Fultonator's return challenge: Rosemary's Baby Weight

[fultonator]

It's been almost a year since I've been on nerdfitness. So where have I been? Incubating a baby. And then birthing a baby. And then keeping said baby alive while going slowly insane. (FYI - the term "Baby Blues" really doesn't do it justice).

 

 

Now I've come out of the fog and am ready to shed some of this baby weight and start feeling a bit more like myself again.

 

 

I want to get back into dance and start repairing my body. I've been swing dancing for a number of years and continued to do so until a couple weeks before I gave birth, which kept me in decent shape. However, recovering from birth is much harder than I expected. I will spare everyone the TMI details, but let's just say the postpartum period has been difficult on my body (and mind).

 

Now that I've gotten into a bit of a groove with this whole motherhood thing, I want to focus on my wellbeing again. I am the heaviest I've ever been and not feeling like myself. I've always enjoyed these challenges so I'm hopping aboard.

 

Stats

Starting stats:

Weight: 230 lbs (I don't currently own a scale, so I'll get back to you on that. The last time I was weighed, I was 230 lbs, but that was before I pushed out at least 8 pounds of baby, fluid, and other... "stuff").

Chest: 44"

Waist: 40.5"

Hips: 47.5 1/4"

 

Main Goal

 

To focus on my wellbeing, physically and mentally, and return to hobbies that made me feel good.

 

Quests

 

1) Dance! 

I used to do 3+ hours of swing dance per week, whether taking class, teaching class, or going to social dances. Now with a baby, that's not possible, but I'd like to commit to 1 hour per week, either in class or just practicing solo moves at home.

Goal: 1 hour/week

Grading: 15 points per hour

+2 STA

+1 DEX

 

2) Get out of the house!

I'm house-bound a lot with the baby, so a priority for my mental health will be to leave the house with baby 3 times per week - this could be a quick walk with the stroller, or a visit to the movies (our local cinema has a "Stars and Strollers" program once a week). I'm already registered for baby massage on Mondays, so we're on our way to this goal!

Goal: 3 outings/week

Grading: 5 points per outing

+1 CHA

 

3) Log my food

Food is where I falter. I will be logging my meals in My Fitness Pal every weekday.

Goal: Log food every week day

Grading: 3 points per log

+1 WIS

 

Grading Scheme 

 

A = 160+ points

B = 140+ points                                             

C = 125+ points                                            

D = 100+ points                                           

F = less than 90 points                                  

 

---

 

"I want her to be a flapper, because flappers are brave and gay and beautiful." - Zelda Fitzgerald

[fultonator]

Since I'm posting this 3 days into the challenge, here is my update for the first two days:

 

April 4 :

 

Outing Quest: Completed! Attended baby massage class + 5 points

Dance Quest: Completed!  hubby and I taught a Charleston class. Such fun! + 15 points

 

April 5:

 

Did not complete any quest items.

 

[fultonator]

April 6:

Outing Quest: Did not get out with the baby

Dance Quest: Helped teach another Charleston class. Exhausted! But feeling good. +15 points

Food Quest: Did not log meals

 

Total points so far: 35 

[Zahira]

Congrats on spawning a small human. They're hard work. On maternity leave with my youngest, I was visiting Walmart, probably more than once a week, just to get out of the house. (It was winter and cold and gross, so walks outside were a no go, mostly.) You're doing great!

[fultonator]

 

Congrats on spawning a small human. They're hard work. On maternity leave with my youngest, I was visiting Walmart, probably more than once a week, just to get out of the house. (It was winter and cold and gross, so walks outside were a no go, mostly.) You're doing great!

I also have a winter baby... being house-bound is rough on the mental health. Thankfully with spring around the corner we're getting out a bit more.

[fultonator]

 

 

April 8:

Had an absolutely awful day with the baby. Ugh! Accomplished nothing (besides taking care of a baby, of course)

 

April 9:

Was out of town for the day and didn't log anything. Back on track today though. 

On the plus side, got out with the baby to local indoor track and did about 40 minutes of walking (+5 points Outing Quest)

 

Total points so far: 40

[Zahira]

Keeping the baby alive counts as something! It's awesome that you have an indoor track! Keep it up!

[fultonator]

April 10:

Outing Quest: went to my mom's for supper with baby of course + 5 points

Food Quest: Success + 3 points

 

April 11:

Outing Quest: Baby massage class! + 5 points

Dance Quest: Helped teach another Charleston class. Exhausted! But feeling good. +15 points

Food Quest: Yep! + 3 points

 

Total points so far: 71

[fultonator]

 

April 12:

Outing Quest: Walked with stroller for about 40 minutes + 5 points

Food Quest: Logged! + 3 points

 

Total points so far: 64

[fultonator]

April 13:

Outing Quest: Walked with stroller for 2.5 hours! More than I intended but baby was asleep so I wasn't about to wake her from her stroller nap + 5 points

Food Quest: Logged, and happy happy with the calorie count  + 3 points

 

Total points so far: 74

[fultonator]

April 14:

Outing Quest: 2 hour walk with the stroller with some other moms + 5 points

Food Quest: Food logged, even though we went out for supper. + 3 points

 

Total points so far: 82

[fultonator]

April 15:

Outing Quest: Went for a nice walk with the baby + 5 points

 

April 16:

Outing Quest: Took the baby to the farmer's market for the first time and then took a nice long walk + 5 points

 

April 17:

Outing Quest: Took 2 walks with the babe. First really beautiful day we've had. I actually got a mild sunburn  + 5 points

 

April 18:

Outing Quest: Baby massage class! Followed by a quick walk around the block + 5 points

 

Total points so far: 102

[fultonator]

April 19:

Outing Quest: Walk with the baby + 5 points

 

April 20:

Outing Quest: Walk with the baby + 5 points

 

April 21:

Outing Quest: Walk with the baby + 5 points

 

April 22:

Outing Quest: Walk with the baby + 5 points

 

April 23:

Outing Quest: Went out to a kid fair + 5 points

 

April 24:

Outing Quest: Walk with the baby plus dinner at the inlaws + 5 points

 

April 25:

Outing Quest: Baby massage class (our last one :()+ 5 points

 

Total points so far: 137

[fultonator]

April 26 to April 30:

Got out every day for a walk with the baby+ 25 points

Only did the food log for 2 of those days + 6 points

 

Total points: 168

 

Last thoughts and plans for next challenge:

 

I'm so happy I managed to get out with the baby every single day. It does so much for my mental health and was really the only way I got any exercise.

 

With a baby, I found it really difficult to find time to log my food. But I know food is my biggest challenge is eating so I have to come up with another system to monitor my eating without the time-trap of logging everything through MFP.

 

I never managed to get in any dancing once dance classes ended but I really want to keep up my skill level and not slip. I just have to work out a way to practice my dance at home. It will be a challenge with a baby but it's important to me.