So here I am! I've done the zone before, about 2 yrs ago when I started out getting ready for a figure competition. It really helped and I loved it! (minus all the planning that had to go into it!!! ;))
But things are so totally different now. I have 2 kids, one is 2 yrs old, and the other is barely 2 months. I am breastfeeding both of them, but the 2 yr old does eat solids too. I started breastfeeding with the first, and she never let it go. I believe in letting her decide when to stop. I did not follow the zone after she was born, when I did eat healthy and clean I was always hungry or crabby. I did try to working out with my first, but every time I did something that was remotely close to exercise, I used up all my energy & reserved energy and ended up sick. I haven't lifted weights in any serious fashion for 2 yrs, and I really miss it! Plus I miss the body I used to have! After my first, I was lucky, and lost a lot of weight over about 6 months exclusively due to breastfeeding. (Even though it was a skinny body, I never had the firmness & tone like before) My diet, also was not a reflection of this weight loss, it was horrible, and most likely had a significant effect on my overall health. I am also a working mom, so that took its toll on me too.
Now that I have returned to work, I want things to be different this time around. I have a serious goal this time, to get into shape by December for my vacation. My husband and I are going someplace very exotic in which swim suits will be needed! I really want to be the "hot momma." I once was! However, I do not want to sacrifice my health either or my milk production for my two girls, mostly for the newborn. I plan on breastfeeding the youngest at least a year.
With all that said, and knowing that I have to start this process very very slowly, my first question has to do with what activity level should I select to correctly calculate my blocks??? I think one time I read to select “very active” when you are breastfeeding, whether or not you are very active, because it takes extra calories to make milk. In reality I'm doing “very light activity.” Currently at work, I sit a lot. However, when I get home I’m always on the go, I'm either playing around with my oldest daughter, or picking up the house. A lot of the time the newborn is in a sling, so I'm carrying her body weight around with me. This last week I've done light walking during work to work back into a workout routine. I have not watched my diet at all, and eat freely what I need too. But its time to clean up the diet for my health and my family.
Maybe I should start at a lower activity level and work up from there if I’m not meeting my caloric needs? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
~N
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