Getting Fit while Breastfeeding: Zumba & Before's

Since having Bailey, I have felt less than impressed with my self-image. So in an effort to start getting back into shape and start feeling better about myself as a wife and mother, I've decided to start doing a few things to get myself back.

Since I'm an It Works! Distributor, I have access to a slew of products to help! BUT, there's a teensy-weensy wrench in that idea... I'm a breastfeeding mother. I've been EBFing my baby girl for almost 7 months. So that limits the type of things I can do in an effort to lose weight and get back into shape. I cannot limit calories since it's very important I get enough calories in order to keep my milk supply up. Breast milk is made up of about 40 calories per ounce and I'm producing 60+ ounces a day. Exercise can also greatly affect your milk supply, so I have to be careful to not overdo it. Bailey's only food source are my boobs as she refuses to take a bottle and I made this commitment to breastfeed her for as long as she wants. It's a very small sacrifice in the big picture of life. But I can still get fit, feel better about myself and boost my self-esteem in many ways that are breastfeeding friendly!

I've been using all of our IWG facial products (Facials, Cleanser, Toner, RepairAGE, PreventAGE and Lip & Eye Cream) to help me feel better by looking younger and having smooth, blemish free skin. This alone has worked some pretty amazing wonders for my confidence and self-esteem! I've also been using our Stretch Mark Cream to help reduce the stretch marks that I obtained during both of my pregnancies. Though I'm not one to typically worry about stretch marks, I had the cream in my inventory and it can help add to feeling better about my body! That has been working wonders for all my stretch marks and even the scars on my hands!

To help with my health, I have been taking the Greens everyday along with It's Vital. These help with replenishing my body with natural botanical's that my body needs, gives me energy and even helps maintain my milk supply since I've making my body healthy by balancing, detoxing and alkalizing my body as a whole!

Whenever Miss Bailey decides she is done breastfeeding... which I'm hoping isn't until she's at least one year old... I will get back into using my Wraps and my Defining Gel along with doing our 3 month program (see picture below) to tighten, tone and firm! But, until then, if you're not breastfeeding, (shameless spamming!) feel free to contact me for more information if you're intrigued by our products.

But, like always, that's not enough. I feel so weak and out of shape. I have no energy. No motivation. Slinging hay bales and bags of feed is no longer a small task for me. It's a back breaking ordeal. Carrying 5 gallon water buckets puts me out of breath. Things that I've done so easily all my life have been very difficult to accomplish. Something needed to change. 

So...

I decided to start Zumba once a week on Thursdays! 

My first Zumba class was supposed to be on February 20th! Exactly one year since I was 12w3d pregnant with Miss Bailey! Unfortunately, due to a Jason Aldean concert, the class was cancelled. So I had to wait another week. 

The week went by pretty quickly and FINALLY, February 27th rolled around and my first Zumba class! I got there not knowing what to expect... knowing I wouldn't know the moves and would have a hard time doing a lot of things given how weak I felt. 

My first class was a ton of fun! But it really opened my eyes to how weak I really was. Things I did in high school were things I could no longer do. I used to be a "butt-on-the-ground-low" volleyball player. I used to be able to jump. I used to be able to do lunges and put my knee on the ground. I used to be able to do a lot of things... but I could no longer do them. So I was discouraged but knew I could achieve "high school" status if I stuck with it.

Before I left for my first Zumba class, I took a 'before' picture to track my progress. I was weighed on October 9, 2013 at my 6wk Post-Partum checkup and was down to just 4 pounds above my pre-Bailey weight! I was excited about that but a tad disappointed as well since I had lost much more with Bentley in that amount of time. But, I needed to remind myself that I was EBFing a 6wk old and that I had gained 27 pounds with Bailey versus gaining 15 pounds with Bentley. 

Here is my 5wk picture with Bailey to give you an idea of my 'before'... Taken December 30, 2012

(190 pounds)

39wks pregnant. The day before Bailey was born taken on August 25, 2013

(217 pounds) ... (and I was in labor)

One month Post-Partum taken September 26, 2013

(194 pounds)

6 months Post-Partum taken February 26, 2014

Before Picture taken February 27, 2014

Gah... I really should wear the same outfit for these pictures! Oh well, what do ya do? Can't go back and change them now....

So there they are. My pictures.

On March 6, 2014 I attended my second Zumba class. This one was a lot easier! I felt more stretched out and more in control of my movements... but oh. my. gosh was I sore the next day! After class this week, the instructor talked about starting a Weight Loss Program... not really a challenge, but an opportunity to be weighed each week and track your progress. 

So, this week I participated in my third class. I was much more powerful this class! Feeling like I could keep up with each movement, squatting with power, really able to push myself! I still have TONS of work to do, but I can already feel the progress. After class I was weighed and was finally down to my pre-Bailey weight! I was super stoked about this! So stoked that I signed up for my first 5K for Sunday morning! eek!

So! On Sunday I will be participating in my very first 5K! My only goal is to complete it! I will be wearing Bailey in the Ergo and plan to mostly walk but try to jog some of it as well.

So, if you want to follow my journey in getting fit while breastfeeding, stay tuned! Hopefully my journey is inspirational for others!

Until next time, friends