With pregnancy, a growing belly, and then birth comes many many wonderful things. Like a baby. I know that all the aches and pains I've already experienced and are sure to come will be WELL worth it. :-) I'm already anticipating the sleepless nights and moments of complete "I don't know what the heck I'm doing."... and I can't wait. Seriously, I can't wait to meet my baby even though I know life is going to be extremely different and challenging. I still look forward to the challenge.
One thing I am not looking forward to? I have gained nearly 30 lbs in the past 9 months. And before those 9 months started, I had a stressful spring/summer and gained 10 lbs. That is 40 pounds to lose (yikes - at first I made a mistake and wrote 400!! This is not biggest loser territory yet!). I know that hopefully 10-15 of those will be lost with baby and fluid and that great stuff, but I will hardly have by pre-preggo body back overnight. What is the saying - 9 months on, 9 months off?... I certainly hope not. :-(
When I realized I needed to eat gluten-free I started thinking more about what I put into my body. I realized that it isn't only calories that matter, but the quality of the food I was eating. Food is my body's fuel. I have a VERY sensitive stomach, and I always feel according to how I have been eating. Like that ice cream I ate earlier today? Yeah... feeling icky because of it (but it was worth it). I know I feel significantly better when I am eating mindfully and healthy.
Before I got pregnant I got Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet book. I wasn't intending on going on a full-blown weight-loss diet, but rather learning her principles and eating more organically, less processed, and just better overall. It makes SO much sense. Unfortunately - most of that went out the window during first trimester when I had such strong food aversions, the only thing that sounded good was mac & cheese and if I could keep it down, I ate it - darnit!
So now, with my postpartum body around the corner, an "eat clean" diet is one of the main changes I plan on implementing to lose weight. I recently subscribed to Clean Eating Magazine as well - after reading awesome reviews on it. I know not all recipes are gluten-free, but after a year and a half of eating gluten-free I know how to make substitutions to make it edible for me. I probably will count calories after a few months, but I plan to breastfeed, so I know that will be difficult. I figure if I eat food that my body can use, instead of yucky processed stuff, both me and baby will be healthier... and hopefully I will look better too. :-) And I will ask you to hold me accountable!! I am sure I will blog about it. I am soooo eager to feel healthy and fit again. But I know that will come with time. :-) In the meantime, I'm having a fun time looking up recipes and making meal plans to continue to make my family more healthy.
I have her book, too! And I've been thinking of subscribing to the magazine. One of my good friend's sisters keeps a blog about her clean eating experience (and her hubby is GF)...just in case you were interested :). The blog is cleaneatingmachine.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'll be joining you in the lose 40lbs group soon!