Back story... In 2012 my husband and I found out that our only chance of conception was in-vitro fertilization (IVF). At that point I was very unhealthy. I was overweight and sedentary. My diet was horrible. I made the decision that I would lose some weight before going forward with IVF. I didn't want my weight to cause additional complications in an otherwise already complicated situation.
And so I did just that. From August 2012-April 2013 I lost 45 pounds. Down to 160 from 205. I started slow, minimal weights and lots of cardio. Elliptical at first, then I started the couch to 5K program on the treadmill. Once I was able to run a mile I started running outside. I ran a 5K. Then another. Then I decided I wanted to train to run a half marathon. And I did. I ran my first half marathon mid-April 2013. Then I ran another two weeks later!
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| Left: 205ish (2012), Right: 160ish (2013) |
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| Left: 205ish (2012), Right: 160ish (2013) |
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| OKC Half Marathon, April 2013 |
I started the IVF process in May. In June we transferred two embryos in hopes of at least a singleton pregnancy. In July we found out I was carrying fraternal twins! This was AMAZING news! However, I was put on strict exercise restrictions except for walking... I really loved my new active lifestyle and then BAM they slammed the brakes on all that! I was restricted from exercise (except walking) for all but maybe 3 weeks of my pregnancy and even then I was only allowed to swim.
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| 7 Months Pregnant with Twins, December 2013 |
February 1st, 2014, Ethan & Ellison made their grand entrance into our world! I had to have a semi-emergency c-section at 35 weeks & 2 days gestation due to pre-eclampsia. The day before the twins were born they weighed me and I tipped the scale at 236 pounds. I was huge. Luckily, a good amount of that was baby and water retention. By the time the twins came home from the NICU I was at 194.
Fast forward to today. I just finished my first Whole30 and LOVED it. I lost 15 pounds and dropped a pant size! I am hovering around 174-175. Now, it is time to face the reality of fitness. I have really struggled with fitness over that last year. I want it. I want it bad. But I get discouraged. It seems so much harder this time around. I lost so much strength & stamina while I was pregnant. Not to mention I had a c-section so I was left with zero abs. Not that I had great abs before but I could at least run!
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| Left: February 2015 Right: March 2015 Whole30 Results |
So, I have committed myself to a 12 week fitness program. It is a combination of strength and running. It is the She Sweats 12 Week Run Builder program. I love running but I really need the strength training to help boost fat loss and shape my body. My goal for the next 12 weeks is to get to the 150's. But more importantly to prove to myself that I can do this, I can get back where I was and FEEL great. This is my journey.
