Bubble butt, thunder thighs/hips, flabby tummy, and too small boobies!! These are terms I am sure many women can relate to being in a society that has us weight and body image conscious from a very young age. And these just happen to be some of the lovely by products of two pregnancies and how they have shaped my once petite and slender frame along with eating unhealthy at times. However, follow along in this passage to see how I got to this point and what I am proactively doing to deal with this.
Won’t You Please Join Us!!
Coincidentally for this week’s Slim by the Summer challenge, we have to discuss our trouble spots. Well, I would have to begin with even before I had kids. My body, as most already know, was slender and most of it was this way, except my thighs. When I went through puberty, I was left with curves, but if indulged in too many sweets and gained a few pounds it always seemed to land in my thighs. I used to wonder why not my boobs. Seriously I was a 34B and wouldn’t have minded a bit more in that area. But no such luck and this off again/on again struggle stayed with me into my mid to late twenties, too.
Then, right before I had Emma I had put on about 15 pounds from when we got married (oh the newlywed years!!). It was equivalent to what many may call the “Freshmen 15”, which is what many equate to what happens to college freshmen, who go away to school for the first time.
Next up, I got pregnant and had Emma and gained about 25 more pounds (not a ton, but still for my frame was a rounder me). I gave birth and she wasn’t even 6 lbs at 39 weeks. Guess what? When they weighed me, I had only lost about 4 pounds and just couldn’t understand that. I struggled for almost 7 months to get back to the weight I was before I got pregnant with her and that was as you recall still 15 pounds overweight.
And just as I was fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes once again, I got pregnant with Lily. I remembered looking at my waist and thinking, “Goodbye see you again in 9 long months and nice seeing you for even this short time!”
Well, even though I was on bedrest with that pregnancy, I still gained less then with my first and right before I delivered, I had only put on 11 pounds. Yeah, my doctor kept joking towards the end that I could go get a pint of Haggen Dazs Ice Cream on him. Seriously, I just couldn’t at that point and felt so full all the time at 9 plus months pregnant, but how I wish I did take him up on that now when I think back!!
This Week’s Topic–Trouble Spots!!
Lily was 7 lbs 2 ozs. at birth and when they weighed me the day after I had lost 15 pounds. Yes, I lost more that I had actually gained. Still not sure how the hell that happened, but will tell you that other than flabby belly that had to return to normal, I honestly didn’t look like I had just given birth and was even told that by my delivery nurse! I even wore pre-maternity clothes 2 days later on Thanskgiving.
I worked hard as you all already now and feel like much of this may be a repeat of stuff I have stated earlier, but here I am almost 2 1/2 years later and indulged a bit too much over the colder, winter months and do thank god for Slim by the Summer, because I now have that final 5 stubborn pounds to go. But again it isn’t the weight that is the problem, it is the toning. My belly is yet again out of shape and my thighs grew a bit. So now, I am once again working on those areas. My boobs are still small (and it is true once having been pregnant they do really shrink!) and of course those few extra pounds didn’t land there again!! I know it is possible to get in shape, because I did before, but it is getting there that can be a challenge.
Thank You Slim By the Summer Ladies!!
And this again is where Slim by the Summer comes into play. These ladies are truly the best and have totally helped me focus to keep my goals in check for the past two months now. And want to say a huge thank you here to them. Also this past week, I won the Starbucks GiftCard (a wonderful incentive to help us stay on track) that is up for grabs each week that we have all been participating. And that truly did brighten up my Friday last week, because not only did I have Emma sick for a few days at that point, but I too was a bit under the weather having a slight cold. So truly was a great way to end a bad week for me. Thanks again ladies and looking forward for more to come now!!
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Dani Ryan says
That's so weird – I gained 28 lbs with my first pregnancy, my daughter was exactly 6 lbs, and I had only lost 4 lbs after she was born, too! I was so upset!!!!
My bum and thighs are my trouble spot, too.
Here's to looking good by bikini season!!!!!
Janine Huldie says
Totally ironic Dani and just so much more we have in common!! And I am with you on looking good this bikini season!! 🙂
Cyndi says
Wow, Janine! You're rockin' it in the blogosphere. 😀 Thank you for the comment on my post last evening, too – the German photography thing. Hehe, I didn't publicize it like normal because it was at the request of a sponsor that I publish and it was their text. Hehehe. In any case, you're amazing and kudos to you for your accomplishments – both here on your blog and as a mom and woman. Phenomenal!
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks so very much Cyndi, too. I am totally subscribed to your blog (because I love you), so I get the updates immediately and was happy to read and comment, too!! 🙂 And you are phenomenal and just amazing my friend!!
Kat Biggie says
Well, I wanna know why it doesn't go to our boobs too! And having a bubble butt is WAY better than having a butt that is flat as a board! What a great panel of bloggers! I wanna be in your next group giveaway! I guess I need to talk to Lanaya, huh?? 🙂 Tweeted, entered, voted… the whole 9! Oh and even though my moms' entire family is Irish Catholic, we've never really done anything major for St. Paddy's day. We wear green, go to the festivities… that's about it!
Janine Huldie says
True, true about one's butt being too flat. As for the giveaway, Lanaya is awesome and if you advertise with her you totally would be included. This is my second time being involved and so happy to be. I too am Catholic being Italian Irish. We always celebrated, but then I met Kevin who is all Irish and my mother-in-law goes all out including making her own Irish Soda Bread. So, Just can't help, but love this time of year!! 🙂
Bill says
Very nice of you to promote them so well. As for my boobs…..no need to worry. 🙂 Have a great day, Janine. This is a sure sign that I am a staunch supporter….I have no business reading this blog today LOL
Janine Huldie says
Bill, all I can say is thank you so very much and I know this was so not a man's topic today. Promise tomorrow will be a bit better with pics of the girls from the last St. Patrick's Days. And Thursday is all about Emma having been sick. So I swear no more boob talk for the rest of the week, lol!! 🙂
erintheirishmama says
Janine – you are doing great!!!! My problem areas are my stomach, my double chin and my thighs. Ahhhh. Great giveaway!!!!!
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks Erin and am so with you on all but the chin. My face has always been long and thin (get the from my dad). Hope you entered and if you did good luck!! 🙂
Ruchira says
aww such an inspiring blog. I gotta keep myself moving cause of the muscles falling apart and this darn computer does not go along with me when walking…lol
voted for you!
Janine Huldie says
Oh I hear you Ruchira and thank you a ton for the votes, too!! 🙂
Christy Birmingham says
Way to go Janine at keeping with your health goal! You go girl! I just love the engaging way you write your posts 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks so much Christy and I am so appreciative of your kind words and the share, too!! 🙂
Lanaya @ Raising Rea says
I WANT SMALLER BOOBS! That is all!! xoxoxoxo
¤´¨)
¸.•*´
(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo http://www.raising-reagan.com
Janine Huldie says
I'll switch with you Lanaya, lol!! 🙂 xoxo!!
Jane Marsh says
Trouble spots… also called un-photoshopped women's bodies?
Janine Huldie says
Lol, oh so true Jane, so true!! 🙂
Stacy Harris says
Ahhh… troublespots is my middle name. I notice my stomach and my thighs are usually the worst. I hate them and it doesn't matter what I do… they never cooperate!
Janine Huldie says
Totally with you Stacy on this one and both those areas are the worst for me and even on a good day still aren't really where I would like them to be!!
lablover22 says
Oh trouble spots… like most difficult things, i assume you are in my life to make me a better person. Is it wrong that I'd rather be a lesser person and have better thighs? Probably. I'm only 5 feet tall but have had tree trunks for legs all my life. So depressing and lame. I run, I squat, I lunge, I lift, I hot yoga, I spin, I do it all and yet they remain tree trunk-y. Such is life I guess;)
Vicky http://www.thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com
Janine Huldie says
So true that such is life, because my thighs have always been an issue and as much as I can get them thinner, they probably will always have a a bit more meat on them I suppose. And now the same could be said about the firmness of my belly after having my kids. So I can truly relate Vicky!!
Janine Huldie says
I am with you on the cardio and know I should be doing more sit-ups and such, but with the issues I have with my lower back I get scared at times that I am going to aggravate that if I do something wrong. So I know what you mean on that one Melanie!!
Robin Rue says
Yup, I have trouble with all those same areas….
I lost a ton of weight and I had this illusion that once I hit my goal weight (last september) that I would have this supermodel body, but nope. At least I am at a healthy weight, though.
Janine Huldie says
Glad to know it isn't just me Robin, because I am not overweight by any means, but my body is not what I would thought it would be like being pretty much the weight I should be. And no matter what I do, I can't seem to get it as firm as I would like!!
Amy says
My body doesn't do now what it used to do…: ). Trouble spots… bubble butts that go back are a good thing right…lol. I want a bubble butt. As you get older to don't grow UP you grow out.
Janine Huldie says
Oh so true Amy on the growing out part. Seriously, the bubble butt may not be awful as long as it isn't too much of a bubble, lol!!