Over halfway there! 39 pounds down

Hello all! I first joined MFP last year and lost 35 pounds. Then unexpectedly got pregnant with baby #4! I always gain a lot when I'm pregnant and this time was no exception. I gained over 45 pounds by the end of pregnancy. By 4 weeks post partum I had only managed to lose 10. So I logged back into MFP and prepared for a long journey! My goal has been to take off the rest of the baby weight (37 pounds) and then another 37 pounds after that.

Well, my first goal has been achieved! Actually I'm past it, almost 39 pounds gone as of this morning. I started with MFP on February 1st and I am below pre-pregnancy weight, which feels really good. All my pre-pregnancy pants fit again or are too big. Here's what helped me reach my goal: Weighing my food and logging everything; Eating chocolate every day (so I don't feel deprived); Working out with Fitness Blender videos on youtube (mostly HIIT) and eating back half of my estimated exercise calories (no heart rate monitor). I also eat an extra 300 calories a day for breastfeeding, sometimes up to 500.

I didn't take an official "before" picture after this baby was born, but I will share my "before" picture from last year, my 9 months pregnant picture, 2 months into weight loss this time around, and current. In my "before" picture I was a size 18, currently a size 12 (depending on brand though).



I am really excited to continue with my weight loss and reach more goals! It feels good to be over halfway. I know the next half won't come off as quickly as the first half but that's ok. Thanks for letting me share!