Here's one Mom's story of a life time battling with weight and body image, turned on it's head with pregnancy. How she became healthy for herself, and her family, and how she wants to support and inspire others wanting to do the same...
Meet Cherese, mother of 2 girls, and pregnant with her first boy. Inspired by her children, she got healthy and is determined to stay that way.
Find Cherese here https://m.facebook.com/ABetterCherese/
My story begins long before I became a mother. I was an average teen with the problem most of us ladies have, bad body Image! I used to blame everything and everyone around me for my body image, where, in fact, it was deeper than skin.
It took becoming a mother to love my body. I never felt as sexy as I did with my big pregnant belly. It was the first time in my life that I had a firm belly. Then came the life changing event, birth! I felt empty after birth, loose skin was just a part of my problem.
No sleep and not knowing what to do with this little perfect body, whom refuses to sleep more than 3 hours for months, I went from 207 lbs at 9 months pregnant to 218lbs within that first 3 months after birth. I was/am convinced Breastfeeding made me gain that weight. For one month long i tried to do a home fitness dvd and I found out I have diastasis recti. That meant, no more sit-ups! So I quit... I gave up just that easily. I felt broken, like there was something wrong with me. I did as I did with every diet program I ever tried.
3 years had past and my husband and I decided we wanted get in shape to start trying for another baby. I started walking daily and just enjoying all the YouTube fitness videos. I wasn't taking it seriously though and, before I knew it, I was pregnant. Ooops, how did this happen, before I could shed my extra lbs?
I was excited, but scared at the same time. How can i control my weight now? My OBGYN gave me the ok to do YouTube prenatal workouts. I was very ill the first half of my pregnancy which made me lose 8 lbs or so, but after that i gained all that weight back. I ended with 2lbs more than pre pregnancy. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl 2 weeks early.
I knew from day one this time I will do things different. I was going to sleep, even if it meant me co-sleeping. Best choice I have ever made. It seemed like this child was so much different from her Big Sister. As soon as she was on the boob, I would instantly pass out. I am still convinced her newborn saliva had a tranquilizer in. She was drinking on me every 2 to 3 hours for at least her first six months.
As much as I loved this child, I was getting depressed. I went to my GP where he diagnosed me with PPD(postpartum Depression). I felt like I was being smothered by too much love from this little innocent baby. I had to do something to just get myself out of this feeling. I was on medication for this, but still I wasn't feeling normal. Until I saw an add from this person who called herself a coach. I had no idea what she was selling, but she said lose from 6 to 15lbs in 21 Days. Why not? losing weight will fix my problems, I can start with 15lbs.
I didn't have that kind of money to waste on a diet program! And Shakeology, what is that? I hate protein shakes, why should I try this? But I needed to feel better about myself. My husband and I had this long talk. He actually told me to get this program because the money I may have wasted, will motivate me not to quite! He was right. Both of us did this program together and took the Shake(Shakeology) too. To our surprise it was delicious! I loved trying the different recipes that came with it. I never liked Smoothies, but this was even better! I was looking forward to the next day just to try one more recipe. Those tiny containers that came with the program, gave me a shock. How can so much food come out of such a tiny container? Portion control was made easy with these colour coded containers. My husband only ate according the portion control system and he stayed right there with me in his own weight loss.
So now I have two babies (3years and 6 months). When will I have time to do my workouts? Waking up at 5 am is out of the question, I have a baby on the boob at that time. 7 am my 3 year old is running loose in the house, just don't have time. I decided to try 9pm, Baby is a sleep with music on(so i don't wake her) and my 3 year old is also in bed. I am not going to lie, I was badly out of shape! I couldn't finish the first 15 mins of my cardio workout! I posted it in my group and the support I got was amazing! They didn't laugh at me and shamed me, they lifted me up by telling me how great I am for taking that first step. They told me to be better than yesterday and my yesterday was nothing. I was so inspired by the energy and the support, i was thinking of asking about coaching.
I felt a little silly because how can someone who looks like me be a coach? I was scared and decided not to ask! When the program came near that last 3 days, my coach suggested me to become a discount coach. It changed my life!
After my first month as a coach trying to inspire the people around me, something happened. I found a respect and love for my own body! The endorphins released in my body made me happy, it wasn't long till I could stop my PPD meds. Posting everyday about my journey gave me the self confidence I was lacking at a size 10-12! It was never about being skinny. Weight loss is only a positive symptom of living fit and healthy. Confidence came with sharing my story daily. No my story does not end here 😞
A few months into the new year a pain came, an indescribable pain. Shingles! Yes at age 27 I got shingles, who does this happen to? Am I not allowed to get where I want to be? It doesn't end here. As I thought yeah, the shingles are gone I can now finally start my journey again! Nope, 1 week into my routine I started having pelvis pains with everything I did. I went to the Chiropractor and found out my babies left me with a weak pelvis, he calls it the Mommy Pelvis. I was given strengthening exercises to help me get back on track.
So a few months passed and I was set back, I wanted to quit so badly like I always do. But this time I had an audience. I had followers who depended on me for motivation. How can I just give up. So I didn't, I started working out at the same rate as i did back in my first round of 21 Day Fix. I did some Tony Horton's P90 and BOD(Beach Body On Demand). This time it was even more difficult, I now had a toddler running around the house with her sister. Sleeping became lighter. And I became pregnant 😃
Yes a new baby was just the motivation I needed to push myself harder, I need to succeed. I started to join a summer Stroller fitness program. Using your kids as equipment was way more fun for them. Having to run after your toddler and preschooler gave me that extra umph I needed to make this positive decision to continue my Journey. I wasn't this strong to play like this with my kids before BeachBody. I became a stronger person without realizing it.
I was 0.4lbs away from 20 lbs loss, then pregnancy weight kicked in. Beachbody helped me thin out by helping other people stay motivated. It helped me stay active up until 20 something weeks pregnant. I currently battle SPD, but this time I am not giving up. I am still here, still standing 😃 with almost 3 kids.