My 'Before/After Baby' Story (complete with pictures!)

I grew up as a 'skinny' kid. I had a fast metabolism, and could literally eat anything without it effecting my shape. This was a great thing throughout my school days as I never worried about how I looked, but set me up for some harsh realities as a young woman. I stayed pretty active after high school - teaching & taking dance and playing volleyball. But then I got a 'desk' job, and the downward spiral began. Since I had never needed healthy eating habits, I had none. And this ugly fact began to show as more and more of my days were spent staring at a computer screen. "It's just because I'm becoming a woman" I told myself, and while curves are healthy, most of the weight I put on was not.

I managed to loose enough by January 2005 to feel pretty good about myself in a wedding dress. But marriage brought with it laziness and eating the portions my husband did - which was NOT what my body needed. In the year after we were married, I was buying pants 2 sizes larger and still telling myself "it's not that bad". That's the trap. The 10 to 20 or even 40 pound trap. "Most women are my size or bigger, so I'm OK". Not true - America suffers tremendously from obesity. You can't compare yourself to other women - even to make yourself feel better. I went through multiple 'commitments' to go to the gym ( I went a whopping total of 4 times in 6 months) and eat healthier (my husband has a MAJOR sweet tooth, and I had very little will power - not a good combination). So, in early 2006 when I found out I was pregnant (sort of a surprise), while I was elated to be having a baby, I was more than slightly depressed that I was starting off about 30 pounds heavier than I should be. Oh well, you can't diet while pregnant, right? That was my excuse for exercising very little, and eating pretty much whatever I wanted. Back to another desk job during the nine months until my daughter was born didn't help my scenario any.




before baby & 2 weeks after baby (Sept 06)

Needless to say, I was more than a little depressed about my weight after she came. The first 9 months of motherhood bliss was dampened off & on by the fact I didn't like the way I looked. Nothing fit well. If we had somewhere nice to go - there were tears (from me, not my daughter) & more often than not I found an excuse not to go, or at least not stay very long. I remember trying not to be photographed from the neck down, if at all (which made finding pictures for this article difficult). Don't get me wrong, I LOVED being a mom. All of it - but I still struggled on most days accomplishing much of anything. I didn't like to be 'out' because I didn't want people to see me. I compared myself to other moms constantly, wondering why I couldn't get rid of my 'baby fat' the way my neighbor had. Looking back, I believe I was struggling with post-partum depression. It never occurred to me at the time, since I am a pretty positive person. But raging after-pregnancy hormones mixed with a poor body image equaled bad news for me. I couldn't pull my pre-pregnancy pants up over my thighs. And I let myself believe this was it - the rest of my life I would be yearning for something I could never achieve - my body back. The funny thing (now funny, then not) is that I wasn't doing anything to make positive changes in my life. It was like I gave up. "This is the way it's going to be - oh well". How silly! (again, silly now, not while I was going through it)


7 months after (March 07) & 9 months after (May 07)

When my daughter was around 9 months I went to the 3rd Annual Baby Boot Camp Mother's Day Class Celebration in Portland. I had a BLAST, met some moms who were going through the same thing I was, and realized I am not alone. I also realized I CAN make changes. About the same time my younger sister, who has always struggled with extra weight, had maintained a strength & exercise program with a personal trainer, and was now MUCH smaller than she had ever been in high school. In fact, she gave me a box of pants that 'she never wanted to be big enough to fit into again'. I couldn't get them over my thighs. UHG! If she could change herself, surely I could too. It had taken her almost 2 years to loose 20 pounds, but she looked amazing. She reminded me that nothing worthwhile is ever easy. This situation, combined with the horizon of hope I saw from experiencing Baby Boot Camp, kindled a flame of hope in me. Maybe I could change my body. Maybe I could be 'that mom'. Then my husband got on board and gave me a month of Baby Boot Camp for mother's day. Best mother's day present ever. I loved the positive (not only physical) changes I was seeing so much that after that month, I signed up for a year.


10 months after (June 07)

3 months later, by my daughter's first birthday in September, I was 2 sizes smaller. I had been attending class on average 3 days a week. I upped it to 5 days, and started attending level 2 classes after instructor Danielle reminded us all in class "your body won't change if you don't challenge it". So true. That mantra still keeps me going today, when I feel like stopping because "I've done enough for one day". I had also changed to a much healthier diet - it's amazing how consistent exercise makes you feel good enough to not crave the 'icky' foods. By Christmas I was another 2 sizes smaller, and fitting into all my pre-baby clothes. I started to not mind being in pictures so much. And I was SO much happier all around in life - I had a network of friends whom shared the same struggles I did as a mom. I was not alone. By the end of 2007 I decided I wanted to share this experience with as many moms as I possibly could, and purchased the Clackamas County Baby Boot Camp franchise.


11 months after (Aug 07) & one year after baby (Sept 07)

By January 2008, I was certified as a group fitness instructor. By February 2008 I was Baby Boot Camp Instructor certified. By March I was out of all my pre-baby pants and back into my 'honeymoon' pants. I had saved them on a small wish that they would one day magically fit again - I honestly never thought they would. And that box of pants my sister gave me? I can now pull all of them up over my thighs, and comfortably button most of them. :) By April 2008 I had Baby Boot Camp Clackamas County's Grand Opening, and was not afraid of any pictures that might be taken of me. I still have goals to reach - the ideal weight for my build is still 15 pounds away. And I'd still love to wear all the pants in the box my sister gave me (or put them on and have them be too big). But exercise has become a part of my life. Making healthy choices for myself & my family comes more naturally than ever before. And I am setting a positive example for my daughter. I love that she can 'lead' an exercise class. I'm hoping she won't struggle with weight gain the way I have - hopefully I can give her the tools she needs to maintain a healthy, happy size throughout her life.


17 months after (Feb 08) & 18 months after (March 08)

Gaining weight, in a weird way, was good for me - I needed to gain enough weight to get me serious about losing it. Now that I'm almost to my goal, I vow to never let it creep back up on me again. And I hope I can inspire other moms that they too can be 'that mom'. It does take dedication to yourself - remembering you are worth it. Find a program that works for you - and DO IT! Baby Boot Camp worked for me because it combined exercise with friends with my daughter. It's why I kept up the program and came on days I didn't really feel like it. It's the first exercise program I've ever stuck with, and will for years to come.


20 months after (May 08)


Update Spring 2009: Still losing weight and making strides toward my ideal goal. 20 pounds more to go. I am currently in a smaller size than I was on my honeymoon, and can't wait to be so very proud of myself for reaching my goal. The last 20 pounds seems hard, but with adding in more runs this summer and training for the Portland Marathon in the fall, I think I can do it. :)


dec 08, march 09









Update December 2009:
I did complete the Portland Marathon this past fall in 5 hours and 11 seconds. I am now within 10 pounds of my goal, and love looking at myself in pictures and on video (does that sound vain?) :) I look forward to helping many more mamas become a better version of themselves in 2010, and be the best they can be for their families.