Quick Update & a Rant

Just a quick little check in. I’ve been eating the same number of calories (1400-1600) which I ate when I weighed 93-96 lbs previously. High protein. Walking 3-4 miles a day and light weight lifting for 30 minutes. And…I’ve gained weight every day. Didn’t see that one coming. I went from 103 to 105 BUT I do look tighter. I’m not sure if that makes sense. I’m going to keep going and see what happens. I’m not going to cut calories because despite what people (and companies like myfitnesspal) think a tiny person looking to get back to where they were before pregnancy, admittedly tinier, is not anorexic. Sometimes that is just the way God made ‘ya. All that “you’re more than just a number on the scale” thing seems only to apply if that number is large. I am not encouraging starvation! I’m a small person who maintained a low weight for 15 years, 16 actually. I weighed 96 on my wedding day. In 1999. My cholesterol was close to 300!!!! My body fat stayed consistent between 23 (training for a marathon) & 26%. I never looked frail. This is just the way I’m made. And maybe things have changed. Hey, I’ll weigh 200 if it means I’m healthy, I have lots of energy, and my old jeans fit. Regardless of the numbers I’m just an average mom trying to lose the pregnancy weight which makes me realize that maybe that’s ALL I should have written. Just the facts and not the exact numbers because listen, it’s about how you feel (and right now, I feel sluggish and sad my clothes don’t fit) and not the number on the scale. No one cares what you weigh. Your doctor. Your doctor probably cares what you weigh. Other than that, no one follows you around with a scale. Which brings me to another point, when you read an article such as the one on Kim K “losing” 7 lbs in two weeks…no one is following HER around with a scale. She may have gained 7lbs. but because she’s working out and eating better, she’s giving the appearance of weight loss. It’s an interesting theory. And it reiterates the fact that the important thing is eating well and moving. I’m sure even Pokemon Go counts. Never starve yourself. Ever. Period. And it really upset me that myfitnesspal would…anyway, longer post on that later because I wrote the company and I’d like to hear their response. 

I’m happy I’m back to lifting weights again. Nothing crazy. The 10lb free weights are the “heavy” ones now. I can leg lift 104lbs, which I find impressive. Lifting weights makes me feel more confident and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. If you’ve never tried weight lifting you may want to give it a try. Start with some light weights and find an app if you aren’t sure what to do with them. I’ll post some recommendations tomorrow for anyone who is interested. I just wanted to do a quick check in, maybe some advice: ditch the scale. 

I’m Back…

Wow! Where have I been? I realize I’ve neglected this blog, but at the same time, I have a pretty valid excuse: I finished my master’s degree and had a baby. Not just any baby, mind you, I had Tabitha. Tabitha the “I’m coming 3 weeks early and you can’t stop me” baby. The baby who wouldn’t eat so we had to wake up every two hours to feed her, the baby who wouldn’t sleep, the baby who everyone has admitted is a “sibling killer”. Aka: Tabitha the only child. Tabitha who I love more than anything and wouldn’t trade for the world. Add in a little postpartum depression at the fact I didn’t have a 22″ waist two weeks after birth and my epic return to work…longer story involving cheerleaders. I have a plethora of apps to review. A whole bunch of stories. My mind is working all the time and I have no outlet for my musings. So I’ve decided that it’s important I return to writing. And it’s ok that my writing isn’t just tied to one topic. I’m making peace with that. I’ve read so many articles about blogging and building an audience, branding yourself, and sticking to only one subject and I respect that. I understand the logic to that but that mindset has also caused me to stop writing for almost a year. So, I’m back, but my blog is changing. It’s no longer just about teaching with technology it’s about how technology assists in all aspects of your life: work (for multiple careers), fitness, parenthood, & relationships. The first thing I’m going to tackle is getting my body back in shape. The baby is almost a year old! I believe it is time. Right? I recently came across an article on how Kim K lost 7 lbs (not a fan, personally) in two weeks. Perfect. 7lbs. would put me back at 95. I think my ideal weight is between 98 & 100 so if you take into account that I may mess up a few days…

My tools are my Apple Watch, my iPhone 6, and the Myfitnesspal app (user name Tabbycat00 feel free to add me). I’m starting this Friday July 8th with my goal finishing date being July 22nd. I can’t do bikini before and after pictures, not because I’m ashamed of how I look in a bikini, but because my school district will not allow me to post them on social media. Trust me on this one. But I can post photos in tank tops and shorts. My goal is to prove that everyday women can have “Hollywood” results. You don’t need a personal trainer or cook…remember I could be wrong. I’ll blog my food intake and exercise for each day and sometimes I’ll post videos of my workouts so that you can follow along at home. Here is my lovely “before” photo in my messy bedroom.