Gumdrops and Big Macs were my favorite foods when I was pregnant with my first child.
“I’m eating for two!” I consoled myself.
But I remember when it came time to leave the hospital with my newborn daughter, and I pulled out my “big” pair of pre-pregnancy jeans to slip on under my hospital gown.
I couldn’t get them up past my KNEES.
I ended up walking out to the car (somewhat embarrassed) in my maternity clothes, which I continued to wear for the next month or so, but that single shocking experience with the jeans was only the first of many struggles that waited for me as I had three more babies, two miscarriages, four surgeries, and months of sleepless nights.
Somewhere along the way, a kind of panic started to set in.
What if I get fat? What if I never lose the baby weight? What if I never feel cute and happy again? What if I hate the way I look in the mirror for the rest of my life?
So I exercised as much as I could—most often sacrificing much-needed sleep to get out there and run laps around my neighborhood with the jogging stroller. I counted calories nearly every single day. I went to bed hungry. I critically examined myself in the mirror every chance I got, and I was on that scale at least 10 times a week—usually after exercising (hoping all that sweat had made me lighter), but before drinking any water or eating even a bite of food (every ounce counts!)
I know…it’s so superficial, and in hindsight it I can see I was way too stressed about it. But here’s the thing: I know I’m not alone.
Many of you have already heard about my SANE journey—how, with the help of Jonathan Bailor, best-selling author of The Calorie Myth, my daughter and I finally stopped counting calories, and we’re now fueling our bodies with real food.
Now I want to introduce you to the SANE Show—Jonathan’s podcast where I’ve joined on as his co-host.
It isn’t easy for me to talk about how things used to be or to admit how much I have struggled.
But as I watch mothers today—starving themselves, chasing quick fixes, trading sleep for exercise, and looking at themselves in the mirror the same way I used to do so, I feel a responsibility to share my story and introduce everyone I possibly can to Jonathan.
So here you go:
Jonathan and I have released two podcasts this past week that have been incredibly healing for me, and I’m hopeful they will be the same for you.
“How to Lose the Last 10 Lbs” is actually not what it seems. He and I will talk a bit about what that actually takes, but we’ll spend more time looking at the goal itself.
Listen directly to the audio by clicking here or pressing “play” below.
“How to Lose 45 lbs in 40 Days” was recorded in response to an advertisement I found on my doorstep promoting exactly that. As much as I know now about weight loss and healthy eating, I still find myself intrigued by the “siren songs” out there that promise skinny bodies with no effort (or side effects!), and I asked Jonathan to help me stop paying attention to those ridiculous promises once and for all.
Listen directly to the audio by clicking here or pressing “play” below.
In addition to the motherhood inspiration you can find each Wednesday on Power of Moms Radio, Jonathan and I have a new podcast coming out every week, so you can subscribe through iTunes here.
We also have a full program called SANE Families that you can learn more about here (affiliate link).
And if there’s a topic you want us to cover in the SANE Show, simply email [email protected], and we’ll add it to the list. 🙂
Motherhood isn’t easy on our bodies. We give ourselves to our families in just about every way, and that’s good. It’s noble. It’s beautiful.
But it is high time that we stop chasing those crazy weight-loss promises and start listening to the voices that are dedicated to helping us take care of our bodies the right way. I hope that I (with Jonathan’s help!) can be one of those voices for you.
Much love,
April
