The 'Kate' effect... attention all mommies!

I look at this photo and see a happy couple & their newborn baby (okay, they just happen to be royal & chased by the paparazzi, but you know what I mean...)  This photo was taken only a few days after I had Carter, so I totally understood how amazing they were feeling about their new addition!  

However, what seemed to make the most news was the fact that she still had a small belly.  As a woman, and a new mommy, that is so irritating!  BUT- I totally applaud her for showing what a woman actually looks like after birth!  Too many times we see the 'movie star' back in her size zero clothing while toting around her very young infant... while there are some very genetically blessed chicks that walk out of the hospital in their pre-prego clothes, most of us do NOT!  I most definitely did not!  At 6 weeks post-partum, I still don't fit into most of my normal clothes.  And I worked out throughout my entire pregnancy!  It's tough to not get frustrated & angry sometimes! I mean, it's not like I just had a baby or anything! (& hormones don't help with the self image problems- ugh!!)

So what do we do?  

First, look to positive role models such as Kate for what the post-partum reality is... and BE a positive role model for others!  We all have rough days- sleep deprivation can be really tough emotionally!  Help out your fellow ladies by being encouraging and KIND!

Second, create a plan to help you reach your goals... and make those goals realistic!  I always say short-term goals are sooooo important (maybe take the baby on a walk 3x per week, or cut out sweets- make them attainable goals!)  My plan is to keep exercising daily, and I'm starting back with paleo nutrition next week.  I'm making progress and still losing weight each week, but it does get frustrating to see just how far I still have to go!  I'm also going to continue to blog about my journey- hopefully I can be an encouragement and positive motivator to someone out there that needs to hear it!

So, to all of you mommies and mommies-to-be, remember that it took 10 months to stretch and grow enough to have that healthy baby.  Give yourself time to get that body back!  And anytime that you start to get frustrated by the time it's taking to get your body back, just look down at that precious baby you're holding & realize that it was worth it all :)

1 month old pics!

Here are a few pics that I took of my handsome little guy- 

1 month old :)

I love them!  Check out his baby blue's- just like his daddy's!!

Monday morning smiles :) & workout updates...

Take a look at this handsome, smiling face!!!  Since Monday's tend to be rough, I thought that I would share it with you guys- he's almost 6 weeks old & developing quite the personality!  (& remember, 4-day weekend ahead- WOOHOO!!!!!!)

I've been getting in some really good, quick workouts the past few weeks!  And yesterday, my awesome hubby helped me set up a mini-gym downstairs and built a pull-up station!!  I've found that with a newborn, getting in a HIIT-style workout is the best & most effective way to workout.  I have (literally!) hundreds of hour long bootcamp workouts saved from all of my classes, but I don't have a full hour to get in a workout with Carter around!  But 20 minutes is do-able, and he will sit in his chair or lay on a blanket & watch me (& laugh!)  I'm still losing weight, slowly but surely, and I'm starting to gain my strength back.  The very first workout that I did was terrible as far as core strength...  I'm still not back to normal, but I am able to do a lot more (with good form!) now.  There are some great sites online with HIIT workouts (hiitmamas.blogspot.com & dailyhiit.com are 2 of my fave's!) and I usually combine those with some of my own fitness touches! Strength training is so important, and so many ladies don't do it!  Lift weights girls- you won't bulk up, but you WILL look much better with some muscle tone!  Cardio is good as well, but don't skimp on the lifting!!

Here is a progress pic- I still have a long way to go, but I'll get there :)

Let your faith be bigger than your fear...

My blog has gone a little off-track over the past 10 months or so!  With the arrival of Carter, and things getting back to normal (or the 'new' normal- sleep deprivation is now normal!) I think it's time to get back to why I started this blog in the first place!  FAITH, FAMILY, FITNESS - in that order!!

FAITH-

I can't tell you how much my faith means to me.  I mean, I can try to express it with words, but it's more of a feeling, and I hope that I express it with how I live my life!  Having Carter is a result of faith &of God's timing!  I know, let the jokes begin, but seriously it is!  I didn't think that we could have any kids.  We had tried in the past and it never happened.  So we quit trying and felt led to foster & adopt.  When we pursued that and truly turned it over to God, we found out that we were pregnant.  It was a bit of a surprise but we couldn't have been happier!  Now we are praying for the next step in our lives... and I am ready for wherever He leads us!  Turning it all over to God is scary- it takes out what our human fears and wants are, and only looks at what HIS plans are for our life!  Hence, the quote above...

"Let your faith be bigger than your fear"

FAMILY-

My family rocks! And so do my friends & clients!! The amount of love and kindness that we have been shown this past month has been amazing!  As our family grew to include Carter, life has been hectic!  

My amazing hubby has been working extra hard to keep the household running smoothly- being self-employed rocks until you don't get a paid maternity leave :)  So he has been working hard & taking on extra projects- did I mention how amazing he is?!  You should check out his projects at facebook.com/patostergrenconstruction Or click right here! There are some fabulous before/after home renovation pictures!

Carter staring at his dad!!

Aside from work, he is an amazing dad!  Carter sure loves his daddy!! And he is the best dad to Elisabeth as well- being a step-parent is not an easy job but he sure is great at it!

Elisabeth is awesome as well- with the new baby arriving and crazy life, we decided it was best to switch her to a different middle school this year.  I was pretty nervous about it, but after loads of praying we did it, and it has been the best decision ever!  I continue to pray about it- I don't think life is ever easy for a middle school student!  She is still rocking it at cheerleading- I love her team this year!  There are some great kids & coaches (& momma's!!)  And she is an amazing big sister- such a big help!  I miss her being here during the day while she's at school!

First day of 7th grade!!

Sis & Carter!

Carter catching some zzzzz's

And Carter is growing by the minute!  He is healthy, happy, and such a fun little dude!  We are starting to see smiles, he's rolling over, and not sleeping nearly enough at night :)  HAHA!!  He recognizes voices now, he is eating really well (like really often, really well!  I think his 2 month appointment will show a huge growth spurt!)  He's very snuggly, and loves to be on his tummy!

The rest of our family is doing great too- my nephew just turned 1 (where has the past year gone?!?!!) and had a rockin' birthday party last weekend!  My bro & sis-in-law are great!  

Happy Birthday Graysen!

My parents are loving having more grandkids!  My sis is out of the country on another MSF trip.  Pat's sis & the kids got to visit for awhile this summer which was awesome- and got to meet Carter!  His parents are doing well and we went to visit his mom yesterday afternoon :)

FITNESS-

I've been asked several times when and if I'm going to start training again...  the when is still up in the air, but I DO plan on training again!  Trying to find the time to schedule classes is a bit more difficult than I had anticipated- once I am getting more sleep it will be a little more do-able.  For now I am only taking on virtual clients, and I am so proud of each & every one of them!  A lot of my bootcamp clients have switched to virtual training while I have been out, and have continued with their healthy lifestyle and working out!  You guys ROCK!!!  Having to be held accountable to me via texts, phone calls, Facebook, etc. might have been a pain in the you-know-what, but it works!  I'm super-duper proud of you !!!  I am still taking new clients as well- since it's 'virtual', you can be located anywhere!!  Talk to me about getting healthy!

My personal fitness journey is still that... a journey!  Trying to figure out what works around a newborn's schedule is pretty much a guessing game!  I've been working out at home, occasionally at the gym with Pat & Elisabeth, and going on walks/hikes with Carter!  I'm prepping meals ahead of time and eating pretty clean (mostly paleo, but with some grains still) and I'm seeing results!  Slowly but surely! I still have a LONG way to go, but I know that I'll get there eventually!  I had someone tell me that I'm 'not bouncing back very fast' - yep, seriously!  I guess we aren't all celebrities that bounce back in a week!  I'll get there, just give me some time!  My main health priority is a healthy & happy little dude at the moment!

Me & the birthday boy, last weekend!!!

Workout time!👍

Today was a great workout- I  feel SO much better after I get some exercise in!! I've been doing lots of walking and some weight training since I was feeling better after delivery (walking around a week, weights around 2 weeks) & this week I've added in some HIIT style workouts & jogging... Let me tell you, compared to pre-pregnancy I'm about as fast as a snail!! BUT I'm striving to get back in shape and not have any changes to my supply for Carter's food!! I can't wait to be able to increase my intensity, but I'm happy with my progress so far!

And for those that have asked- no way am I back to my pre-pregnancy size! I still have about 20 pounds to lose!! I want to be an encouragement to others that have little kiddos- you do what you can, when you can. Make healthy choices, walk, SLEEP (!!) Eat healthy, & take it slowly!

I'm still trying to work out the details for starting up Bootcamp & personal training sessions again- I'm still doing the virtual training sessions for anyone who is interested in that!! Once I'm not so sleep deprived and figure out babysitting, I will get the classes going again 😎👍👍

Carter has arrived!

These were taken a few days before Carter's arrival - - I gained a lot, 

but in a healthy way!  

I continued working out as often as I could, but as you can see I had a HUGE belly!!

39 Weeks Prego-

Carter made his grand entrance on July 16th- weighing in at 8 lb's, 7 oz's, and 21.25" long, he was healthy & big!

Mom & Carter

Mom, Dad, & Carter

Big sis & Carter

Right after he was born!

He is now 3 weeks old, and we can't imagine life without him in it!  He's doing great, starting to sleep better and he is nursing well!  I had to cut out dairy products, but once we got that figured out he has been feeling much better!

Here are a few pictures from the past 3 weeks - we are all so in love with the new member of the family!

First bath :)

Me & Carter, 8 days old!

1 week old

Going on his first walk with Mom, Dad, Elisabeth & the dogs!  1 week old!

First doctor's visit- 3 days old

Cheese!

Playing with his big cousin!

Sis & Carter

1 week old!

2 week's old

And these are all from 2.5 week's old:

First bath!

Hanging out with his daddy!

We are all doing really well!  I started working out (slowly to start!) and eating healthy- working my way back to my pre-prego weight!  I am working on doing that in a healthy way because I don't want it to effect Carter or his food supply!  I'm over halfway there - I'll try to keep this updated with progress reports!

A BIG THANK YOU to all of our amazing friends & family, and my awesome clients!  We appreciate all of the kind gifts, calls, cards, rides for my daughter to cheer practice, & food that you guys have provided!!  

Jen, Pat & family :)