I Guess It isn't 'Baby Fat' Any Longer

* Selected for MCT Syndication. *

Originally published on April 22, 2009.

Last month, I tried on my bathing suit, and it was NOT a pretty sight. I looked tired. My legs looked stuffed with cottage cheese. My arms had wings -- holy mackerel, the wings! And oh, my heavens, my belly should've had "Baby not on Board -- Really" tattooed across the front. I was reminded of that evil villain in the movie with Princess Leia in her golden bikini -- and it's not Darth Vader.

Is this what pregnancy and motherhood has done to me? No, I had to admit this couldn't be 'baby fat'... especially since my baby will be turning 5 this July. This was all my doing, and it started long before I had my babies.

My tale starts in high school. I was one of those annoying girls who could eat anything and still stay stick thin. I would stuff my face as much as I could because my aunts would tell me I was too skinny, but I just couldn't gain an ounce over 105 lbs. Now, my doctor said that 105 was perfectly healthy for a small-boned 5'4" woman in her mid-/late-teens, but try telling that to my scary Filipina aunties who thought my bony frame would never land me a husband.

My speedy metabolism was certainly not a result of an active lifestyle. I was a math/science nerd who'd wait for a cold day in hell -- or at least, the threat of an 'F' in Phys.Ed. -- before I'd ever put down my calculator and petri dishes for, ugh, basketball.

Even University didn't change me. I didn't gain the famed Freshman 15. Oh no, not me -- I lost 5 pounds. Meals would be forgotten after hours in electronics labs. The only time I'd really eat was when I'd remember to grab a little something while working at my part-time job as a waitress.

You see, I never had to learn how to live a healthy lifestyle, to eat clean and whole foods, and to exercise consistently, and to be honest, I really didn't want to. Little did I know that this attitude was going to turn around and bite me in my little, soon-to-be-big bum.

The Era of Effortless Slimness ended right after graduation. A new swank desk job eliminated the need to run around a restaurant. Instead, because even rookie engineers get decent pay, I was eating at these restaurants with greater frequency. My weight started escalating to new and dizzying heights. Things didn't improve with my 2 pregnancies. I gave myself permission to eat, and eat, and eat, so I ballooned to approximately 165lbs both times -- although after birthing each baby, I breastfed down to the low 120s. Once I closed down the milk factory for good and weaned the kids, my weight started to climb again, and now I'm at 133lbs.

So, where do I go from here? Hopefully, back down to 115-120lbs where my doctor says I should be. With a family history of hypertension -- both parents are on blood pressure medication -- and borderline high cholesterol, I need to get my bodyfat down and under control. That means exercise and eating right consistently. The carbs/sugar, trans/saturated fats, and large portions have to stay gone. And I need to keep moving every single day.

In the past, I've choked on the "staying consistent" part of the program. Motivation has been so difficult for me to find, but I think it will be different this time. I now have two little people who watch and copy my every move, so I want to make my habits good, healthy ones. I've also told my blog readers -- and now you -- about this healthy/wellness journey, so I need to stay accountable. Finally, I have this burning desire to see Jabba the Hutt out of my bathing suit once and for all.

.: This is an original Canada Moms Blog post written by Nenette AM who also blogs about bacon-weaves on roasted ham, life-improvement, and her funny family at Life Candy. On second thought, maybe she should lay off the bacon-weaves...