5 months after 4th baby & 69 lbs later! PIX

NikkisNewStart

I never thought I could lose weight and always used my many kids (gave birth to 4 plus 1 stepdaughter = 5) as an excuse for my weight. Fertility drugs (yes- we meant to have so many!) coupled with bad food choices and lack of exercise led to my all time non-pregnancy high of 196. I am 5' 7" tall. I gave birth to my daughter 5 months ago at 217 lbs. A month after her birth, August 7, 2010, I joined this site. I am happy to say that I'm about 3.2 lbs away from my new goal and 6.8 lbs PAST my original MFP goal that I set in August. I never thought I would get here. I just finished Grad school (graduated yesterday!) and am super busy with my family obligations. I have some toning and a few pounds left to go- but I'm dedicated and I know I will get there. One day at a time! :happy:

sundinsgurl

That is amazing! You look absolutely wonderful. Congratz on reaching your goal

neelia

You look amazing!!! Congrats!

kimmiebear70

Way to go! You look wonderful and I bet you feel great!

lavondrew

Congrats! Grad school, baby, kids & you still managed to lose weight?!? You have so much discipline & so many reasons to be proud of your work. Hooray for you! :glasses:

NikkisNewStart

Thank you! I have a ways to go but I am proud of what I have accomplished in the last 4 months, especially with being so busy. I have never stuck to something before but mfp is different. I told myself it was ok to fail at first, that it was a learning experience and the point was to make myself aware. Once I was aware of what I was putting in my mouth, I wanted to make better choices. Once I started making better choices- the weight came off! I am in control now. It is a great feeling!

mrsannett

Just wanted to say congrats to you!!! Wonderful job!!!!

snrose

great job!! congrats!

stella77

WOW! You look great! I don't look like that 11 month after my one and only baby!

piperett

Awesome pics, sis! You look great. I'm so proud of you and your accomplishment! :flowerforyou:

NikkisNewStart

Thanks! I'm going to keep at it and hope to be a mega hottie this summer in a bikini!

TheMaidOfAstolat

Dang! I wish my tummy looked that good! I have a 7 year old and no matter what I do I can't lose the pooch, grr.

reneeot

THREE CHEERS FOR …clintswifey!!!

Kelleighanne

OH MY GOSH! you took terrific! I had a baby five months ago as well and I look like Mr. Stay Puft next to you

I've always used "I have 3 kids. I don't have time to eat right/exercise/etc" but man you have 5 and you sure did it. You are my new inspiration

Great job!

AmberElaine84

GREAT job!!! You look AWESOME!!! :flowerforyou:

NikkisNewStart

Thanks everyone! I started working out and eating cleaner during my pregnancy. I was already 196 and gained 21 pounds- giving birth at 217. I am down 69 pounds from that highest pregnancy weight of 217. I lost the 21 lbs of baby weight, plus an additional 10 lbs within a month of her birth. That is attributed to eating healthier, breastfeeding, and drinking tons of water. I have lost an additional 38 lbs since joining mfp in August. My ticker reflects every pound I have lost because I worked hard for it! It motivates me to see how far I have come. I set up my goals to lose 2 lbs a week and that is what I have averaged consistently. My case is not "typical" since I had the monkey wrench of giving birth thrown in there... but I started eating clean, drinking water, and exercising prior to joining mfp and then I joined and got serious about logging and upped my exercise. It does work if you are honest and consistent... but it takes time! Dedicate yourself to changing your lifestyle and you will in turn change your life!

FIREfitGrl27

You LOOK AMAZING! Great job! Congrats on grad school as well...know how hard that can be and doing it with a family! You rock! Keep up the good work!

vbhoj74

Amazing job, congrats !

mishamae

Congrats! Your inspriations to all us mom's out there! I know if you can do it with 5 kids, so can I

AutismMom

You look amazing!!!! I agree, I know a lot of people, that use having children has a reason not to be able to loose weight, but we all can!!!! Keep up the great work!!!

Kath712

Congrats! Grad school, baby, kids & you still managed to lose weight?!? You have so much discipline & so many reasons to be proud of your work. Hooray for you! :glasses:

Big ditto!! Looking great, so tiny! Way to go!! And congrats on your degree, too! :bigsmile:

elizabethp82

Wow, that is AMAZING!! I am so proud for you, and you are definitely my new inspiration!

faithindeed82

Good job Nikki!! You look as great as you did back in the day!

Mstxfynest

Congrats on all that you have accomplished. You look awesome and you are a great inspiration

kookla33

Wow. That is so inspiring, especially that you did it while you had so much going on in your life. Thanks for sharing. The pictures say a lot!

bsoxluvr

Congratulations on all of your hard work paying off in a big way! You look amazing!!! I wish I could accomplish what you have in such a short period of time.

NikkisNewStart

Thank you everyone! I appreciate the kind words. I have found the support here to be vital to my success and gives me the motivation to keep going for that last 10 lbs. I am sort of stuck where I am and my local Groupon today just happened to be for a months worth of "Bootcamp" fitness classes so I bit the bullet and joined! lol I hope to post some amazing results after my month is over. My life goes 90 to nothing and some days I feel like I'm going to kill over- but I am just so happy that now, I have the energy to enjoy it. I have claimed my life back!!! I had to step back and realize that yes, my body has endured 4 births close together, yes I am busy, yes I have every "excuse" just to sit and do nothing... but why am I on the back burner? I don't have to give up my health to be a good mom, wife, student... shame on me for putting the blame on my loved ones. They didn't make me lay around and eat cheeseburgers all day. I did that all by myself. Now it is up to me to start treating ME with the love and care I give every other aspect of my life or I won't be around to enjoy it. Again, I have a long way to go and every day is still a day of learning, changing, adapting... but now I know that if I make some bad choices- it isn't the end of the road. Keep on going! Whether it takes you 4 months or 4 years- time is going to pass regardless... wouldn't you rather be that much closer to your goal? Don't give up everyone!!! You WILL make it to your goal!!!

kimmiebear70

You can do it! You have already accomplished sooo much! I have a friend who lost 65+ lbs doing the bootcamp workout.

hope1993

awesome!!
your story is very inspirational and keeps me going!!!
congrats and good luck on finishing up your sculpted body!!!

NikkisNewStart

Thank you! The next pictures I post will be after I complete bootcamp and add some muscle definition! I hope to lose these last 9 lbs slowly (which is 20 lbs under my original Mfp goal) while adding muscle. Hopefully I can get a few personal training sessions to turn the flab to fab. I have come a long way and I finally believe that I can have the body I've always wanted. I only have 1 life and I am not spending it with regrets!