Hello everyone! My name is Amanda and I am working hard to lose the massive amount of weight I gained when I was pregnant. Before pregnancy I was 155, on the day I gave birth I weighed in at the hospital at 221!! Two weeks after my daughters birth, when all the fluid/post-labor weight stopped coming off I was squarely at 195.
October 1st (6 months after my baby was born) I finally decided to get serious, that I did not want to be heavy the rest of my life, and the only way it was going to change is through hard work. I weighed 192.6. I decided to go on a low calorie (~1200/day) plan that incorporated mostly produce, a little whole grain, a little lean protein, walnuts for good fat and a whole lot of water. I am including as much raw food as possible and almost no processed food. I find that I already feel a ton better and my skin and hair already look a lot better (maybe I am biased...). Well it's the 13th and I weighed 183.5 this morning! 9 pounds in 13 days is amazing to me! I couldn't be more pleased. I am sure that is mostly water weight, but I feel better, my pants are already looser, and my skin is glowing.
I haven't started exercising yet, I wanted to get a little ummph from good nutrition for a while. But now I am trying to motivate myself to add a workout routine. I love to walk. I have the 30 day shred DVD, and my mom got us the Zumba workout (lol) so at some point I am going to start doing some of those things.
Well that's my story. Also, I am in graduate school right now, so between that and the baby I am pretty busy, but I love food, I do actually love the taste of healthy food, and I love to cook. I have never eaten really bad food, I just eat too much food!!! So I am having fun really diving into some of the healthy recipes I've had for years and also incorporating new ones. This actually works for me because I love grocery shopping and cooking, and I also am enjoying very much reading about all the amazing health benefits of natural whole food. Now I just have to start loving the exercise half of the equation!
I hope to not only get back down to 155, but go a little farther and be thinner and healthier than I was pre-baby! My goal is 140, which I haven't seen since I was 18, but honestly when I hit 165 I will past out for joy because I will be able to wear some of my old clothes!
I love this board, I have read a lot of things around here in the past, and I am excited to be able to participate with all of you as we journey along in discovering healthy lifestyles!! The goal photos thread is one of the most inspiring, motivating things I have ever seen.
Nice to meet you all!!! <3
Dhani 