Another week. Another Monday. Another chance to take on the world. And another stellar strength training workout to get going for the week. Same thing as taking on the world, right? Maybe not, but I still find it a motivating kick-off to my week.

Circuit One

Circuit Two 

Circuit Three

Since I only had strength training on plan for this morning and knew it would only take me around 35 minutes to complete, I opted out of having a small snack beforehand. I came home wanting to gnaw off my arm. This workout awoke the hunger beast, that’s for sure! In fact, it made me want something with more food than my typical oats. I whipped up an odd little combo including an over easy “dippy” egg…

…a grilled swiss cheese and jelly sandwich (if only I had brie!)…

…and a sliced apple. Chomping through all that food left my belly quite content. 🙂

And I’m sure you’re thinking “Okay. Okay. That sounds good, but get on with the progress update already!” Don’t let my mind reading powers scare you. They bring results after all…because here you are – Month 7 Progress!

As always, last month on the left and this month on the right…

As I mentioned in last month’s progress update, I have basically reached my “happy place”. I no longer actively seek to lose more baby weight or make significant progress from month to month. My goals now focus on maintaining my healthy habits and allowing my body to change or progress how it will through half marathon training, regular weights workouts, and everyday active living.

I don’t see huge changes, but I feel perfectly comfortable with that considering I listened to my body – pushing through some tough workouts or taking it easy for a week because I needed the break. All that’s not to say changes didn’t still happen. I gave up the scale so I don’t have progress to report there, but measurements all dropped a smidge.

It just hit me that I have lost almost 24 inches off my body since February. That’s TWO FEET!!! Is that even possible? I think the photos (and tape measurer) say yes…

Even when things don’t seem to happen or when you feel off your game, the body can still do its thing if you care for it overall. I cannot stress enough the importance of consistency in my journey. I give any and all credit for my progress 100% to the desire to honor and respect the body God blessed me with as much as possible on a daily basis. Not a Monday through Friday basis. Not a for six weeks and then move on basis. On a daily basis.

That doesn’t mean each day I strive for perfection…that’s ridiculous and would only end with me in a mental hospital. It means that each day I work to listen to my body and treat it well – with food to nourish, activity to energize, rest to replenish, and love to live well. It’s something every single one of us can do. Take it day by day…and always include love for that body. It deserves it!

• What accomplishments have you seen with consistency in part of your life?
• What is your favorite kind of cheese? Do you even have to ask? Goat! Although I do love me some Swiss on sandwiches.

I first want to say thank you to those of you showing support for me as a Fitfluential ambassador! I wouldn’t have the chance, or guts, to reach for any of my goals without your support. You all are so awesome! If you missed it this morning – and think I would make a good fit to represent my area - feel free to keep the support coming now. 🙂

Back to Body After Baby…

Braedon turns 6 months old on Monday. Another four weeks have passed since my last check-in and update on the Body After Baby progress. Those four weeks included quite a lot of excitement – picking up half marathon training, a week long vacation to the beach, and officially stepping out to begin personal training certification. Despite a busy month with quite a few out of the norm events and occasional added stress, I put in effort to remain consistent with my eating habits, workouts, and self-care.

Yet again, consistency makes little changes that add up over time.

Month 6 Progress Pictures (Month 5 on left, Month 6 on right)

Boy I look sleepy in my recent pictures! Hahaha!

Month 6 Progress Stats

I didn’t expect to see much change this month. Not only because of a vacation, but also because I know I’m very close to the goal I had set out to achieve. I managed to get back into my goal jeans after all! So where do I go from here?

For starters, I am retiring the scale again. I think it worked great as a tool to help me lose the baby weight. Now, I feel I have done that and don’t want to find myself caught up in trying to reach some arbitrary number or lose more more more. I maintained a healthy relationship with the scale, but also don’t see a need for it from here on out where simply knowing my body and noting how clothes fit will provide enough information for my current goals with my body.

I plan to focus on my half marathon training and keeping consistent with regular workouts.

I plan to focus on maintaining healthy eating habits.

I also plan on continuing my monthly progress check-ins with photos and measurements. Mainly because I planned to document my body and how it changes the first year post-pregnancy and I want to follow through with a full year’s experience. I want to continue to share this journey with you all. I also believe my body will continue to change over the remainder of the year as I challenge myself with new fitness goals and workouts. I want to document these possible changes as a natural part of my lifestyle, beyond the “lose the baby weight / get back in shape” goal.

In short, I know I have achieved my original goals and what I set out to do. I have reached my “happy place”. However, the healthy lifestyle doesn’t end. Consistency will continue to make little changes that add up to the happiest, fittest, and most energized quality of life and self I will continue to grow to see. I feel there now, but that doesn’t mean my decisions and habits won’t  keep building upon that solid foundation. So where do I go from here? I live. The healthy lifestyle I adore.

• What do you usually do when you meet a goal? I usually find a new goal to work towards (half marathon training, personal training certification!) but still focus on building the habits and actions that helped me achieve previous goals.