Experiencing pregnancy and breastfeeding forever changed my opinion about my body. Looking perfect will never be more beautiful than growing and nourishing my precious babies.

    My happy place involves feeling good and energetic. Developing some muscle tone doesn’t hurt. I enjoy that.

  38. […] by WP Greet Box WordPress PluginBefore I begin tonight’s post, I want to clarify something. In my “Body After Baby” post from earlier today, I did not intend for it to come across that I am not happy with my body now, or that I will not be […]

  39. You have the kind of attitude I can only aspire to have. I want to spend the year focusing on loving my (hopefully shrinking) body … finding my happy, healthy space.

  40. Cynthia says:

    It will be great to see progress photos. All the celebrities who lose all their pregnancy weight in 6 weeks are just crazy. It will be nice to see the realities.

  41. Jolene says:

    Wow. I agree with my sis (Jess), you have an amazing perspective on the body thang. And while you looked fantastic in those pics, I think you are beautiful just the way you are. Glowing. Happy! Hang in there, you will be great post-baby, I know it!

  42. Holly says:

    You are setting such a positive example not only for all new moms, but for all women on how to be happy in your own skin! I can’t wait to follow you in this part of your journey, Tina!

  43. […] my last “Body After Baby” post, I shared my overall goal of reaching my body’s “happy place”. Feeling physically fit and strong. Feeling healthy because of proper nutrition. Feeling confident […]

  44. Sally Mae says:

    This is great insight! Your healthy attitude is inspiring. I’ve not yet had a baby, but hope to get pregnant soon;)

    • Tina says:

      How exciting for you! 🙂 And it’s taken awhile, but I finally found a healthier attitude. I also learned that it gave me the best results and made me happiest. Go figure. LOL

  45. […] in some areas because I obsess. So, I came up with a general game plan to help me work towards that overall body-after-baby goal. This post will focus on how I plan to approach things like tracking my body’s changes. Look for […]

  46. […] back in shape once baby B makes it outside of my apparently-super-cozy belly. I have already shared goals and how I plan to track progress. Now, it’s time to share a little more specifically how I […]

  47. […] – this blog. This blog helps hold me accountable in a variety of ways and I like that. I have fitness goals I shared on the blog. Even though I certainly feel no pressure from anyone out there reading, […]

  48. What an awesome attitude! I love it, and I need to adopt this attitude myself! I used to weigh myself everyday, but I haven’t been since reading your blog. I love your perspective on health!

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