Before And After

I was excited to get rid of the baby weight after having Diya last summer. I had gained 35 pounds during my pregnancy and just like when I had Isha all of the weight came off pretty fast, but I was still 30 or so pounds overweight. I was hoping that just like when I breastfed Isha I would lose another 20 pounds over the next six months. Well, that didn't happen!! By the time Diya was 4 months old I was already starting to gain weight and I was feeling miserable. I really needed to do something and after reading a great post on the Domestic Goddess's blog and talking to a friend who teaches at Weight Watchers I decided to join the beginning of this year.

I can't believe I am posting this picture, but boy was it a motivator for me. Check out those hips. All I have to say is thank goodness for the cover up around my waist!!!

So after 16 weeks of Weight Watchers I am down 27 pounds (my goal is to lose 30 pounds) and here I am now:

It feels so good to be able to put my old pants back on and it feels even better not to be constantly worrying about whether or not other people think I am fat. I spent way to much mental energy worrying about what others thought. Most importantly I feel good about setting a good example for my girls.

Along with this desire to lose weight also came a desire to be fit and in shape. I used to think that people who loved to run where crazy. I still think that they might be because I don't know that I will ever "LOVE" to run, but I have realized that it is much easier to do when you aren't 30 pounds overweight. I set a goal to run a 5K race and this week I started my 5th week in a 6 week training program. I registered for my race, which is on May 29, so now I am committed to following through with this.

Even thought I am almost at my goal weight I have realized that I still have some work to do. Having two kids has really changed my body. Nothing is where it used to be!!! I have realized that instead of needing to lose more weight I just need to tone what I've got and accept the fact that gravity has become my enemy!!!

Fast Food Nation

Wow...Have I been a slacker or what!!!! I haven't had much to post here and when I finally read an interesting book I never got around to posting about it so here it finally is.

I read this for book club a few months ago and it was really interesting. I thought it was just going to be about fast food, but it is really about how fast food has changed the American way of life. The issues covered in this book ranged from advertising in public schools to the meat packing industry to violence in the work place. All of this stemming from our addiction to fast food. Thank goodness I don't eat fast food very often (usually just on road trips or when stuck in the airport) because this book left me never wanting a Big Mac again!! It really opened my eyes to how it effects so many lives in a really negative way.

I am glad I read this book because it has me fired up to be more involved in my dear friend Heather's Local Eating challenge. Last year was hard because I was a bit preoccupied with being pregnant, but this year I am ready!!! I am the healthiest, fittest and lowest weight I have been in years and that is a big motivator to make sure I am only putting healthy stuff in this body!!! NO fast food for me!!