Small Changes

I have been getting some flack in real life over the fact that, only four weeks postpartum, I am watching what I eat and drink and am exercising.

I can understand some peoples worries and that they don't want me to push myself too hard in the beginning. And I can promise them, I am not. There are a lot of factors that went into my decision to jump right back into my old routine:

1. Bad habits die hard: While I can proudly say I only gained 19 pounds this pregnancy, I was heavier when I found out I was pregnant. So I had some extra weight on my frame to begin with. And for me, pregnancy is like a switch. Off goes the healthy eating switch and on goes the "eat whatever the hell I want switch". And I didn't want to continue that frame of mind for the six weeks prior to having the baby.

2. My pregnancy was rough. Especially the last five weeks. I was practically bed ridden (who am I kidding, I WAS bed ridden). I couldn't even look after my kids properly. I felt out of sorts and nothing like myself. I felt defeated and guilty because I didn't want the baby to come so I could meet him, I wanted him to come because I was miserable and wanted it all to be over with. Which leads me to.........

3. I felt fantastic after he came. Truly. Within 3 days I was at a baby shower and I was able to walk 5k only after two weeks. I was already starting to feel like me again. And that is exactly what I needed.

4. It goes with out saying, but my kids are probably the biggest reason I decided to jump back into the deep end so soon. I want to be a good role model and I want to live to see them get married and have kids of their own. I know, it sounds so cliche. But it's true. I have been reminded to frequently in the past few months and years how short life is, and how taking it for granted could be the biggest mistake you will ever make.

So while in the grand scheme of things, these seem like big changes to the people around me, to me they are small. And totally worth it!

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Speaking of changes, there is one to my fall schedule. I am no longer going to be able to do the November Whitby race. My hubby is going to be teaching the 1/2 marathon clinic starting November 20th (yay). But their first "long" run is on the same Sunday. He is also running the Road2Hope 1/2 marathon on November 1st (my 30th birthday!) so Angus Glen is out as well. It's not so bad though. I still have the rest of the races to look forward too.