Put a Sling On It!

Have you seen this wonderful absurdity?


(Courtesy of Marvelous Kiddo)

(*the little boy's reaction in front to all of the dancing and hand gestures really sealed the deal for me)

I've found best way to unwind after a long day at work is to turn up my iPod boombox and dance (full-out) with Olivia in my arms--and sometimes for a good 30-minute stretch. She loves it and I tell myself it's my mini workout.

Anyway...we haven't jammed to this one yet- we mostly do Rihanna and Black-Eyed Pea-but I am kicking off my weekend with this little number tonight!

It's been a crazy busy work week. Be back soon with updates.

Baby Boot Camp Continued...

So today I met with a personal trainer. O.M.G. This dude embodies boot camp at a whole new level.

Today during our preliminary assessment I got just a small taste of what my workout will include.

Before I get to the what that little taste felt like, let me tell you what the assessment revealed.

1. My diet sucks.
2. And according to my age and frame I have TWENTY more pounds to lose, NOT ten as I previously reported in order to get to my body fat down from 34 percent to 21 percent--the best score.

CRAP.

As far as the diet goes, I know I have room for improvement. For example, I don't care much for breakfast on most weekdays and YES, I know its the most important meal of the day.

But just to rub it in, the trainer wrote down everything I ate yesterday. HA! Here goes:

Breakfast: 1 banana, handful of strawberries, 1 bottled water. (basically on the way to the gym).
Lunch: 1 dozen raw oysters, mixed green salad w/ lemon caper vinagrette.
Dinner: Umm...3 oreos and a fun size Snickers (which I keep stashed in the nightstand)

I told you it was bad! Lunch is my favorite meal of the day--the rest suffer miserably and I'm not a snacker.

So, yes the diet needs to improve. He gave me a daily caloric goal (which keeps my breastfeeding in mind) that includes 3 meals and 3 snacks. We'll see how that goes. I'll be keeping track here.

As for the "taste" of the workout? Let's just say that I found myself doing the same breathing exercises I used during labor pains INCLUDING the final pushes. I also called out to my Lord and Savior a few times too. I think He helped.

The goal is to lose about 2 lbs a week over the next 10 weeks while toning up my core--everything between my chest and my knees. The assessment also revealed that my hips spread almost 3 inches during the pregnancy, and some of that has to be saddlebags.

I will be brave and post before pics here only because I anticipate some kick ass after pics! YEAH!

"Before"

"After" To Be Continued...

Wish me luck!

Baby Boot Camp

No it's not Charm City Baby that's been kicking my butt. She's a great baby. In fact, it's my new trainer Charm City Daddy.

Most folks don't talk too much about the post baby weight loss in much detail. I will.

So, I gained 30 L.B.'s to bring Charm City Baby "up in this world"and this is by far the biggest transformation I have ever seen of my own body.

The good news is I lost 20lbs in 2 weeks from nursing and doing nothing. Btw the stomach cramping hurts like hell--I mean, I polished off a brand new bottle of Motrin-- and I hear its worse with the subsequent births. Yikes. The not-so-great (but not all bad) news is that I have about 10 lbs to go to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

At week 2, I began to realize that the stroller walk around the neighbor wasn't going to get it. (Plus, I spent more time worrying about the cracks in the sidewalk disturbing the baby--nonsense--jiggles her right to sleep. ) I started to get really stir crazy from sitting around the house all day and getting jealous of Charm City Daddy who started to resume some of his normal activities, workouts, meetings, office, etc. I was physically feeling better and like I could take on some more activity, so Charm City Daddy and I started a midday workout routine 3-days week.

So, Tuesday through Thursday around the middle of the day Charm City Daddy and I hit the gym downtown. He plans a different workout for me everyday that starts with cardio and ends with abs, stretching, and some weights. He is tough! On Thursdays we go swimming which requires a direct drop off at the hair salon for me afterward (hello, I'm still a black woman). Speaking of us black women, there aren't enough of us at the gym. I know the hair thing is an issue and I am guilty of using this excuse myself for not being a regular, but come on ladies. I digress.

After the workout Charm City Daddy and I get to spend more quality time together and eat lunch together and talk about how much we love and miss our child and then without fail, everyday we rush back home where we bust down the door to dash to her. Next week will be our 3rd week of this routine.

I know some of you moms out there are thinking how were you able to leave your baby so soon? Believe me I was an emotional wreck for the first few days. Yes, I bursted into tears that first week when I thought I was brave enough to leave the baby with my parents while CCD and I picked up some carryout. HA! That's when that new Maxwell song "Pretty Wings" hit the radio waves and well--the ride home was a blur of sobbing. Thanks hormones. Then there was the day that I was dreading the inevitable--that I needed to go to the grocery store and I would eventually have to leave the baby-aahhhh! My mom laughed at me on that one.

It's really hard to leave your baby (particularly if you are nursing--it can hurt), even if they are in good hands, but you have to do it. I now look forward to the gym and it is wonderful quality time with CCD--although we just impersonate or talk about the baby the whole time.

In the coming weeks, Charm City Baby will be "going public." In other words, she'll pass her 4-week threshold that her pediatrician recommended before bringing her to most public places. I will still be careful as it is flu season afterall, but the outings should be interesting--including church. We've already taken her to 3 restaurants--and so far she's slept through them all.

We'll see how she takes on the rest of the world--or better, how her nervous parents handle it.

Appointment Update: 23 weeks

This time I went solo as Charm City Daddy had a downtown meeting, so no amusing story to share. Next time I get tested for gestational diabetes and another sonogram--so much more interesting.

Charm City Baby is doing well and moving a LOT---so much so that she was moving constantly while the nurse was trying to find her heartbeat. We did find it faintly, but CCB definitely had her own agenda. I like that. For now.

I'm starting to get a little weight conscientious. I worry most about my legs for some reason. At my appointment my nurse calculated that I have gained a total of 13 lbs. Not bad. BUT with every pound I realize that I am at my heaviest. Nice. I got off to a slow start but I'm now averaging a pound a week. If I keep this up--17 pounds to go. Breathe. It's all for a good cause.

The weight gain has made me start to think more about my post-pregnancy fitness. In fact, I recently won private tennis lessons at a charity event silent auction. Yay! I can't WAIT to use them. That'll take care of those legs! I'll be the Venus to my sister's already Serena Williams physique! Now we just need to get her playing tennis too!