Over the last 2 ½ years since my wedding, I have gained almost 40lbs. Gross! Like all brides, I wanted to look my best on my wedding day, so I made some changes to my lifestyle and lost the weight. I stopped eating after supper (late-night Ruffles chips are my weakness!) and I went on my treadmill 5 days a week for 30 mins of cardio. And the weight came off! Just like they say it will. I had motivation and desire…plus, I had a dress to fit into and knew that I would be immortalized in pictures in my living room!
So what happened? Well, to put it simply, I got lazy. That’s definitely true. It didn’t help that on my honeymoon, there was a Cold Stone Creamery in our hotel and eating ice cream by the beach seemed like a perfectly great way to spend every evening. So I came back already 6lbs higher than my wedding day. Then it just kept climbing. I stopped running 5 days a week (I think my treadmill is currently drying clothes, as I type this!) and celebrated a reunion with Ruffles, Lays and their evil friend Chester Cheetah! Not pretty…
Then my annual doctor’s check-up. I knew what she would say: time to lose some weight. No shit-Sherlock! What a brilliant idea! Look, as a bit of a chubby gal, I know when it’s time to lose weight. I don’t think anyone ever needs to be told that they need to lose weight. We all know it. So my problem is why can’t I do it? I have great intentions but then the weekend hits and it all goes out the window. Every fertility article I have ever read suggests being in good shape and how being overweight can affect hormones, making it more difficult to get pregnant. There is nothing else I want more in the world, than to have a baby. So why isn’t that enough motivation to me?
Here’s the thing: I am an emotional eater. I have a crap day; I make myself feel better by having some cookies, or some peanut M & M’s. The dreaded 2-week-weight is hard on a girl, especially after 2 ½ years of waiting, waiting, waiting! So when I can’t convince myself any longer that it’s not implantation spotting, but actually my period starting, I head right to my new best friend: DQ’s Skor Blizzard with extra Reese Peanut Butter Cups. And when this happens month, after month, after month it’s not hard to see how someone can gain 40lbs. So here I am thinking that I’m self-soothing, but really I am self-sabotaging! I know that I’m not helping my body get in shape and prepare for carrying a baby. But I can’t make myself stop. Maybe I need to paste a big picture of a pregnant lady on my fridge for some motivation? It’s time to put down the mini-eggs and pick up my running shoes!
It’s a Monday, so my motivation is high. Anyone out there going through anything similar and have any suggestions???
~ A