No one tells you the reality of pregnancy, and no one tells you what really happens after the pregnancy glow wears off! To put it nicely, it’s a bit of a shock. I thought after I gave birth I would get my pre-pregnancy body back, I would instantly drop all the weight I gained. I would be able to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes again and be back to my “normal” weight. I guess there is something to be said about it takes 9 months to gain and 9 months to lose it…which is a little disheartening and brutal to come to the realization of. So here I am 6 months into my postpartum journey and still have 10 pounds to loose. This journey has been eye opening and has been a constant learning experience with major ups and downs with my weight, emotions, and everything in between. Going through all of this, I have learned you have to give yourself grace. I have to keep reminding myself, my body was able to bring a life into this world, completely unmedicated in the most natural way possible. 

I started walking again at about 1 week postpartum and gradually made that my daily routine working back into it, I started working out again at 6 weeks, and really went in at week 7 with a weightlifting program. I gained a little weight due to muscle (I couldn’t do a push-up, or a sit up to save my life!) I had no idea how much muscle I had truly lost while being pregnant! Throughout my entire pregnancy I tried my best to stay active, I did a few workout programs up until about 6 months and then walking was about all my body could handle. I knew I lost some of my muscle mass, but man that was rough! After completing a 7 week program and not seeing any weight loss I felt so discouraged, even know I knew it was all muscle and my clothes started to fit better. I think society puts so much pressure on the number on the scale, or the size or number associated with our clothes that we loose focus of the true reason behind working out which for me is to feel good, feel my best, feel confident in my body. 

Another thing no one mentions in the postpartum journey is hormones! So, along this journey it has consisted of many trials and errors! Adding and eliminating things. Although, I am not at my goal weight or my pre-pregnancy weight, my body grew a human a healthy happy human and that is truly all that matters at the end of the day. 

No pregnancy journey is the same, no birth journey is the same, no postpartum journey is the same, everyone’s experience is different,  and sometimes you have to take a step back and say wow, look at what my body created and grew for 9 months! Yes, I am still 10 pounds away from my goal, but at this point in time, my body is stronger than ever, and I know in a few more weeks, I will be in the best shape of my life since I committed to me! So, at the end of the day, stop comparing, stop trying to be someone, or something you aren’t and just be you! And truly that goes for so much more in life than pregnancy. Do it for you, no one else.