Posts Tagged "weight gain"

Mummy Tummy Begone

Posted by cafebebemama on Mar 8, 2010 in Featured Posts, Mummy Tummy Begone | 33 comments

Mummy Tummy Queen

Too many pancakes?

Finding unflattering pictures of yourself isn’t the most exhilerating thing in the entire world.  However, in my quest to make my Mummy Tummy Begone, I had to find something to start with.  The first picture is from Little Miss’ first birthday week (taken on June 5, 2009) and the second picture is from 14 January, 2010 at the Lyle’s Syrup Pancake Day event in London.  It was at said event that something happened that I had been waiting for.  Someone asked me “And when’s your next one due?”  I replied, “Uh…oh, no, I’m not pregnant, I’m just fat!” and laughed a bit to make the person feel better.  I’m good at that…making people feel better.  I didn’t feel very happy, however.

I shall back-track a bit for those of you who don’t know me or my tummy very well.  When I was pregnant with Little Miss, I put on a good 3-4 stone on a frame that was already overweight.  Fish and chips had taken their toll long before Little Miss was implanted and I took full advantage of every craving, every extra muffin and every indulgence possible while she was growing.  Rude people Co-Workers asked if I was sure there weren’t twins in there and “WHEN are you due?”  So helpful and kind.

Little Miss was born by emergency c-section on 3 June, 2008 and thus began my struggle with my maladjusted mid-section.  I was amazed at how, every day after delivery, my middle shrank bit by bit…sort of like a balloon gradually deflating.  However, not long after coming home, the deflating stopped.  And that’s just about where I have stayed ever since.  Approaching 2 years is a long time to be carrying about far too much weight and having no shape.  I’ve had a bit working against me though.  My expanding middle couldn’t quite expand enough and I ended up with an umbilical hernia as well as, in my humble opinion, VERY distended abdominal muscles (diastis recti anyone?).  In my concern over my now-permanent “outie” belly button, I was referred to a consultant to see about a possible hernia operation.  I was told by said consultant, that I could have the hernia operation but it wouldn’t do anything for my abdominal muscles, if I was considering having another child there was no point in having the op and that I should lose weight.  Helpful, that consultant!  Of course, he was right I guess.  I also was referred to a physiotherapist to learn exercises to “knit” back together my abdominal muscles.  (That sounds icky doesn’t it??)

Now, here’s where the problem lies.  I was told to lose weight and do specific exercises.  Did I do it?  No.  Well, I did do the exercises for a while but then I stopped.  Did I lose weight?  Well, maybe a pound or two but then there was Christmas and then New Year’s and then Valentine’s Day and then St. David’s Day (any excuse…) and here I am.  Hopelessly out of shape, wrecked abdominals, pain, a stomach (the internal organ) that sloshes about (will it actually fall out?  I wonder!) and thoroughly deflated opinion of myself.  I must do SOMETHING.  We don’t have money for a gym or a piece of exercise equipment and time is a factor as I’m home alone with Little Miss from 8am-7pm most nights of the week so I will share with you my plan.  It’s not ideal but it will have to do.  If I share it with my blogging community, I am therefore forced to follow through on it.  Unless I delete this all! (HA)

I have approximately 12 weeks until Little Miss’ second birthday.  I have to make a dent in the me I that I am today.

• Stop eating RUBBISH!  I have a pretty carbohydate-centered diet.  Toast, Rice Krispies for breakfast, Rich Tea bisquit for snack, pasta/chips/sandwich for lunch (not all of them, either/or), Rich Tea bisquit for snack, finishing Little Miss’ dinner for her (waste not…), Dinner with hubby at 9pm or later consisting of: jacket potatoes, beans, pasta, quiche…very little veg/protein.
• Stop clearing Little Miss’ plate!
• Eat MY dinner with Little Miss and aim for a lean protein, low-GI carb & veg
• Alternate the following for exercise:  get up in the morning (6am) and go for a walk/run BEFORE the day begins and while hubby is at home for Little Miss or when hubby comes home at night go for a walk/run at the END of the day while hubby is at home for Little Miss
• Walk/RUN!  I have been inspired by Rachael at Marathon Mummy to start a bit of running.  Rachael is not a runner but she very well may be now after just completing her personal Half-Marathon training over the weekend.  I am going to start with a very simple walk 1 min/run 1 min and see what I can work myself up to in the next 12 weeks.  I have to state for the record that I HATE RUNNING and really wouldn’t consider it unless CHASED but, my tummy is about to start chasing me and I don’t want to see that!  Also, according to many who’ve done it, it’s a great fat burner and perhaps the kick in the pants that I need.  I guarantee you will not find me running any marathons or even a half-marathon any time in the near or distant future but we all need to start somewhere, don’t we?
• Find time during Little Miss’ naps to peel my ass away from the computer and do the EA Sports Active Personal Trainer programme and/or abdominal exercises.  My ass is taking on a decidedly flat appearance so I must do this.
• Get thee to a FEMALE doctor who may be able to help with my midsection and tell me, point blank, if it’s just my laziness and excess weight that is causing my abdominal pain and discomfort or something that can possibly be fixed with medical intervention in addition to proper eating, exercise and weight loss.

If I could manage to lose a pound a week over the next twelve weeks, I could make a good dent in my mummy tummy and feel a bit better about the way I look.  Then maybe, just maybe, Claire at The Good, The Bad & The Ugly could give me some fashion tips to help disguise what’s left.  I will be blogging about my progress in this category (Mummy Tummy Begone) and will keep you posted.  I’d love to feel confident enough to share my weight with you BUT I don’t know that I’m ready to share those numbers with the world.  They’re embarassing!  However, suffice it to say that if I lose 1 pound a week for the next 12 weeks, I will lose nearly a stone which will be a massive accomplishment.  A very sensible time line, for sure.

I would appreciate any tips and/or encouragement that you might want to offer as this will be an uphill battle for me.  I used to be fit and healthy and worked out all the time…of course, I worked in a fitness centre so that makes a bit of a difference!  If you’d like to join me, I’ll be making a badge to use…you can do it too!  I’d love to have a little bit of support if you’re willing.