40 Pound Weight Loss!

It was no surprise to anyone that knows me, I gained a wee bit of weight during my pregnancy. I had always eaten fairly healthy (healthy during the week and splurge on the weekends) but I have always enjoyed food. I am Portuguese and food was always a major part of my life (and still is). Whenever the family gets together its always around the kitchen table. Once I hit 28 I started gaining a few pounds and was 10 pounds heavier than my 'ideal' weight but I was comfortable with my body so I was happy. I wasn't at my ideal weight even on my wedding but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Then came preggers...I hated being pregnant. I had a decent pregnancy physically speaking but I was an emotional nutbag and hated the world. The only real thing that made me happy was food...for 9 months I ate, and ate, and loved every second of it. In retrospect I hate it and if I had to do that over again you bet your butt I wouldn't have eaten like that. UGH. But nothing I can do about that now. I can admit it...I gained nearly 70 pounds. Very unhealthy I know...but its reality. And it's reality for SO many women! I had reached the recommended 35lb weight gain half way through my pregnancy! But overall I was healthy. My blood pressure and blood sugar were normal the whole time.

The first 25 pounds (give or take) were gone within 4 weeks (thanks to nursing) and I was happy about that, but then I stalled. I didn't really try to lose weight either though - letting go of my love for food was turning harder than I thought. The turning point came when I was fed up with my 4 outfits that fit. None of my clothes fit and I was pissed. I love my wardrobe and I would be dammed if I wasn't going to fit back into it - especially my summer selection.

So when Tiny was about 8 months I made a huge shift. I became grateful for my body as it was and I asked God for guidance. I started Atkins and I have lost....40 pounds! I don't like to brag but I am pretty proud of myself for this and I also want to encourage anyone out there who is struggling. If I can do it with my love for everything, anyone can! Thanks to Splenda and my love for meat (haha) I have lost the majority of my baby weight. I still have 5-10 more but heck I am pretty darn happy right where I am now! I have followed the OLD Atkins, not the new (so I don't eat any of those Atkins bars and the like). I am in the OWL (ongoing weight loss) phase right now and will be in maintenance by September (my expectation). I have had my bumps along the way and I have cheated here and there. I had a cheat day every 3 weeks or so just to keep my sanity. I now fit back into 95% of my clothes, including my shoes (sorry to everyone who thought they were inheriting my shoe collection) and including a good chunk of my jeans! So happy and so incredibly grateful to God for giving me the strength...and to my hubby for dealing with me (during my pregnancy and after) and all my crazy Atkins recipes :) I love you!

I plan on posting some Atkins friendly recipes of mine and some more tips and pointers that helped me along the way - so stay tuned!