Having Babies is no Excuse

WOW!!! You look fantastic! Thanks for the story too.... It's what I needed to hear.

I also gave birth to 6 kids ....but I am only raising 2 because the other 4 were surrogate pregnancies lol. You have your hands full and still managed to get it done. Wonderful job

*Bump*

'Cause I'm at work & it blocks out photo-bucket pics... i'll check em out at home

I hv four kids & I agree.. just bc we are moms doesn't mean our bodies are ruined & we should give up. I give more props to a person was was pregnant but yet worked out to earn their body back vs a thin girl trying to keep her figure. I would post my before and after pic.. but I do not know how. My pro picture I took yesterday. I just gave birth to my son four months ago & been working out since my 6wk postpartum appt .. I was 129lbs then & now I'm 114.
;-)

Just wanted to say you look fabulous! You are an inspiration and like you said, you have to want it bad a enough to work for it. Thanks for the motivation!

Great thread, and all the ladies - your photos are terrific - Thumbs up to all of you.

Just wanted to add, I am 47, workout ONLY at home, and did not start working out until age 42. (my baby was older then, age 14) one child, C section. Husbands works 7 days a week, usually 12 hours, odd shifts - so never around to help with housework, chores etc. So I do all that as well.

I originally worked outside the home full time, and worked out at home in the evenings. But could have been done after she was in bed, if she had been younger.

When I changed to a different outside job I would get up at 4 AM everyday to workout for an hour before work, and then get ready for work and go. Not fun, but you can get used to it, if you want something bad enough, you make a way.

I was older when I started, 60 lbs overweight, and short, at 5'2", with slower age related metabolism. Yes my child was older, but they do sleep sometime. You can also park them in front of the TV with a video for 30 min to 60 min if needed.

I do not have before pics, but heres my latest after. (sorry fuzzy, it was one I had in my site profile images, to help me track my changes as I go)




I have DVDs at home, bought loose dumbells from wallmart, and an in door pull up bar. A bit at a time as I could afford them. Eventually bought some weight plates, and two dumbell bars so I could build heavier weights.

Did all my weights and cardio at home.

Now down to a size 7, which was my size at age 16 - and the perfect size for me. No jiggles anyway, and most importantly I am healthy and able to do what I want to do.

Many of the back and neck aches and issue I had from bone injuries are gone. My blood pressures normal for the first time in many years, all blood work is excellent - according to my Doctor. Issues from a knees dislocation 20 years ago, are not a problem now.

Maybe not everyone is in the place to do "a major workout something" - but I do recommend you do what you can do, start where you are, and hopefully with time - you can begin to make more adjustments, to get you where you want/need to be - to reach your personal goals - Whatever that may be.

Just get started No excuses. You can do it!

You look great for having 6 kids! My wife has had 3 and she recently purchased a runner stroller. It has proven to be a great investment. It can be a real challenge for her with exercise and having the stroller gives her much needed flexibility in her schedule. So for you new moms go get a runner stroller and make sure it has a pivot/spin/single front wheel. It will be money well spent and your baby will love the ride!

or leave bby home with daddy while mommy runs.... :op

I think everyone does what they can as they can. I can't imagine any mother saying "I want to be fat and unhealthy". So many factors drive why someone can or cannot stick to a program (whatever it may be, at home, youtube, a gym, walking kids to school, whatever). The choice/lifestyle whatever you want to call it must come from the person. It is usually a defining moment when a light bulb goes off and something clicks. If we are lucky, we get it on board. Some people miss the boat though and that's ok. We all have one life to live....it is what you make it.

I get what you both are saying, but I have heard tons of excuses.. Kids have too many activites, I don't have any time, etc.. If I can manage to fit it in and do it, they can too! It gets hard when people complain about being fat and never, ever change or try to do anything about it.

Thank you for sharing! Now I know it's possible to get as flat and fit as I hope to get!!

I'm jumping on the bandwagon here to tell you how amazing you look!

I am currently 5 weeks postpartum from my first child. I am not even cleared to work out yet, however, I cannot wait. I love to work out and this time, I mean business. Much like your story, I want to keep up with my husband! I think he is a major hottie and I want to be on "his level."

I hope you don't mind me sending you a friend request!

I weighed 247 pounds after my son (emergency c-section), and lost all but 10 pounds before my daughter, but still weighed 243 at my last dr visit before my c-section for her. My lowest adult weight is 165 (size 8 at 5'7"), and I'm finally working my way back down. My daughter just turned 3, and I'm working my @$$ off to try to get back to 165. At 190 this morning.

Every day is a challenge. I am 37, and as other mom's have pointed out, it's not as easy as it once was to lose weight! To those of you that are at your GW, I'm so proud of you, and thank you for the continued motivation!

I won't say y'all look amazing for having multiple children. You look amazing. Period.

I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!! I have 2 kids under 3, and after my youngest turned 1 I decided I was done being fat. I've worked my *kitten* off, and stopped using lack of child care as an excuse. I started watching what and how much I eat, I work out for at least 30 mins 6 days a week. True I'm still young, but I never had that pop back into shape kind of body and always had a bit of a belly (even before kids). I'm not bragging either, just agreeing with the OP that wait dedication YOU CAN DO THIS!!! We, as moms, work beyond hard and i am proud of the work each and every one of you is doing to better yourself!
So in Oct I was approx 150 and I looked like this:


This is me a week ago at 123:

You are also a great example of being able to fix the loose skin! Thanks for posting pics!

Since I have made working out a priority, I am more energetic, calmer, less depressed, and more confident all around. That benefits my children and my husband as well as myself.

"My husband"....imagine your life without your husband and still doing what you do plus everything he currently does.

I'm not advocating excuses, I'm just saying everyone has to do this in their own time, it is a personal journey. When my girls were young there just simply weren't enough hours in a day between working, houskeeping, snow removal, bringing in wood, mowing the lawn, fixing things that "typically" a man would take care of, grocery shopping etc. And still trying to make sure you actually have quality time with your children.

You are right that this is a personal journey. Everyone has to get here in their own time. I don't believe that the OP was trying to be judgmental, but only telling mothers, YES, you can still be healthy and look good even after having children.

I understand where you are coming from about not having enough time in the day and having to do everything your husband would do! For years, my husband worked 12.5 hr shifts along with an hour commute to and from work. He was gone from the house for 15 hours on work days, came home and went straight to bed, got up a few hours later and did it all over again. Whatever needed to be done around our house, I took care of it--if I left it for him on his days off, we'd have no time together! I had five kids, homeschooled two of them, had two in diapers--including a baby who was breastfeeding and a toddler who was into everything. In addition, I also worked 1-2 nights a week outside the home--12 hour shifts with a commute just like hubby. I was freaking exhausted. It showed. It was depressing for me to look into the mirror and see what my body had become. I thought there was nothing I could do to change it.

What is different now from then? Nothing, except that I have had *another* baby. I'm homeschooling three of my six now. I'm still changing diapers, dealing with toddler tantrums, and breastfeeding. Hubby still works the 12 hour shifts. So do I (I'm typing this from work--ssshhhh! Slow night. ) We've even taken on a bit more responsibility with teaching a class at church which takes up another weekend a month. I take care of the yard. I keep my house clean. I grocery shop with a cart full of kids.
But now, taking care of myself is a priority. Exercise is what gives me the strength, stamina, and energy to get me through my days. Thirty minutes a day has not taken away from quality time with my children(like I said, they join me sometimes). I'm setting a good example for them. I'm still a work in progress, but taking that little bit of time for myself every day has changed me from this:


To this:


No judgement here, just encouragement. If I can do this, anyone can.

You are one brave woman to be pregnant six times. I am pregnant with my first and don't want to ever be pregnant again! My pregnancy has been tough though (Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled and blessed!)

You are very inspiring and you look amazing. I would never in a million years think you have had six children. You're a hot mama!