Yesterday I looked in the mirror and noticed how much my body has changed since I had Ella. Sadly it hasn’t changed for the better. I look worse than I did hours after I gave birth.
My excuse? I eat too much and don’t exercise AT ALL. (Mmmm, taco dip! Pizza! Ice Cream! Butter! I’ll have a stick and a half, thanks!)
I’ve always been pear-shaped, heavier in my ass region and fairly slender through my waist. Now I’m even MORE pear-shaped, but my waist isn’t what you’d describe as “slender.” I’m lumpy and squishy and uncomfortable in my own skin.
I have pockets of flub in places I’ve never had it before. Backfat, backfat. Backfat, backfat. I’ve got backfat, loaded up with things and nick nac’s, too. Anything that you might need, I’ve got inside for you.
You can also meet Sarcastic Mom’s “friends” Kevin and Leroy here.
So why am I showing off my less than flattering goods? Making you hurl your last meal? (Sorry about that, by the way.) I’m tired of looking like this, feeling like this, eating like this. The other day I read this post by Mrs. Flinger about her “one day diets” and it made so much sense. I cannot completely cut out all the foods I love and change the way I eat forever, every single day, for the rest of my life. In the past I’ve cut out FAT or CARBS, but I know deep down that I can’t do that again, at least not everyday for all of eternity. Also, I hate when you’re dieting and “cheat” and then feel so guilty and certain that the extra helping of Chubby Hubby is why Guissepe and Pierre just won’t go away.
But I can go on a series of “one day diets.” I can eat healthy TODAY. I can eat less TODAY. I could do 10 sit-ups TODAY. Maybe tomorrow I can eat healthy, too. And maybe I could walk for 20 minutes AND do 10 sit-ups.
One day.
I started yesterday by just eating less. Instead of finishing everything on my plate and then whatever Carson didn’t eat and then a few more bites while I’m putting everything back in the fridge, I just ate a smaller portion. I drank more water than usual.
Today I’m on a diet again.
And hopefully tomorrow, too.
Oh my goodness! THANK YOU!!!
No, I didn’t lose my last meal. That would have happened when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror upon rising from bed this morning.
I’m so with you about feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. As a teen (and even early marriage adult) I was so skinny. After having my first daughter, I completely ballooned up. Right before having my second daughter, I finally shed all that weight – NOT by dieting, because I’m soooo with you on the feeling depressed about depriving myself for eternity- but by getting up and exercising every morning. It was hard, but once I got into my routine, I enjoyed it. I felt better, and slimmed down once again. THEN, I got pregnant again, and the vicious cycle began again. This time around, I don’t FEEL like exercising, and I certainly don’t deprive myself of all the yummies you mentioned (and more, so much more). I feel tired all the time, too! Sorry to ramble on so, but I just wanted to let you know that I think your idea of the one day goal is so cool, and I am willing to do that right along with you!
Maybe not today, being Fat Tuesday, though. I gotta get my last kicks in before tomorrow! ha ha! Tomorrow, though. Promise.
I am in the middle of a Ten Week Challenge, and being accountable on the ol’ blog helps a lot. Good luck–I will be watching your progress.
Sister Honey Bunch’s last blog post..The Mommy Wars
I don’t exercise at all. And this winter has been brutal in that I don’t even get outside to atleast walk to the bus stop. I can’t wait until spring when I can start moving again.
Yeah, one day at a time. I did 80 crunches yesterday. Maybe I’ll do them again today…or maybe not.
LifeAsIKnowIt’s last blog post..In Search of Peace (and Quiet)
One day is a great idea. Diets do not work. Everyone says that, everyone agrees with that, but no one actually believes it, or they think they are the exception.
I am not perfect by ANY means. I definitely have my fair share of bags and lumps. But I will give you my opinion if you care. If not? no problem…
I am not sure how active you are (I know how HARD it is to find the time) but being active is really such an easier way to keep weight off.
I remember reading about a study of dieting and exercising. There were 3 groups of people: People who just dieted, people who dieted and were active, and people who were just active (no diet but fairly healthy eaters, not crazy overeaters).
Anyway, the second group (those who dieted AND were active) lost the most weight, initially. HOWEVER, long term, the only group that kept the most weight off were the active only group. I think the diet only group pretty much gained ALL their weight off.
That study really stuck with me. I can’t imagine NOT indulging in ice cream or wings or fries on an occasional basis. I would go nuts. I do eat that stuff, but not all the time and not in HUGE quantities. What I do try to do is work out, run, bike, lift weights (which is one of the BEST ways to lost weight btw!).
I think being active also just makes you feel so much better – Better about yourself, better about your life, just an overall good feeling. I honestly work out for the endorphins more than the weight control. If you do it ONLY to lose weight, you will be bored, annoyed and never ever keep up with it.
Good luck!!!!!
Irene’s last blog post..A little lesson from a Kindergartener
Good luck today, tomorrow and the next day. Just take it one day at a time.
If your looking for home dvd’s to do…I can highly recommend Kathy Smith. She’s sold on Amazon, has 10 minute workouts that you can do quickly and still feel the burn. Email me if you want more specifics. Good luck!
Kara’s last blog post..sweet beautiful love
I like that idea!! Good for you. You’ve inspired me…today.
Hydes
Hydes Like Us’s last blog post..“Hai” there… “Ku”ld you help me?
Are you and Sarcastic Mom TRYING to make me feel guilty for not getting off MY arse and getting myself back in shape? Sheesh…I think it’s beginning to work. But what about Taco Bell? Maybe a Chicken Taco instead of a Double Decker Triple Cheese Quadruple Meat Taco. I MIGHT be able to do that. Maybe.
AMomTwoBoys’s last blog post..If I Told You How Old She Is, She’d Kill Me
Good luck! And that carpet? I can’t say that I love it.
Burgh Baby’s Mom’s last blog post..Guess Who Got New Wheels
I don’t exercise (hate it) and suck at dieting. My post-baby body is just pathetic. Who knew my small boobs could get even smaller? Who knew that small boobs had the ability to droop SO much. Sigh. Pass the taco dip, please.
Shelly’s last blog post..Yes We Can
Um, yea that’s why I don’t have a full length mirror in my house….
Neat idea!
Swistle’s last blog post..First Weigh-In, and Diet Treat/Dessert Recipes
You are making me feel even more guilty about my chocolate overdose from yesterday. I really like the idea of the 1 day diet. It definitely makes it feel less overwhelming.
Someone Being Me’s last blog post..Required Eating
I’m with you. I also believe life is too short not to eat good food – I just have to eat less of it…
Teri’s last blog post..Progression.
Kudos on the clever rewrite of the the “Backpack song” from Dora. I don’t even have kids and I know that song!
One day at a time, sister, you and me both!
Barb’s last blog post..Miss Utah 2008
Just writing it down, for me, makes a HUGE difference . . . when I actually do it!
Good luck, to all of us trying to loose the back fat — which you hardly have, I don’t even know what you’re talkin’ about!
Carrie’s last blog post..All Signs Say “Mom Needs a Vacation!”
At least you’ve got a sense of humor about it! I never thought to add side notes to my before pictures LMAO! Good luck!
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First of all, I think you look great. But I understand your need to feel better about your body. I am doing a similar thing. I realized that I need to cut back, but by dieting all out I quit too easily. I’m trying to workout and eat less, more water (like you), and have healthier options for lunch and breakfast especially. Best of luck. I’m here too.
Mommy Daisy’s last blog post..Firm
This could not have come at a better time! I am just like you…a little more squishy after my last kid and really love my food.
I work at Sonic and have gained a good 8-10 lbs since working there. I was just saying how I don’t like how I look but do I really want to give up my ice cream??
I LOVE the one day diet idea. I can totally do something for one day. Today when I go to work I am not snacking on popcorn chicken or onion rings and will only have a little ice cream. Baby steps…right?!
Carrie’s last blog post..It’s the simple things
I recently blogged about this too. And, I have changed my eating habits somewhat. I have tried to stop getting seconds. When I feel full when I am eating, I try to remember to stop. I am not 6 years old, I do NOT have to make a happy plate! Good luck to you!!!
Rachel’s last blog post..Giants win! Giants win!
Thank you for posting this! I started going to the gym and bought a DVD, but I have to take it a day at a time or I get overwhelmed as well.
One of the things Im doing that helps is looking to see what a serving of something is and measuring out 1 serving and putting the rest back. You’d be surprised how filling one serving is when it’s all that’s in front of you. Also, teach Carson to scrape his plate and put it in the sink when he’s done that way you’re not tempted to finish what’s on his plate.
Stephanie’s last blog post..Haiku Friday
Dude! We are built exactly the same way (although I have to say you are looking smaller than me right now). I’ve always had a small waist, but bigger in the thigh and arse regions. After baby #1 my body bounced back nicely. I was happy with it for the first time in a long time. Not so after baby #2. I still wonder where all this extra flab came from (I mean, it totally can’t be the chips or cookies I had for breakfast, right?)
And I loved that post Mrs. Flinger wrote. You’re right – diets don’t work. I think they just make people feel defeated which makes them eat even more. What I have to do (and I’ll do it one day soon, I swear) is get my ass off the couch and start running again and get back to my healthy eating ways. Sadly, I can no longer use the excuse that breastfeeding alone is going to burn off my beloved Guisseppe and Pierre (although I don’t just have twins in my mid-region, I have a family of ten living in a two bedroom house).
andi’s last blog post..I must have made it to the big time, Interwebs!
Good Job! I don’t know if anything in life can really be managed MORE than one day at a time…especially if it involves restricting amounts of Chubby Hubby Icecream (which I just found out my local pizza place stocks AND delivers!)
And naming them? I never thought of that…
Thanks!
Good luck with the one day diet plan….really I think it is the way to go.
Allow for the bad days.
There are not enough names for me to start naming my flabby parts, so I won’t scare anyone with that idea.
Penelope Anne’s last blog post..The Taxman Will Not Cometh
Gurrrrlll…don’t make me break out the pictures of my ass and thighs. I have a borderline shelf on my ass.
Anyway…don’t get so down on yourself!!! Don’t give up what you love, just don’t gorge yourself on it.
Besides, I am leaning more towards Total Body Acceptance and Health at Every Size. I am not longer going to stress about the size of my ass…it obviously isn’t that bad as men still seem to stare at it. 
Sandy’s last blog post..Baby Update
That Mrs. Flinger. She’s a genius, isn’t she?
You rock on with your bad self – I’m doing something very similar right now.
Cute new look to your site, btw!
Sarcastic Mom’s last blog post..First, I totally bore you with the medical stuff… then, Pee Pee!
Good Luck!
Devan’s last blog post..EDD
This is such a great (and brave) post! Good luck!! It’s SO hard. You have inspired me to at least take the stairs!
amy’s last blog post..Just Don’t Barf On The Suede
I feel the same way…between being preggo 2 years in a row and then having a hysterectomy 4 months later…my body is SERIOUSLY not like it used to be. I used to be sickeningly thing (like I had a teacher ask me if I was anorexic…but I digress). Now I’ve got rolls and double-boobs…and…yeah.
Sooo, start of the year I changed like you said. I just started eating BETTER every day. Exercising when I could (LOVE my exercise ball!!)…and I’ve alreayd dropped pounds. Taking it one day at a time and not killing yourself when you do cheat…works amazingly.
Oh…and the creation of Diet Cherry Chocolate Dr. Pepper and chocolate rice cakes have been a Godsend to my diet
Sadie’s last blog post..“Snuggle Me” Contest re-post!!
Would you think something was wrong with me if I still thought you were hot? I’m in the same place as you momma. Completely.
Miss’s last blog post..And it begins
I can’t fit all of my rearage in a mirror to photog it… and what IS this taco dip of which you speak?
aradia’s last blog post..Happy Cappy?!
I used to be super skinny, too. But I had a bout with anti-depressants last year and oh well. Sigh…It’s starting to come off finally, but it is so much harder when you are older. I hate this feelilng, too.
I’ll do the one day diet with you, too. It’s probably the only way.
Good luck!
melissa’s last blog post..An Open Letter to Austin Winter
That’s how I quit smoking… not even one day at a time… just NOW. I just kept NOT smoking NOW. I really think small victories (cringe at the cliche) is the way to go.
anne’s last blog post..Good weekend, cheap thrills
Well my bdonk-a-donk butt loves your pear self! That’s a great idea (as I down yet another cupcake).
MamaGeek’s last blog post..Purge-atory
If you need to go on a diet, then I need to give up food all together. lol.
I’m trying to loose weight to. It sucks being uncomfortable in your own skin. Of course, being uncomfortable in your own pants doesn’t help either.
Sarcasta-Mom’s last blog post..In The Air
Day at a time is always a good way to approach it. And you know what I’m going to suggest, since I now have reading glasses and chin hairs, right? Does that new state of yours have Jazzercise with childcare? Because we are doing fun songs now, it gets you out of the house and generally rocks the casbah.
(Although I’ve been doing it since I was 32 and my GOD you should see my tight butt!)
Anne Glamore’s last blog post..Porter’s Week In Review
You are HILARIOUS! You really are SUCH a talented writer! I have a lot of your reading to catch up on… I cannot seem to master google-reader (I typed in each and EVERY blog address but the next day they were all gone?!?!?)
Happy Homemaker’s last blog post..Reader Request: 1950′s Pink and Black Tile Problem
I totally love your backfat song! Thank you for that.
I’m sorry that your backfat has made me happy, but it was the song, not the actual culprit of backfat.
I think I love typing the word backfat.
I also think you are beautiful. But I do know how it feels to be uncomfortable in your own skin.
Good luck.
~JJ!’s last blog post..Stop Mooching!
we have the same legs.
I thought the one day diet was brill too!
Dawn’s last blog post..Constant Comment
you go, girl. this is why i went back to the gym in the first week of january, when lotus’ kevin and leroy were introduced to my fred and ethel… and i didnt WANT to invite them to my backside.
i’m trying to eat better. i like the idea of one-day diets. that seems more handle-able than total deprivation.
janet’s last blog post..It’s 3:30 in the morning … do you know where your children are?
Oh gosh, well first things first.
I’m about twice your size in the hip region and I am not a pear shape. I am an hourglass which means that my b00bs and hips are even MORE accentuated because I’ve still got an abnormally small waist (though the back fat is threatening to take over shop there). I like the idea of naming the fat rolls and lumps. I’ll call mine Dumb and Dumber because that’s how they got there; by me being dumb and dumber and not putting the freaking ice cream away after one serving. Or the butter. Or the cookies, or the…you get the picture.
Anyhoo, your post is spot-on, this is something I have struggled with after having a child more so than before. Not because it’s harder to lose weight physically (it’s not), it’s like I pushed my motivation out with my son. I usually do four day diets and then I totally screw up for three days and end up gaining weight. And it’s not that I really do diets, I just do that whole healthy eating thing and it makes me feel really good. So why do I go ahead and punish myself by falling off the wagon?
UGH!
Sorry for the novel. I like your attitude and I wish you the best of luck!
I so get this. I felt that way just before I found out I was pregnant. I was down to about three pounds more than I was six weeks after having The Poo.
I’ve promised myself that I will exercise this time around, walking the treadmill, and that once the baby is born I will take advantage of that opportunity to change my lifestyle – just as you said here. Eat less, exercise more, but no dieting. Just healthy living with room for treats.
If it helps, I think you are so pretty and fresh-looking. Very girl next door. Lovely you!
Mrs. Chicken’s last blog post..It Feels Good To Breathe
I think the pictures are great! Made me feel good to know other people obsess about tiny little lumps and rolls, too.
What is it about the second kid, that the breastfeeding doesn’t just MELT the pounds away like with the first?
Sarah’s last blog post..Truth or Dare!
It’s tough getting back into prebaby shape…I really have to remind myself not to pop it in the mouth if the babies don’t eat it. It’s like a reflex to do that. I am so out of shape, and with the weather like it is, it’s so hard to get out…blah!
Nap Warden’s last blog post..Pony Kisses!
Purty blue carpet by the way…haha. Good luck with the one day. The post was great and I am rooting for ya.
HRH’s last blog post..Freely giving away priceless advice…
I NEED TO DO THIS.
First though, I NEED TO PUT DOWN THE FRIGGIN’ BAG OF DORITOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loralee’s last blog post..Sideblog: There’s a hole in my Flickr, dear Liza, dear Liza*…
I love you. You’re just awesome for doing this! And today, for the third day in a row, was NOT a one day diet for me. But tomorrow will be!
Hope to join you tomorrow. I’ll be lifting weights. That’s the goal. Hopefully I meet that goal before the kids get up in the AM.
Mrs. Flinger’s last blog post..Innocents
if it makes you feel better…i’m apple shaped. yeesh. i’d so rather be a pear!
ali’s last blog post..we both like josh duhamel AND mozzarella…CRAP
Hmmm. I might just go on a one-day diet myself tomorrow. Thank you. Really.
Stimey’s last blog post..It’s Finally Happened
I am also pear shaped & hating it. I have little motivation to do anything about it. That’s where Lent comes in to bail my big ass out. I give up things that will help me out.
And, VPL? I gave up on thongs a long time ago. Let people stare at my granny panties. I’ve been married 9 years. I don’t care anymore.
AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC’s last blog post..Break Out the Battering Rams!
This is the reason why I got pregnant. I was starting to look a bit round anyway. Why not go all the way?
Chicky Chicky Baby’s last blog post..Labor, part 2 – Don’t mind me, I’m just having a baby here