What's your Excuse? Here are Mine

A while back I performed this "wellness" exercise with one of my clients. I try to be a positive person, but I am also my greatest critic. Negative thoughts are produced from triggers; social media, a conversation, stress, comparisons, change, etc.

Recognizing your excuses can actually help combat them. Regardless of my excuses and negative thinking, I have to find a way to counteract these thoughts when they become present. Otherwise, excuses will ruin you. They will ruin me. They ruin anyone who is in pursuit of living a strong, healthy and balanced life.

So, here are my excuses:

-SHE DOESN'T HAVE A BABY (therefore, she doesn't understand, she has the time and ability to be "better." than me.)
-I had a traumatic delivery/harder postpartum recovery than her
-My body will never be the same/I'm ruined
-I work
-I work late, random hours and am emotionally invested in my career
-I have a husband who works nights, has a dangerous job and an inconsistent schedule
-I'm missing out on parts of my son's life
-I don't have family that lives locally to help watch Cade
-I have limited time to workout
-I'm not strong/as strong as I was
-My freedom is gone
-Limited support system
-I can't leave the house...Cade has to nap
-I'm a slave to my baby's schedule
-I'm breastfeeding
-I had a 9 pound baby inside of me
-Stretch marks. Loose skin.
-I suck at cooking
-I'm tired. Chronically.Tired.
-I don't have time to prepare meals
-I need time to spend with my husband
-My abs are still separated and are trying to heal
-We can't afford to do ____
-I just don't have time to do it all


These are just some of my excuses and negative thoughts. Recognizing them, NOT justifying them, allows me to move past them in order to be healthy...mentally and physically. Some of these can easily be countered, others just have to be accepted and embraced. And some, well they just boil down to insecurity and comparison. I realize how awful and destructive some of these are, but after working with a ton of women, I also know that I am not alone with these thoughts and excuses.

What are your excuses? Recognize them, combat them and conquer them. Become stronger through action every day.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." - Reinbold Niebubr

Because it can't be a diet

Since having my baby and sharing my transformation into a "new normal," I've had quite a few people ask me what I've been eating. And here's the biggest piece of information that I want people to know...I am not dieting, I will not diet and I do not condone it. If I were to attempt dieting, my mental health would greatly suffer, and let's be honest, after having this baby, I have really come to value mental stability. I believe that obsessing over food is not good for anyone's mental/emotional health...it just usually takes a while for them to realize this.  I do not count macronutrients, calories or servings.  The only time this is appropriate is if you are training or cutting weight for some kind of competition and it should be extremely temporary. I do not cut out any major food group, although I do not consume gluten frequently due to a really inconvenient sensitivity to it. I do not weigh myself frequently because it has never been an accurate indicator of my health. And don't even get me started on the ridiculous BMI standards.

 If I had to list the food I eat on any average week or even day it would consist of the following: eggs, oatmeal, copious amounts of coffee with creamer, nut butters, coconut oil, olive oil, fruit, all kinds of grass fed meat (including red meat multiple times a week), chicken, fish, spinach and salad consisting of mixed vegetables. I am mindful of what I eat, but not obsessive about it. I LOVE chocolate, cookies and wine and will consume these items often because they do make me happy. I have learned through the years what foods make me feel healthy and fueled. I have had the advantage of working with many individuals on finding what works for their sustained success and have applied those lessons to my own experience. Through much trial and error, I've found a realistic way for me to eat well, get stronger, continue breastfeeding and very gradually, feel confident about body again.

I see so may people post pictures of their meals, supplements and dieting tips. They promote how they are going paleo, gluten free, dairy free, trying Shakeology, being vegetarian, vegan, using a certain pill or supplement, juicing or detoxing. These attempts at change are made with good intentions. For some people, choices such as eating paleo, vegetarian, all Organic, etc can be a sustainable way of life, but for these lifestyles choices to be sustainable and truly healthy, they require a bit of flexibility and a non-obsessive mindset, which is hard for anyone beginning their weight loss journey. Being super restrictive and controlling initially will set the average individual up for extreme failure in the long run.

 I cannot recommend supplements, a liquid based diet, calorie restriction or one that lacks healthy food choices or nutrients in general. These choices are a desperate attempt at starting a weight loss journey that will eventually come to an end because it is not conducive, realistic or appropriate to their lifestyle. Of course, some aspects of these diets are great to incorporate, such as supplementing with fish oil or trying a green smoothie. However, if you are dieting to fit into a wedding dress or with the intention to look good in a bikini this summer, your plan is not sustainable. It may work temporarily, and you may achieve your goal, but any diet with a timeline is dangerous in the big picture.  After working with a couple hundred individuals on finding an appropriate way to create permanent lifestyle change, the answer is always the same: find an exercise and eating routine that is realistic, flexible and sustainable. Have a coach to keep you accountable and educated. Give it time and make adjustments as time progresses. Turn change into habit.

I am not a Dietitian and will never claim to be! There are plenty of "health experts" that preach their message all over social media. My education and my experiences both professionally and personally have given me a great basis of knowledge, which is why I share what I do and try to provide realistic LIFESTYLE wellness options for readers and clients. For help establishing a change in your current lifestyle, please email me or comment below. For Dietitian recommendations, please email me and I will refer out! 

Bri Battles, MS, CSCS

7 Months of Transformation: Slow Progress Is Still Progress

So, I've created this "fit-mommy" following on my Instagram.  It started small but has grown to women from all over following me via pictures on my journey to being fit again, working and balancing motherhood with the demands of life. All in pictures! I used to make fun of people who would take selfies and hashtag everything and now look at me! Ha! However, it has become a pretty incredible way to connect with people and I don't mind sharing my journey because I also find a lot of inspiration through seeing the accomplishments of others. I look at pictures and think, "well if she was able to do it (as a single, working mom with 3 kids, etc) then what's my excuse?" or, "if she went from looking like that to having a freakin' six pack, there's no reason I can't either." Remember, I NEVER want to wear mom jeans!  But, I also like to blog in order to share the reality of my journey...it's so cliche, but success is really a journey, not a destination and that's my whole purpose behind sharing my adventures. Sometimes I feel really anxious about who is actually reading this blog, especially since Facebook is so creepy with how much you can easily and unintentionally stalk  people! I know this reaches a variety of people I know and don't know, people I talk to daily and people I haven't talked to in 10 years. I try to set aside how embarrassing a lot of this content can be and focus on the ability to share and support others who are potentially in a similar situation.

I think most people who read this blog know who I am, where I've come from., what I do and are aware of at least part of my journey. I put a lot of pressure on myself early on to get my strength and pre-baby body back. Which was a huge mistake. Because of my profession and interests, I felt external pressure to look a certain way postpartum.  While this journey has been great in terms of accountability and motivation, my expectations for how my body should bounce back after 9 months of pregnancy and a traumatic birth experience was skewed. There's so much healing that has to take place in the first few months of postpartum, and for me, it was and still is an emotional and physical healing process. I had assumed that I would give birth (the way I had planned, of course) and be back in the gym shortly after. I assumed that my stomach would shrink back to original form quickly without stretch marks and loose skin (riiight...50lbs and  a 9lb baby later...) and that I would have a flexible baby who would adapt to my lifestyle, not the other way around. Hey, I was at the top of my game in athleticism before getting pregnant and had a extremely fit pregnancy. Why wouldn't postpartum health and fitness be any different? Well, then I got introduced to reality, and reality is a bitch.

The first 4 months were extremely challenging, as many of you who have read this blog know. Ha. But aside from the challenges of becoming a mom and the difficulties we encountered, I was ashamed of my body and embarrassed to be seen. I felt as if I should look "normal" again, that I was supposed to look normal again.  Yet, I had this awkward belly that I tried to hide and jeans that I hadn't worn in a year. I got so used to hearing how fast I would bounce back since I had been so fit during pregnancy, that when it didn't happen quickly, I was embarrassed and discouraged to be seen at the gym, or anywhere for that matter. And when I did go to the gym, I was embarrassed and frustrated about how out of shape, weak and pathetic my workouts felt. I felt like saying, "I JUST HAD A BABY. STOP JUDGING." This was depressing and it didn't help when I compared myself to other postpartum women- that surely fueled my insecurity. And that's just it...this game of comparisons will kill a new mom's confidence. It extends the mommy wars beyond breastfeeding vs formula, stay at home moms vs working moms, etc. By nature we compare our successes and failures to those of our peers and that's something that I need to make a conscious effort to stop. I still find myself envious of mom's that don't work, that have family that live close to help with watching their baby, that "have the time" to get back into shape faster than me, who had babies that actually slept, or husbands that worked a "normal" schedule, etc. It was/is an ugly, self-destructive game. It's not a competition. It's not a competition. It's not a competition. I know it's hard for everyone in every situation. But, envy fuels insecurity and can destroy all the little victories that have been accomplished.

40 weeks pregnant vs 7 months postpartum

I guess what I want people to know is that I fully believe that slow progress is still progress. It's become my mantra. I've had to work hard to learn how to be a mom- it hasn't come beautifully or naturally. I love Cade more than anything in this entire world but with that, I've had to learn HOW to be a mom and how to maintain ways to love myself. I've also had to learn how to celebrate and appreciate the process of transforming my body, finding self-esteem and accepting a new norm. For me to be happy, confident and be a good mom, I need to train and have goals that are performance driven and not just aesthetically driven. I need to get stronger and feel confident and I attain that through my training.  I couldn't just "accept" my postpartum body because to me, that would be settling with an identity that I don't believe in, one that just isn't me.

After training through my entire pregnancy up until the day I went into labor, I had to spend 2 months on the couch recovering physically and mentally which was obviously not what I was expecting. But now, 7 months into this new adventure, I've found a way to love my body, appreciate what my body has endured, and change it at the same time. I find my peace through doing something that's good for me...even if it's a 10 minute workout in the garage before my baby wakes up from his nap because my damn dogs bark too much.  It's anything that helps me maintain who I am and what I believe in.

3 weeks postpartum vs 7 months postpartum

I do not have hours to spend at the gym. My workouts have to be timed around breastfeeding/pumping, naps, if Jared is around or not, what time I have to go into work that day, traveling, etc. On "good weeks" I try to plan out some meals, but often times they are random and whatever seems to be convenient. And after a really bad day, I sit down and eat chocolate on the couch. It's not perfect and it's not always pretty but it's my reality at this moment in life. So, in all it's imperfections, I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. I'm getting stronger, finding my rhythm and confidence in training and in motherhood and really learning how to celebrate the small victories. I'm proud of this journey and what has been accomplished thus far, which is why I share it. I hope that this can resonate with a variety of people who desire to be better and maintain a healthy mindset during the process.  As always, thank you all for your support- it fuels me to keep sharing and allows me to let go of a lot of my insecurities. xoxo.

Keep the Mom Jeans

You know, sometimes I just wanna walk around wearing a shirt that proclaims, "I love rap music, swearing, barbells, Tequila and bikinis." With Cade on my hip. Yes, I do feel like I have something to prove.

Why? Because there's this misconception that once you become a mom you're automatically lame. It's terrible! Take me to a bar...I still have game, dammit and I'll prove it (with enough Tequila, that is). I don't want to "look" like a mom. I want people to be surprised when they find out I have a baby...you know? Is that so much to ask?

 I think a lot of people assume that once you become a mom all you care about is your precious babbling baby, stroller walks, mommy talk and how often your baby shits. And I'm over here like, "keep your mom jeans and stretch mark cream!" Although, workout pants/leggings may be the new version of mom jeans and for that, I'm way guilty. Anyway...

Here's my selfish cry for awareness. Being a mom is awesomely amazing. And horrendously hard. And it makes you crazy and redefines a LOT of your life and priorities. BUT...it doesn't change everything. It doesn't mean that I don't want to go out with my friends, or that I'm gonna start using pink dumbbells instead of heavy weight, that I don't care about my career, or that I'm going to trade in rap music for baby lullabies. Hey people, I am capable of having a normal conversation, and my interests haven't changed....I've just added some mama talk versatility to my repertoire (who am I?!).

I love Cade. Duh- have you seen my Facebook and Instagram? I'm ridiculous now! I've totally become THAT person who only posts baby pictures. I will talk about him endlessly...I mean, check out every blog I've written in the last 6 months! He totally occupies every ounce of brain power I have. Thankfully he's adorable and kinda melts my heart. But anyway, I by all means I welcome and enjoy a break from the crazy-new-mom mode. That reason alone is why Jared and I escaped to the Dominican. It was good for our mental health!

So, if you are friends with a new mom and you're like, "dammit! She's sooo lame now!" I don't blame you for thinking that. I absolutely LOVED this article where the author talks about how she secretly hates it when her friends announce pregnancy because it means everything is about to change. So true. So very, very true. I've been a train-wreck and am beyond grateful for the friends who have seen me through this change and have been patient with me. I'm also grateful for a select few that have kept me in check and haven't allowed me to completely fall off the deep end into mommy land with the other crazies.

So, with that, I'd like to give a shout to my sister who has kicked me out of my house so I could get a pedicure in peace, for the guys at the gym who entertain Cade while I hit a heavy squat set, for Jared who watches Cade while I work, to the friends that know to actually come to my house because it makes it easier for me to hang out without having to worry about my psycho baby losing it in public because he missed a nap, to my mom who got me Lululemon instead of furry slippers, for the friends who have forced (ok, maybe I forced them) to go get a drink with me and for my best friend who has not allowed this new adventure to change our friendship and the substance of our conversations. Thanks for keeping me sane. For knowing what to do. And what not to do. For making the effort. Seriously people, it's the little things that really do make the biggest difference.

Hold onto your crazy mom friends. You'll need them one day cuz motherhood is a kick to the face and I'm pretty sure it makes everyone declare temporary insanity at one point or another. However, there's no one better to hold your hand through it all than a friend you have always loved, who has already been there and done that and wants to help you during this change. And if you don't want kids...let your crazy mom friend be your reminder to take your birth control. ;)

xoxoxo!

Reflection and Renewal

This year has forever changed me and not just because I had a baby! But, he's obviously the highlight! Everything that came along with growing him, delivering him and raising him gave me lessons and perspective that nothing else in life could have possibly taught me. I'm a stronger person because of what I learned and endured this year and it has forever changed my outlook on life!

What 2013 Gave Me:

-The confidence that a pregnant woman is still a capable and strong woman.
-The humbling lesson of planning for the best and experiencing the worst
-A Masters Degree at 7.5 months pregnant
-A successful water polo season while pregnant and a incredibly difficult pre-season with a newborn.
-The conclusion of my work in corporate wellness (for now)
-The realization that I can't do it all anymore. At least not now. Raising my baby is my most important job.
-That pregnancy is beautiful, awkward, inconvenient and a true miracle.
-The purest and deepest form of love is in the eyes of my baby
-The most incredible sounds of baby smiles, giggles and squeals.
-The experience of truly falling in love with my husband.
-Watching my husband become a father and seeing him step up to take care of me when I was at my lowest solidified the depth of our marriage.
-Selflessness and humility...it's no longer about what I want...it's about what my baby needs.
-That finding the time to be healthy...to workout and eat well is harder than ever before.
-Taking ownership in accepting the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.
-That no matter how strong and organized you are prior to becoming a parent, a baby will challenge every aspect of your being.
-PATIENCE.. Nothing teaches you patience like a screaming baby.
-The ability to allow myself vulnerability by asking for help
-The strength to say "no" for the betterment of my health, sanity and family's needs.

 -A heartbreaking understanding of which friendships could not withstand the changes of this year.

-An endlessly grateful heart for those friends that made the effort to embrace me and grow with me.
-My family members who would drive over an hour to be with me, hold me up, let me cry, folded my clothes, made me dinner and changed the damn diaper so I could try and relax.
-People I had not spoken with in years offering words of encouragement and a network of women who get it and were brave enough to reach out.
-The satisfaction of being able to breastfeed my baby. I never knew how important it was to me until it almost wasn't possible. Breastfeeding= perseverance and commitment...6 months strong!
-My 20 water polo players who have supported me through pregnancy and now in babysitting adventures...may Cade be their best form of birth control.
-The clients that helped shape me as a professional in the wellness world. My experiences with them taught me more than any text book or degree.
-The healing power of time.

-The ability to truly understand that it is possible to love your body, appreciate what it is capable of, and change it at the same time.
-That slow progress is still progress; from learning how to be a mom, to redefining my relationships, to making peace with my body and mindset.
-That other "mommies" will either drive you crazy, or seriously save you.
-How to rejoice and reflect on little victories.
-And lastly, 2013 gave me an abundance of love and more support than I ever could have imagined experiencing.

To all of you that have shared in my experiences, even if it's just through this blog, I want to thank you. The content of this blog has changed dramatically through the years and it really has reflected my growth as a young woman, a professional and now a mom.  I hope my honesty through everything I shared this past year as a crazy pregnant lady and an insecure new mom has made you laugh or resonated with you in some way.  Although we are all different, our lives are connected and similar experiences tie us together, whether in the past, present or in the future.

I'm in the process of slowly starting up my own business of training clients locally out of my garage and also doing online wellness consultations so I can continue working in the field that I'm passionate about.  I'm not sure of all the details, but hopefully this blog will help shape these goals and coincide with the efforts.

I wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year!
To view a short clip of our year in pictures, check this out! http://flipagram.com/f/  xoxoxo

Escaping to the Dominican made me a better person

Jared and I have an annual tradition of leaving the country (or at least taking a legit trip) once a year. We started this tradition at 22 years old and have held strong for 5 years. At 8 months pregnant I saw a sweet deal on Groupon for an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. After I forced/convinced Jared into booking the trip, I never second guessed that decision. It was a great deal! 

Fast forward a few months and we had a 5 month old. And unfortunately, life with a new baby had not been as fluffy and blissful as I had anticipated. The first 3 months I had endured physical and emotional trauma, insecurity, breastfeeding tribulations, injury and pressure to be a functioning and working woman. Basically,  I was a hot mess that was in charge of caring for a tiny human. Who's idea was that?! Suddenly, around 4 months I felt like the clouds had lifted. This baby didn't scare me quite as much and I became a little more confident. What I'm saying here is, I was in need of a vacation. I had made it through the hardest few months of my life, yet, I couldn't bring myself to feel good about actually leaving for this trip.  

I had some serious anxiety (surprise) leading up to leaving for the Dominican. Like, it made me sick to even think about having to say goodbye. I had bounced back and forth about bringing him with, but I knew that the safest idea would be to keep him safe in the U.S. with my mom. I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to him in a foreign country. 

I was grumpy the entire day leading up to when we left. I wasn't excited to leave. I felt like an ass hole for leaving my baby, especially when numerous people had innocently told me, "wow, good for you, I could never leave my baby." How do you respond to that? It just made me feel like a bad mom. Obviously I love my baby more than anything in this world, but I also wanted to honor my marriage with quality time, preserve my mental health and allow for us to carry on with our "pre-baby lifestyle" to the best of our ability. Jared and I rarely have days off together and our schedules are as opposite as could be, and that's why we make time for things like traveling. It helps our marriage grow and keeps our friendship, not just our relationship, strong. 

We dropped Cade off with my mom, and of course, I cried. I cried for the first 20 minutes of the car ride to the airport and then, suddenly, I felt a sense of relief. I knew he was ok, I knew we would have fun and I was excited to actually re-connect with Jared again. My mind wasn't just focused on a baby...I felt a sense of freedom! Is that bad?

We spent 6 days there...eating, drinking, sleeping, and staring at the waves. I had no desire to actually "travel" and explore like we usually do. The only plans we actually made was when we wanted to eat and what times I needed to go pump (which was 7x a day!!!). Seriously. Our time was lazy and absolutely glorious. 

I'm so grateful for technology...being able to Skype/Face Time with Cade made it so much easier to be gone. I looked forward to seeing his face and seeing how happy he was with grandma. My peace of mind was solidified with every conversation and email update from my mom. 

The point of this post isn't to justify my personal decision to leave my baby and take a vacation. It's to recognize that it can be extremely healthy to get away and re-group. The anxiety leading up to leaving was waaaay worse than actually being gone. I am not one to judge any woman's parenting style...being a mom is a unique experience and it isn't until you become one that you truly know what YOU are comfortable with. I know there are a lot of women who are not comfortable leaving their baby/wouldn't want to leave their baby. For us, this was a very healthy decision and I'm incredibly grateful that pregnant and spontaneous me booked this trip because I would have NEVER been brave or confident enough to book a vacation after having him.

I value the time Jared and I got to spend together. Our time together is something I never take for granted because it's precious and not always guaranteed. The next few months will be chaotic with our work schedules and we will be focused on watching our baby grow. I hope that this shows another side to life with a baby. Like everyone says, a baby changes everything. However, I believe that adapting while holding true to your foundation will make the entire family stronger and healthier overall. I felt so refreshed and beyond thrilled to see Cade upon our return. Quality time, alone time and sleep definitely made me a better, more refreshed and relaxed person and that's the kind of mama Cade needs 

 

 

Transformation Update: I get it now

I've worked with various women through the years and the number one issue that came between them and becoming healthier was time. These women devoted all of their time to taking care of their kids, working and running the household. My best comeback was always something to the effect of, "well, you have to make the time." Make the time to workout, to cook dinner, prepare weekly meals, etc. What an asshole I was. Not purposefully of course, but yeah...what an asshole.

I get it now.

 It's incredibly difficult to survive motherhood, especially in a constant state of sleep deprivation that somehow becomes a new norm. Ugh.  In many cases, it seems as though the mom is the lifeline of the family...the one who keeps it all together. To ask a women who carries that weight of responsibility to give herself what I like to call "well time"- be it going to the gym, cooking/preparing healthy meals, getting a massage, etc, will seem ridiculous to her! It's the same notion as "sleep when the baby sleeps!"- riiiiight. There's just too much to do and the notion of free time can almost seem comical.

 I was raised by a single mom and watched her sacrifice everything for my sister and I. Working out would have been a luxury for her! And honestly, it wasn't her priority because it couldn't be. I'm fortunate to have a husband who supports me in everything, however, he isn't really around when I'm around.  Our schedules are opposite in every possible way. Jared does his part to care for our family, but there are many days and nights that I spend alone with Cade. There are places to go and things to do and I do not always have the resources available to "do it all." And holy shit, what a humbling experience for someone who is used to doing it all and never saying no to anyone or any opportunity. I'm learning to say no. Why? Because this baby is my top priority and there is absolutely nothing that can come before him. I'm his person. 

I get it now.

 I get why my clients would look at me with desperation and a hint of hopelessness. God Bless those women. A mom will sacrifice everything for her child; her previous life, even her ideal life. And the crazy part is, she won't think twice about it.

Progress picture taken on the 25th of each month

Which brings me to my own update, my process of transformation, which I initially  blogged about a few months ago. This is a slow journey for me. I ignorantly assumed that getting my body back would be a fast process, and to some, I suppose it looks like I'm pretty much there. However, I know my truth. I see this body every day. I see the stretch marks that appeared at 39 weeks pregnant with my huge baby. I see the loose skin that bulges over my jeans...making the choice of which shirt to wear a major challenge! :)  I feel what this body is able to do and what it is not able to do yet. I compare it to what it was before pregnancy and try not to get frustrated. This body survived a traumatic birth, it is still the only source of nutrition for my baby,  and  this body is gradually finding its way back to homeostasis. I'm 5 months postpartum and I'm still not as strong as I was at 40 weeks pregnant. This seems so ridiculous to me! Accepting this temporary normal has been such a struggle. I'm not able to put in nearly as much time into my training as I used to, or would like to. I simply can't. There are days, more often than not, that this baby kicks my ass. He needs me. The gym doesn't need me. I try to force myself to make the time, with the understanding/acceptance that it may not happen and I need to be ok with that. The workouts are short. My strength is far below what it "should" be, but I have a whole new appreciation for quality workouts. There's no way I can spend hours in a gym. I am a working mom and his full time care taker who is trying my freakin' best to do it all and have it all, while being mindful of my health. Learning to adapt my training volume and manage my training expectations postpartum/post surgery has been a lesson no education or certification could have ever taught me.

 As far as my nutrition...it seems to come in waves, according to how psycho Cade is that week. When Jared isn't with me, it's hard to be motivated to make dinner, especially because I get home late from coaching. Night time is a rushed routine of getting Cade prepped, nursed, nursed again and in bed. My home is chaotic. Constantly. My diet is SO from perfect, but I really do try to maintain my nutritional fundamentals that make up my overall philosophy on living a healthy lifestyle. I keep is simple and honesty it's pretty boring, but I feel better when I eat quality, real food...not just physically better, but mentally and emotionally more stable. Hey, I need all the help I can get!

It's been an entire year of tracking how my body has physically adapted to pregnancy and now postpartum life. I've been humbled by this entire experience, as echoed in almost all my blogs! Ha! The physical transformation that is in progress is mentally exhausting, especially because I'm so immersed in this field. It's my career! I'm "expected" to bounce back, but I'm making my reality known;  it's a slow process, it's vulnerable and I hope to set realistic expectations for other active mamas.

Because now, I actually get it.

 I get the sacrifice it takes to find time to care about yourself when you become a mom. It's hard to find the time, especially when you're beyond exhausted, but when quality is the focus and proper perspective is maintained, it's the greatest gift you can give yourself and your family.  A woman who feels strong, who is able to take time to  improve her self-image and confidence through living healthfully, will be a better, more energized and loving woman.

Thank you for being apart of my journey. Thank you for the support.