Shed 5 Fast Contest

Before having kids, I never really "worked out". I was active and ate pretty healthy, so I didn't feel the need to work on my body. With my first child I was terrified that I might hurt the baby by working out, so I basically laid around my house all day and ate junk. I gained over 50 lbs. and my body was a mess. I was able to eventually lose the weight after having my baby, but my body was never toned or fit. I got pregnant again and basically did the same thing. I let my body fall apart and tried to convince myself that I was somehow protecting my baby by not doing anything. A couple of months after I had my second child, my husband made a comment that he could tell I had lost a lot of muscle and that I just looked "soft". I took that to mean that I was fat, so I started starving myself. I didn't know how to workout my body, and so I tried the easy way out by just not eating. I was extremely unhealthy and tired all of the time, but I felt like I had to lose the weight and that this was my only option.

I spiraled into a deep depression and I didn't know how to get out of it. I will admit that I wasn't a very good mom or wife because I was just so sick and grumpy all of the time. I couldn't take care of my girls because I had no energy. I just wanted to lay in bed all day and ignore the world. I was sick and needed some help! My husband and some close friends eventually helped me out of my depression and as I started feeling better mentally, I also wanted to feel better physically. I slowly started eating better and throwing workouts into my daily routine. I ran in some races and started gaining that energy back that I had lost. I began eating a balanced, healthy diet and exercising 5-6 days a week. I was constantly seeking for new workout DVDs to try so I wouldn't get bored with my routine. A friend mentioned Lindsay Brinn's Postnatal Bootcamp and let me try it out as well as the CFS Method and the Core Metabolic Jumpstart. I LOVED how I felt after working out with them! I didn't realize how many muscles in my core I wasn't even working after having my 2 kids and being stretched to the max. I had diastasis recti and didn't even know it. I just knew that my belly was extremely stretched out and that my abs weren't coming together like they used to. I had planned on just getting a tummy tuck and then having them sew my muscles back together. I didn't know you could fix it without it!

Over time, I eventually gained a love for challenging my body to see how far it could take me. I liked feeling healthy and knowing that I was physically strong. After working hard on my body, I started wondering about having kids again. I was starting to get baby hungry, but I wasn't sure if it was the right choice for me after the problems I had with my last 2 pregnancies. I was also terrified of not being able to get back into shape since I had worked so hard to get to where I was. I had never felt better and now I was going to go get all roly poly again? After talking it over with my husband and really deciding what was important to me, I was excited to start trying for our 3rd child. I knew that I was ready now, I just had to have a plan to stay healthy throughout my pregnancy and with Lindsay's help, I was able to do that. I worked out constantly and felt AMAZING throughout my pregnancy. I was shocked that you could feel so good and be pregnant. I still gained a bit of weight, but I was toned and healthy throughout it all, so it didn't bother me. After giving birth to my 3rd baby girl, I slowly started working out again. I was anxious to start toning my tummy and getting back to where I was before. I am not there yet, but I know that I will be. I just have to work hard and give it time. I have never felt so good after having a baby! I love life and I love working out. Thank you Lindsay for not only inspiring me to get fit and healthy again, but for giving me back my life, literally.