Breastfeeding, Nursery and Beachbody

I'm finally finished weaning Audrey!!!!!! She's been off the stuff for over a week now! I am surprised she kept it up for so long. I knew that if I could get the hang of it then I wanted to nurse her until she was a year old. Well, her 1st Birthday came and went and she was still more interested in breastmilk than in real food. Now she's 18 months old and has a veracious appetite that no longer includes my breasts. Thank goodness too because as much as I loved breastfeeding her, which was a lot, I'm really happy to have my boobs to myself again.

It is really odd having her be fine without it now. It's a bit of a mixed bag, like how she does well in nursery. She's old enough now to be in the junior nursery at church and she seems to love it. There is no fussing about me leaving her in there. Which makes it a lot easier for me to go to my calling in the senior nursery. Yes I have a child in the one nursery group while I'm teaching in the other.  (Another story, for another day.)Audrey has always been pretty independent. She is active and loves to move. And I love that about her. She has been a big part in my efforts to get healthy. And since she is so active I have to be that way too. Just to keep up with her.

I have been interested in this program that I will be starting in July sometime called Piyo by Beachbody. I have a friend who is a Beachbody coach who recommended it to me. Until I can get it though I am doing another Beachbody fitness system called Slim in 6. I forget how good I feel after working out. It's a wonderful feeling to be energized. I had to alter the first workout a ton because I injured my knee last week. It also took me hours to finish a 27 minute workout because Audrey was not happy with me working out while she was awake. But I did it. and that's what matters right now.

Health and fitness journey

 I have always been a curvier person. I hit puberty early, which led to having more in places where most girls had less. I will never forget the hurtful thing one boy in 4th grade said to me. We were all in a Christmas assembly and some students were singing a song about how Santa Claus was fat. This tall boy leans over and whispers loudly that they shouldn't be singing about Santa but should be singing about Courtney Douglass. I was crushed. I hadn't hit puberty yet so I was still a little kid with lithe limbs and lean muscles. But that comment shaped so much of my self image. I know now that he was wrong, I know he wasn't serious. But that doesn't change the fact that it hurt. 

I had to work harder than other girls my age to stay fit. In 9th grade I got down to 112 pounds. I was so happy that other girls were telling me I was too skinny. And a part of me wants to be back there. According to medical charts and measurements, as a 5 foot 2 inch tall woman, I should be thinner.  But here's the thing..... I have boobs. I have a butt and hips. I've got thick thighs and calves. I've always had them. However even when I was at a healthy weight, I always seemed to be right on the verge of being overweight. 

Well right now, I am overweight. I have been for a few years. And I have been slowly removing the weight I've gained. The difference now? I want to do this in a safe and healthy way. I don't want a quick fix. Those don't last. I want to be able to run around with my daughter. i want to be able to look in the mirror and not see a stranger staring back. 

This is going to be a process and it's going to be worth it.