Since I last posted, I went back to my "clean eating" plan. I shopped at Whole Foods and avoided the drive-thru along with white flour and ice cream. As you can see from my weight graph, this was entirely unsuccessful. I started gaining weight rapidly. Apparently I was just eating too much of these healthy foods. In the course of my pregnancy I had lost all sense of proper portions.
When I started growing out of the fat clothes I bought after I had the baby I knew I was in trouble. I was about to be BIGGER than I was when I started this journey two and a half years ago. This is ENTIRELY unacceptable. I really got depressed and knew that I had to do something drastic.
I started thinking about that time in my life and what had made me successful the first time around. Yoga was one, so I made a committment to return to class at least twice a week and got my husband to agree to take the baby at those times. The second thing was Jenny Craig. It was easy.
The first time around, I transitioned off of JC to the Ultrametabolism plan because I wanted a truly healthy body free of the artificial junk found in processed and convenience foods. It worked for me because I committed a lot of time to shopping and food preparation. However, my life is completely different now. I have the same desire to lose weight and get healthy. But with an infant in the house, I simply don't have the time and predictability of routine to do Ultrametabolism properly right now. I need ease and convenience.
Enter Jenny Craig, Part Deux. I went back Saturday and bought the boxes again--something I said I would never do. I debated over it for about a week beforehand. I didn't want to go back to eating all that processed food, but eventually I had to tell myself to get over it. I had to remind myself that getting the fat off is the first step. I have to get my metabolism moving and the graph headed downward. NOW! Once I get my stomach trained to eat less, I'll go back to thinking more about what I put in it.
I was pleased by my first visit back. The manager I like was still there and the whole place looked better. Apparently the center was bought out by the corporate offices and they had made a lot of changes, including (apparently) actually TRAINING the consultants. (Those of you who are longtime readers of mine may remember my disgust with the pitiful string of consultants I had the first time around.) My consultant was a young woman who used to weigh 280 lbs and now looks like any sorority girl you might pass on the street. She's very gung ho on the plan and seems to know it fairly well.
The only thing I see being a problem is the look she gave me when I told her I don't eat artificial sweetener or non-organic dairy. She had NO idea why anyone would feel that way. This came up in a discussion of yogurt. I can't eat the brands she recommended and was explaining to her why I have to eat my brand and find a way to factor in the extra sugar calories somewhere else. She definitely doesn't seem to be in favor of me trying to tweak the plan to suit my needs, but she'll just have to get over it. She doesn't realize, of course, how much knowledge of nutrition I have and that I can be trusted to make substitutions and changes without blowing it. I really hope she doesn't try to give me a hard time.
So wish me luck, friends. I hope to be popping up here at least once a week from now on. I could really use some encouragement, as the life of a (temporarily) Stay At Home Mom is pretty isolated.
Posted By: ashleyb
Comments to this post:
06/24/2008 10:27
Hey you!
It's so good to hear from you again. I was thinking of going back to JC too. And I keep thinking how I don't want to do that. But then I think that I haven't lost any weight since February. And the crap that I've been eating isn't natural either. So, I guess it's a lesser of two evils. Good for you for realizing that. I'm proud of you for taking your fate into your own hands.
I stayed at home the first 7 months after Tatum was born. But it wasn't by choice and I had some PPD, so it really sucked for me. Anyway, you can do this and you ARE doing this!
A word on the substitutions... you know better than she does! Go with what you know is best. I substituted things when I was doing WW, and did wonderfully on it. I think a lot of those plans are set up for people without nutrition knowledge, and while they are great for getting people to eat better, once you know more about what you put into your mouth it is easier to make "off plan" choices that will help you rather than hurt you.
Hope to hear from you more... maybe it will motivate me to post... also to get off my ass and do something. :)
Your baby is so precious! That's a great picture you posted!
Don't feel guilty at all about turning to JC again! It's SO hard to get back on track after giving birth. I have an (almost) 5 month old, and I'm still struggling to get 100% back on track. As you say, it's not just the nutritional part - we've all been through the weight-loss journey before...we know what we need to do - but all the planning and preparation is the most difficult thing to deal with while adjusting to motherhood.
Good luck! I'll look forward to hearing about your progress,
be isolated. When I took a year's leave of absence in '95, I didn't realize how much I missed adult interaction. I used to greet my husband at the door and hunger for conversation with him. I soon found a MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) group and later a MOPS (Moms of PreschooLers) group. They not only involved me, but my kids. Also, many play groups came from that, which is wonderful, when going to the zoo, etc with friends. When my last child was two, I was able to go to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and international organization that studies and provides the same study for the children. When we were learning about Moses, my daughter would be singing, Let my people go! We would be able to talk about the study together, and again, more friendships came from this. I am sure there are groups that you can join. I know alot of my friends did things like Gymboree, which at the time we couldn't afford. The MOMS, MOPS, and BSF were affordable. Your daughter is adorable!!!
I still haven't gone back to full time work again. I do sub in the neighborhood at a preschool one or two days out of a month. God has been so good to us. I am so thankful to him for providing for us that I can be home for my kids!!
And congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! Good luck with getting back on JC. I find it hard to believe that this consultant refuses to understand that you need to make some modifications! You know what is best for your body. You've done this before and you can do it again.
Your little Chandler is a cutiepie. Thanks for the offer to lend a helping hand with wedding plans. I'm hoping there isn't much to plan! Bethany mentioned the metal museum, and I think we'll look into that. The obvious choice is to do it at Cadre since Rick's boss owns the building and we'd probably get a good deal. If it proves to all be too much of a headache and more than I want to spend, we'll be skipping it all, eloping, and heading straight for the honeymoon!
Ashley, it's good to see you again. I think about you a lot! I am not using my extrapounds blog anymore, but do please visit me at www.dharmadishes.blogspot.com!! I would love to hear from you!
First of all, welcome back and congratulations on the safe arrival of your sweet lil girl.
I guess by now you have your first week in under your belt - I hope all things are going well for you. I'm glad to hear that your return to JC is so far on better terms than when you left.
I'm pretty sporadic around here, but will do my best to check in more frequently and offer support.
