The Slow Carb Diet

FINALLY! After months of eating well and exercising, I've lost all the baby weight (and then some!) How did I do it? The slow carb diet.

[Disclaimer: I've done ZERO research on this diet. I simply tried it because a friend of mine was doing it and it was working well for him. At that point, I was desperate to try anything because it'd been months since I had Noah and I was actually gaining weight instead of losing it. So I don't claim to know the ins and outs of this diet, nor the science behind why it works. All I know is that it worked for me. For more detailed information on this diet, check here and here.]

Pre-pregnancy: 115 pounds

Highest weight during pregnancy: 150 pounds

Two weeks postpartum (no dieting, no exercise, just nursing): 125 pounds

Three months postpartum (no dieting, no exercise, no nursing): 130 pounds (yes, I actually gained weight)

Nine months postpartum: 116 pounds (almost my pre-pregnancy weight!)

13 months postpartum: 109 pounds (less than my pre-pregnancy weight!!!)

(In case you're wondering what that mark is near my belly button, it's actually a scar I got from ironing. A little bit of steam shot out of the iron and burned my skin. The scar has since faded quite a bit, and is pretty much unnoticeable in the last picture).

I didn't actually start the slow carb diet until June. I did start working out in January, about three months after Noah was born. However, I still wasn't eating well (I was pretty much eating as if I were still pregnant). As you can see in the photos above, from January through May, not much had changed. It wasn't until I started eating better that I began to notice a significant difference in my body.

Here are the basics of the slow carb diet: 6 days out of the week, eat three meals that consist only of lean proteins and veggies. Avoid any type of carb or sugar, even from fruit. On the 7th day, you get a cheat day, meaning you can eat whatever you want. Fill up on carbs and sugar on this day because, trust me, you'll need it for the rest of the week. Oftentimes, I felt weak because I was strictly eating meat and veggies - no sugar to help me feel energized. You are, however, allowed to drink diet sodas and diet teas, so I (very) occasionally drank those if I needed to taste something sweet. Here's what I typically ate during the week:

Egg Whites mixed with One Yolk and Spinach, and Two Slices of Turkey Bacon (for breakfast every morning)

Grilled Pork with Arugula Salad (recipe)

Chipotle Shrimp with Avocado Salsa (recipe)

Chicken Marsala with Asparagus (from Carrabbas)

Grilled Chicken with Asparagus

Barbecue Chicken with Oven Roasted Corn

Baked Lemon Chicken with Oven Roasted Corn and Black Beans

Grilled Steak with Broccoli and Black Beans

Baked Chicken with Guacamole and Black Beans

Grilled Chicken mixed with Pico De Gallo, Guacamole, and Black Beans

Baked Tilapia with Squash

Grilled Steak Salad (from Chipotle) 

Grilled Tilapia with Pico De Gallo and Asparagus

Grilled Steak with Mixed Veggies

Chicken Lettuce Wraps (from Mama Fu's)

As you can see, a lot of what I ate was grilled or baked, accompanied with a side of veggies. Oftentimes, I simply bought frozen veggies in the steamer bags that you can quickly and easily microwave. So yes, this diet is BORING. I will not sit here and pretend that this was easy. It wasn't. I craved bad food every day, but I just kept reminding myself of the end goal.

I only did the slow carb diet for a solid month, but being on this diet taught me a lot about eating healthier. And I actually got used to eating better. To this day, I still eat egg whites and two slices of turkey bacon every single morning. Then for lunch I either eat baked tilapia or chicken with a side of veggies (every Sunday I prepare all my lunches for the week so I'm not tempted to eat anything else). I eat good during the day so I can eat bad at night. So dinnertime (and the weekends) are pretty much my "cheat" days, meaning I don't watch what I eat...that much. I don't completely indulge, but I do treat myself to some cookies or ice cream every now and then. I still try to eat healthy whenever possible, so I'll opt for a side of veggies with my meals, whereas before I used to eat potatoes, pasta, or rice. I drink water at every meal, with the occasional sweet tea. So is it hard? Absolutely. Do I wish I could eat cookies all day? Pretty much every single second of every day. So do I ever indulge? Of course. I'm only human, but everything in moderation. 

In addition to eating better, I also worked out. A LOT. I was exercising about 4-5 days a week. Here's a breakdown of a typical workout week: Monday - cardio and pushing movements (bench press, military press, dips, push ups, etc), Tuesday - cardio and core (sit-ups, crunches, planks, etc), Wednesday - cardio and pulling movements (pull-ups, rows, curls, etc), Thursday - cardio and core, Friday - core and legs (squats, lunges, leg curls, leg extensions, etc), Saturday and Sunday - rest.

I think a huge part of my success didn't come from just eating well or exercising - it was the support I got. My husband was with me every step of the way and the absolute BEST support system. Honestly, I don't think I've ever done anything harder. Not that it was physically hard - it was  just emotionally hard because it took SO much willpower, and oftentimes I felt discouraged because I never thought I would get my body back. But John was always there supporting me. Even when I felt like I didn't look my best, he ALWAYS told me I was beautiful. And that love and support really encouraged me and helped me stay motivated every step of the way. 

Keep in mind that this is what worked for me. Tailor this diet and these exercises to fit your needs and your body type. And get a great support system! Close friends and family are the best. For whatever reason (jealousy, spite?) people will try to drag you down along the way. Acquaintances, coworkers, and strangers will scoff and roll their eyes at your efforts and what you're eating, but just ignore them! Do what's best for you and what makes you feel GREAT! Good luck!

9 Months in Review

I thought it would be fun to put all my baby bump photos together in one place so I can easily see the progression, starting from week 14 all the way to week 39 (I really wanted to take a week 40 baby bump photo, but seeing as how I was in labor, well, I was a bit preoccupied). I remember writing in week 23 that I already felt my belly was so ginormous. Ha! Little did I know how big I would actually get...

I weighed myself yesterday at the grocery store and I'm happy to report that I'm down to 132 pounds (I've already lost half the weight I gained. Yay!) I started trying on some of my old clothes to see if I could fit into them. So far, pants are a no-go. I still can't quite button or zip them up, so I've gone back to using the 'ol hairband trick. I'm optimistic though. I mean, it's only been a week and I haven't hit the gym yet, so I imagine that once I start working out again, I'll tone back up. Wish me luck!

Baby Bump and a New Car: Week 39

39 Weeks

With the upcoming birth of our first baby, John and I decided it was time to buy a new car. We opted for the Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE. I think this is the best car for us because we drive SO much and it's got great gas mileage (about 40 mpg). 

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt and shorts from the Gap

Sandals from American Eagle

I love that we took this picture. I think it will be a nice memory to share with Lil Bit one day when he gets older ("Look son! Here's Mom and Dad the day before your due date. We bought this car so we could have a safer ride for you - our first family car!") 

Due to my car accident, we decided to go ahead and trade in my 2000 Toyota Celica. We got a pretty decent trade-in value ($1000). We also received a $2600 check from the insurance company to fix the damages, but we decided to use that money as a down payment for the new car. My Mom says the accident was a blessing in disguise because we actually got a lot more for the Celica than we would have gotten in its pre-accident condition. John and I had been talking about buying a new car for months (probably even well over a year now), but the accident became the ultimate catalyst for us to make this all-important purchase.

We dropped the Celica off this morning at the dealership, where I gave it an emotional farewell. It was a feisty little car that's gotten me through a lot over the last 12 years. I've had it since I was 16 and I always told myself I would keep it for as long as it worked. Although still drivable, it was definitely time to let it go so I could get a safer, more practical car for Lil Bit. 

Baby Bump: Week 38

38 weeks

Only about a week left before my due date! I'm so beyond excited to meet my little boy. John actually has a feeling he's going to come tonight. I guess we shall see :)

Baby Bump: Week 37

37 Weeks

What I'm Wearing:

Sidebent Tank from Anthropologie

Citizens of Humanity Dylan Boyfriend Jeans

Xhilaration Sandals from Target

Be Maternity BeBand from Target

Necklace from Banana Republic

The other day, I wrote about feeling large. Well, if it's possible, I actually feel even larger. In the past two days, I've successfully torn a hole in one of my tank tops, a strap in one of my dresses, and a strap in one of my sandals. I'm literally growing too big for all my clothes and my feet are getting more swollen everyday. After 8 1/2 months, I've finally accepted the fact that I'm much too big for my pre-pregnancy clothing. I've kept trying to convince myself that I could still fit into them, but it turns out I'm either just stretching them out or ruining them. Looks like I'm gonna stick to strictly maternity clothes for the next three weeks. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to fitting into my old clothes again!

Baby Bump and Birthing Class: Week 36

36 Weeks

So this is probably one of my less inspired outfits, but John and I had an 8-hour birthing class yesterday and I wanted to be as comfy as possible.

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt from Gap Maternity

Seven For All Mankind maternity jeans from A Pea In The Pod

Scarf from Banana Republic

My feet have become so swollen that I find it difficult to wear shoes now. I wore these slippers to my class so I could easily slip them off. 

Slippers by Allihop

Yesterday, John and I took a birthing class at the hospital where I will be delivering. When we first signed up for this class about a month ago, they told us that we were really pushing it and waiting last minute and that we probably should have signed up for it a long time ago. A part of me did agree with this and think, "Why didn't we take this class over the summer when we were on break?!" but John pointed out that it's probably best to take the class closer to our due date so it's fresher in our minds. Plus, every other couple there was also due in about three weeks, so we were all in the same boat. 

We were instructed to bring a couple pillows with us for our comfort since we would be sitting on bean bag chairs all day. We also brought snacks with us, which was such a great idea since it was an all-day class and our lunch break wasn't until 1:30 pm. The class consisted largely of watching a PowerPoint Presentation and some video clips on labor. I mentally prepared myself for a very long, boring day so I think that somehow helped the time go a little faster. It honestly wasn't all that bad and I felt I learned a few things:

1. Swaddling is no longer recommended.

What?! Everyone has been telling me to swaddle my baby and now doctors are saying not to? The instructor told us that swaddling should only be used as a last resort, after trying to feed them, changing their diaper, or soothing them others ways have failed. I mentioned that a lot of people I know swaddle their babies when they put them to bed, and she said that is no longer recommended and that we should just put the baby in some pajamas with feet and hand covers. Oh boy, this gives me a lot to think about now...

2. There are many positions for giving birth.

I always thought that you just lay back on the bed, have your legs propped up, and you just push. Apparently, there are several ways you can give birth and we watched (in graphic detail) all of them. You can squat, stand on all fours like a dog, or lean forward on a bar that's attached to the bed. None of these looked particularly comfortable to me, but it's up to each individual woman what feels most comfortable to her. 

3. Labor looks awful.

So this is not something I just learned from my class yesterday, but I still feel the need to reiterate it here. It looks horrible, painful, and gross. Yes, I know this is supposed to be beautiful, the miracle of life, yadda yadda yadda, but I'm still completely disturbed by all the fluids and unflattering shots of women in these videos that we had to watch yesterday. I told myself that I wasn't going to watch, but it was like a train wreck - I just couldn't look away (John, on the other hand, had NO problem looking away. In fact, he was the only one that didn't watch). By watching the videos, I do feel more informed on what giving birth is like, but at the same time, I often find that I'm better off just not knowing. For example, every time I get a shot or have my blood drawn, I always look away because if I watch them put the needle in, then I will anticipate the pain and therefore feel that it's more painful than what it really is. I feel the same way about giving birth - better left in the dark and go in not knowing (ignorance is bliss right?)

4. Labor is looooong.

I knew before that labor would take several hours. I also already knew that having an epidural would make it even longer. But I didn't realize just how long it could go. We watched a video on this woman who decided to get an epidural at 3 cm, but she ended up being in labor for about 48 hours before she could start pushing. I always thought I would just go ahead and get the epidural right away. I have no desire to know what labor feels like and I was perfectly content waiting things out. But now I'm starting to change my mind. I'm going to try to rough it out for as long as I can (they recommend at least 5 cm) before I get the epidural. Yes, I understand this will be painful and difficult, but there's a tradeoff - pain for seeing your baby sooner. In fact, the instructor had a good analogy - if you do one sit up, there's no payoff, but if you do 50 "Rocky" sit ups in a row, you start to feel pain, but you start to see results. Same idea here - "no pain, no gain."

We learned other miscellaneous things in the class such as breathing exercises, different birthing plans, and how to change a diaper. The instructor gave us a doll to practice on and I kept laughing at how John was handling it - he was treating the doll as, well, a doll - throwing it around, dropping it on the floor, holding it by its leg. I kept telling him that he was supposed to pretend it was the real thing :)

Overall, it was an informative class. I'm just glad I was able to take it before the baby came. I've actually been worried this whole time that I might go into labor early and not be able to take the birthing class. Now, the only other thing we have to get done is get our carseat installed, which we will be doing on Tuesday. I also have a prenatal massage scheduled for next weekend that I'm really looking forward to, so I hope I'm still pregnant by then :) Only three more weeks to go!

Baby Bump and Braxton Hicks?: Week 35

35 Weeks

What I'm Wearing:

Forest Floor Pullover by Angel of the North

Joe's Chelsea Secret Fit Belly Skinny Leg Maternity Jeans from A Pea in the Pod

Sandals from American Eagle

I absolutely love this sweater. The billowy effect is perfect for my growing belly :)

Lately, the Bit has been kicking like CRAZY. And boy, are they super hard kicks at week 35. Sometimes John will touch my belly and he can't believe how hard it is. They're not painful, but they're not exactly comfortable either. So this got me thinking about Braxton Hicks contractions. Could this be it? I've read so many message boards about it and have gotten feedback from friends, but it seems these contractions feel different to everyone. Some people tell me they feel like cramps, others say their stomach just feels rock hard and then releases, and a few people have told me that they thought it was simply the baby kicking really hard and then they realized they were Braxton Hicks contractions. I'm not sure what to think, but I can tell you that I've never felt my belly feel like this before. It feels like the baby is practically kneeing me in the stomach. Again, not painful per se, but it shocks me every time. 

With only a few weeks to go before my due date, I'm often wondering if I'll even know if I'm in labor. I mean, what do contractions feel like? Will it be obvious when my water breaks? My doctor told me that sometimes it can be a small leak or it could be a gallon (?!) Because this is my first pregnancy, I really don't know what to expect. I keep reading about it and asking friends and family and everyone always tells me the same thing: "Trust me, you'll KNOW!" But what does this mean?! My doctor said that if I start to feel even slightly weird, simply call the office. They'll be able to tell me whether I should go to the hospital. I just have this crazy feeling that I won't even know I'm in labor. I have a tendency to just brush things off, especially when it comes to feeling sick. I always feel like I can rough it out, so I hope I don't mistake actual labor for stomach pains. 

Baby Bump: Week 34

34 Weeks

What I'm Wearing:

Sleeveless Braided Maxi Dress by Liz Lange for Target Maternity

Necklace by Tara Jarmon for Target

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you enjoy your weekend!

The Non-Maternity Maternity Blouse

33 Weeks

What I'm Wearing:

LC Lauren Conrad Polka-Dot Chiffon Blouse from Kohl's

Camisole from the Gap

Joe's Chelsea Secret Fit Belly Skinny Leg Maternity Jeans from A Pea in the Pod

Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse ballet flats

Necklace from Target

I've done my best to keep my maternity clothing purchases to a minimum. While some pieces of clothing were simply nonnegotiable (pants, shorts, and skirts), I've been pretty successful with buying and wearing blouses in my pre-pregnancy size. I'm sure this has less to do with my shopping skills and more to do with the fact that slightly oversized, blousy tops are plentiful this season. Some of my favorites come from Lauren Conrad's line for Kohl's. She has perfected the art of combining pretty prints with oversized yet girly silhouettes. I'm usually one for more fitted, tailored pieces, but lately I've been embracing the trend of blousier tops. They somehow have a feminine charm despite their baggier fit, especially when paired with skinny jeans and the right accessories. Because of their looser fit, I've been able to wear these blouses throughout pregnancy, even in an XS. And after baby, I'll be able to continue wearing them. I can't say the same for my maternity clothing, of course (those will be promptly placed in storage after the Bit is born). Somehow, I use this to justify buying these blouses (look John! I can wear them during and after pregnancy! It's like a twofer!). But even with this extensive use of logic, John is still not convinced. 

I don't know if I've just jinxed myself by writing this post because I've been told by a couple veteran mamas that during the last month of their pregnancies, they eventually had to cave and buy more maternity clothes because they gained that much weight towards the end. I'm really hoping I can avoid this. I only have about 6 weeks left and so far the few maternity clothes I do have, coupled with my blousy tops, have gotten me through my pregnancy. Of course I want my son to grow bigger and stronger and healthier, but I hope he can do so within the confines of my current clothing!

Baby Bump: Week 33

 

33 Weeks

What I'm Wearing:

Dress from Banana Republic

Fedora by Roxy

Bracelet from Express

Necklace from American Eagle

It's been a looooong day. I had my 3-hour glucose tolerance test this morning (more on that in another post) and work has been so busy. I'm so excited and relieved for the 3-day weekend. John and I just had a nice evening of shopping at the Town Center and then dinner at our favorite restaurant Yummy Sushi (don't worry - only cooked sushi for this pregnant lady). I plan on spending the rest of my weekend shopping, getting a prenatal massage, and thinking about some more baby names. People don't believe me when I say we still don't have a name picked out yet. They think I'm being coy or secretive, but no, REALLY, I don't have a name! So any suggestions are welcome :)

Baby Bump: Week 32

32 Weeks

What I'm Wearing:

Blouse from Forever 21

AG Stevie Polka Dot Ankle pants from Anthropologie

Be Maternity BeBand from Target

Sandals from American Eagle

Necklace from Banana Republic

Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend so far. Again, John and I have had such a busy week, hence the lack of posts. I had another doctor's appointment on Thursday and surprisingly, I didn't gain any weight from my last appointment two weeks ago. However, I hear that's pretty normal at this point in the pregnancy - there will be some weeks where you'll gain a couple pounds and then another couple weeks where you probably won't gain much. I'm not too worried. The doctor said everything looks and sounds great. He measured my belly and it did grow two inches from my last appointment so the Bit is growing happily and steadily :)

I've started going through this phase where I desperately long to wear my non-maternity clothes. There's so many great trends going on right now and I miss partaking in them. Comfortably, at least. I squeezed myself into the jeans you see above because gosh darn it, I want to get in on the polka dot jean trend, too! Of course, I couldn't zip or button the pants up, so I wore my BeBand, which is not the most comfortable thing to wear, but oh well, it allowed me to wear my new pants. I bought these jeans in my pre-pregnancy size and they have enough stretch to accommodate my growing belly (and sadly, thighs) so I have good faith that I'll be able to wear these soon after the baby is born.

Now shoes are a whole 'nother story. At this point, I only have about 2-3 pairs that fit me comfortably enough. I don't know why, but I torture myself with shoe shopping because well, I just like to look at shoes. Of course I never fit into them, which makes me a little sad but at the same time I'm happy to just be shopping!