My entire life I have battled with my weight. When I was in high school I struggled to run a mile and hit 160 pounds by age 15. I have also always been into fitness trends. During my most overweight years I read that you would lose weight if you ate less than 10g of fat a day so I binged on Entenmann’s fat free raspberry danish. After all, it didn’t have any fat (only lots of sugar) so that made it healthy right? In college I watched my roommate gain 20 pounds on the trendy Atkins diet by eating nothing but cheeseburgers (no bun) and bacon.
It wasn’t until I discovered marathon training that I really lost weight and got into shape. I felt the adrenaline high that comes with long-distance running and I was hooked. Being around other runners in an atmosphere of fun and competition was addictive. In a few short years I lost about 30 pounds, ran two marathons, three half marathons and three triathlons. Then I got pregnant and gained 35-40 pounds with each child. (Of course I never lost the weight in between kids)
My youngest baby is six month old now and I think it is really time to get back in shape. But I just don’t have time to start training for marathons. As anyone who has done that knows, it is a HUGE time commitment. With a full-time job and two little kids there is just no way I am going to start running for hours a day. So, I am on a quest to find something new and there are so many trends to choose from.
I started by trying to adjust my diet. Paleo is all the rage. Friends told me it changed their lives. For those of you not familiar with this new craze, it involves cutting out nearly everything – no gluten, dairy, sugar, legumes, vegetable oil or alcohol. The premise is that you only eat what cave men ate. So, you can eat grass-fed beef, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables. That does not sound so bad but I will tell you that on my five day foray into this fitness fad I was starving. Apparently my body needs dairy and carbs to feel full.
Then I thought the key would be fitness. I had been swimming and doing yoga while pregnant. But at my suburban gym the new fad was called STRIKE. It is a combination of kickboxing and using a weight bar to fight off fictional opponents. The first time I was yelled at for being in the wrong spot and having my water bottle next to me – heaven forbid! I nearly took out my neighbors while jumping and lifting the heavy bar over my head. But, I made it through and have even gone back. This one could be a keeper.
Next I tried INSANITY. A friend lost all her baby weight doing these intense workouts. So when I noticed it on my gym’s schedule as a 30 minute class I thought I would try it. (I am really not good at doing video workouts at home so this worked better for me) I thought – how hard could a 30 minute workout really be?? Well, let me just tell you that I could barely walk for three days. It was short but very intense. I can see how people get into shape quickly on this one but I am not sure if I can hack it on a regular basis.
I had to wait until my most recent trip to New York to try the fad I had heard the most about – Soul Cycle/Fly Wheel (neither exists here in Denver). Last Wednesday was the big day. I made my $35 reservation online. I set my alarm for 5:45am eastern time (3:45 Colorado time). At 6am I hopped in a $10 cab to the Upper West Side location. I strapped on the club’s shoes and headed into the dark, music filled room ready to work hard. It was everything I had heard – exhausting, exhilarating and expensive. After buying a trendy $11 green juice after class and hopping a cab back to my hotel I had spent $66 before 8am. Honestly, at this price I cannot afford to get into shape.
Like most new mothers I want to discover some magic key to getting back into shape. I need something that doesn’t take a lot of time away from my children. I will keep searching for the perfect fitness fad, hoping there is some miracle weight loss technique that I have yet to discover, and testing out anything that puts my body through the ringer. In the meantime, I know that good nutrition and a combination of cardio and weight-lifting will help me reach my goal. It just doesn’t feel as fun and inspiring as these new fitness fads.
3 replies on “Battling my Baby Belly”
Erin April 22, 2014 at 3:12 pm
I love this!! It is the hardest thing in the world and I don’t have kids 🙂 never the less I still have all the same issues and struggles as you do ! Time is my major factor and the location in which I now live also comes into play. The closest gym is a half hour away so when I used to workout in the mornings this is no longer an option . I am fighting the urge to go home after work and relax as opposed to going to the gym where I need to be! One day at a time , because I feel as though this is always going to be a never ending cycle in life.
Bridget April 22, 2014 at 6:26 pm
Hey friend! I totally remember the roommate on the Atkins’ diet. Eww! Plain gross. You are beautiful and healthy. I fell in love with The Bar Methid and think you would like it too. They have a Denver studio plus online workouts and DVDs. I’m also just a big fan of walking everywhere. I like food too much to diet! :). Xo! P.S. I really enjoy your blog and writing style.
andrealynnlewis April 22, 2014 at 7:44 pm
So funny – another friend recommended barre method as well. I tried to go to a barre class when I was 5 months pregnant with Callum and they kicked me out so I have a bad taste in my mouth now.