Weight Loss: Slimmer…but still squishy.
It’s been 10 months since my last postpartum post, and a little over a year since having our 8lb chicken nugget. While I haven’t hit my pre-pregnancy weight of 115lbs, I’ve gotten pretty damn close. I’m currently at *drum roll*…120 lbs! I’ve lost 15 pounds! A skinnyish version of me is emerging, but she’s in dire need of muscle toning and tush tightening.
Over the last few months, I’ve been doing a mixture of intermittent fasting and low carb dieting. I have the occasional cheat days as well, but on the whole, I’ve been pretty consistent. I do the 16:8 rotation where I fast for 16 hours, and eat during an 8-hour window. My first meal of the day is around 11:45am and my last meal is before 7:45pm. I generally stay away from carbs (no rice, no bread, no sweets), I add healthy fats (coconut oil, fish, avocados), and hydrate hydrate hydrate (green tea, coffee, and lots of water). If ever you see me post photos of cookies or sweets, it’s probably that time of the month for me.
SIDE NOTE: I put on The Great British Baking Show (Netflix) whenever we’re relaxing at home. I’m not a fan of desserts per-se, but the baking workflow and creative process. Watching the contestants make show-stopping cakes and centerpieces is fascinating to me! I personally feel a strong urge to bake, but not to eat the delicacies…I just want to create. I’m an aspiring baker who doesn’t enjoy baked goods. Womp womp.
Fitness: Rebounding, Infrared Saunas, and the Tracy Anderson Method
I had a brief stint at Orange Theory Fitness for about 2 months earlier this year. That didn’t last too long. I wasn’t a huge fan of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The workouts were such a shock to my system. I’m too old for that hardcore shit. So much for new year’s resolutions.
Rebounding has still been my go-to for easy cardio. Emphasis on the easy. It may take me twice as long to tighten up with this relaxed mommy-method of fitness, but my objective isn’t to slip into the slinkiest bikini for Vegas pool parties anymore. Or is it? 😉
I’ve also found respite and relaxation in saunas. I have a membership at Purify Sauna where for the past 4 months, I’ve been locking myself in an infrared box for 40-mins at a time, sweating away the grime and extra fat grams. You’d think that the 150°F would be hardly tolerable, but mix in some anti-aging red light therapy, essential oils, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and I’m one happy woman. I’m sweating balls by the time the timer beeps like I ran a 5k marathon. And you know I’m all about shortcuts. If I can make myself sweat without lifting a finger, sign me up. The day after a sauna session, I generally feel svelter. I’ve flushed out excess water weight, sweat out some calories, depuffed, debloated, and detoxified. New woman, who dis?
I’ve incorporated some Tracy Anderson workouts as well. Low impact, low intensity…just the way I like it. Her arm workouts are great, and her butt workouts are seriously killer. I’m all about that booty. I’m still trying to attack the remnants of my mommy-pooch, but it’s not as bad as before.
OVERALL PROGRESS: Some semblance of my shape has returned — my ass isn’t as jiggly, my hips aren’t as lumpy, and my tummy isn’t as flabby. I can actually squeeze into some old pairs of jeans. Toning and tightening will be my main focus for the upcoming year. It’s been a slow process, but I see a fit and fabulous future-Charity at the end of the tunnel. She’s not extinct after all!
Self-Care: Multivitamins, Masks, and Monty Don
It’s still all about the supplements for me. Multivitamins, supplements, gel capsules, veggie caps, the list goes on…
What I take regularly:
- Up&Up Biotin 10,000 mcg plus Keratin 100 mg
- NOW EGCg Green Tea Extract 400 mg
- Nature Made Prenatal + DHA 200 mg Soft Gel
- Nordic Naturals vitamin D3 250 mg Soft Gel
- Propidren by HairGenics – DHT Blocker & Hair Growth Supplement
As far as skincare, I’ve been known to walk around the house with a thick slather of Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask twice a week. I feel my pores tightening and skin brightening after each use. But poor Ethan…having to see mama look like a puffy grape monster must be bit confusing. Who’s that greasy purple lady?
I’ve incorporated a few more serums and concentrates into my regimen: Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum (20% Vitamin C + 10% AHAs), Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, and Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate 12.5% Vitamin C.
When it comes to destressing and downtime, Jordan pours me a small glass of cab sauv, Ethan sifts around the floor for some lint to pop in his mouth, and we sit around the living room as a family to watch some episodes of Monty Don’s Big Dreams, Small Spaces on Netflix. We’ve been obsessed with watching the English horticulturist, Monty Don, and his gardening escapades around England and France. We watch as Monty prunes trees, clips hedges, turns small lumps of dirt into beautiful, burgeoning gardens. We’ve started some serious talks about our own garden dreams, and we’ve actually made some serious strides this past weekend! Jordan planted 2 beautiful pink crape myrtle trees in our front lawn, and now we’re on the search for some hedges for the backyard. We’ll have an English-cottage-meets-dessert-scape style garden before we know it 🙂 Thanks, Monty!
I hope to check-in again with another postpartum blog post a few months from now. Perhaps I’ll take a few photos of our trees, our soon-to-be-hedges, and my lighter and lither swimsuit-ready body. 😉
Till then, squish me good luck! XOXOXO