(2 months postpartum with Ollie, and now 2 years postpartum after Ollie)

Its hard to believe I am coming up on two years postpartum in one week after having Ollie! This postpartum journey was much different than that with Maddie for many reasons. With Maddie, it took me one full year to feel like myself again, but because of all the curve balls thrown at me, I can honestly say it took me two full years to feel like "myself" again after having my son.

With Maddie, my postpartum journey looked much different than this time around. Sean was working from home, so I had a lot more flexibility and help. I had a uncomplicated delivery. I was 32 years old when I had Maddie (versus 37 when I had Ollie, and now 39). I didn't have a lot of major life changes within the first 5 years after having Maddie. I was in great health, and only had the added stress of learning to adjust to one child. I breastfed her for 10 months (versus 22 months with Ollie). And I was in a state of great peace and bliss all around after having her!

With Ollie on the other hand, Sean was working outside the home, and was very busy trying to build a new business, so I had very little help and flexibility at home. I had an emergency C-section. I was 5 years older. I had 2 emergency surgeries, and we moved across the country within the first year of Ollies life. I was in poor health due to chronic stress and pain from my ovaries twisting and it took doctors 8 months to figure out what was wrong with me, and hand the stress of learning how to manage it all with two children. I breastfed Ollie for almost two years, which my body retains at least 5-10 lbs of extra weight while I'm breastfeeding, (which I have since learned is genetic, because my sisters experience the same); And I entered Ollies pregnancy straight away after a miscarriage, after carrying the baby we lost for 12 weeks, so there was extra weight, hormones and emotions to navigate with my pregnancy and postpartum.

I share all this to say, I have learned from two very different postpartum seasons that they can look very different for many reasons. I have wanted to share my experience for a while now, but because I had so much to navigate in these last two years, it has been hard to find time to share. However, I want to share, because I hope what I have learned will encourage someone on their postpartum journey, (or if you are pregnant, and soon to be postpartum!) I also think these points can encourage any woman on a weight loss journey, postpartum or not.

Here are five things I have learned in my second postpartum journey:

1. Hormones are a very REAL factor in losing weight.

Like I mentioned, I breastfed Maddie for 10 months. Within 2 months after weaning her, I was back to feeling like myself. With Ollie, I breastfed him for 22 months, and 2 months after weaning, I finally feel like myself again. All women are different, but the hormones and hunger that come with breastfeeding makes it hard for me to shed the last 5-10 pounds. A few months after I stop, my body literally melts off the last bit of weight, almost effortlessly! I have also read that it takes 2 full years for a womans hormones and body to go FULLY back to normal after having a baby. No surprise considering it takes almost one year to grow that human, and in most cases at least one more year to nourish them! Never underestimate the power of a woman's hormones!

2. Fitness is not always linear.

I was very consistent and slowly progressed in my workouts (usually a combo of walking and weight training) in both of my postpartum journeys, but this time it was anything but straightforward in progression. I had a C section with Ollie, so from the start, my body took longer to progress in workouts as it healed. Then I had two emergency surgeries, which set me back about 2 months each, when I wasn't allowed to workout, which meant I had to ease back into working out each time; And lastly, with moving from MI to TN, I didn't have much time or extra energy while trying to to pack up and move with two little kids. My fitness over the last 2 years has gone forward, backwards, and forward again many times over! I say all this to say- the one thing that I did not do was STOP! I kept going, even when it was hard, and even when it looked like one big zig zag in progress!

3. Emotions play a big role in weight loss.

I had never really struggled with emotions like I have the past two years. After a miscarriage (after years of infertility), only to get pregnant shortly after, I had a lot of fear that stuck around the majority of my pregnancy. I felt like I was always bracing for something bad, and it kept me in a place of anxiety that I had never experienced before. There is no doubt in my mind that all of the fear I was holding onto through my pregnancy, and beyond, that caused me to carry excess cortisol, as I was always in fight or flight mode. Emotions are good, and they are given to us by God, but He never intended us to carry the weight of those emotions. It wasn't until I became obedient to do what the Word instructs us to do with those cares and emotions that I started to notice I no longer carried the weight of them. I knew all along what to do, (cast my cares, take my thoughts captive, pray about everything instead of worrying, etc.) but I actually had to DO what I knew to do, and it was then that I felt the freedom that I knew was mine all along!

4. Lifestyle and major life changes can be a challenge.

After having an emergency C section with Ollie, then two emergency surgeries (and the chronic undiagnosed pain that went along with that situation) 8 months after having him, and the major life changes that come with a huge move, there was a lot to focus on that didn't allow me to fully focus on taking care of myself. However, I never let any of these things become an excuse to not take care of myself! I continued to do what has been "habit" to me, which meant showing up even when I didn't "feel" like it. A huge part of me showing up was also because of my daily time spent with Jesus. It wasn't until I spent time renewing my mind each day with the Word of God, and surrendered my cares and emotions to Him in prayer that I had the strength to move forward!

5. How you feel when you look in the mirror matters.

Lastly, a huge thing I learned this time around was to love what I saw in the mirror, regardless of what I saw in the mirror. I spoke God's word that I had taped on my mirror every time I saw my body. I believed what He said about my body long before I believed or agreed. I chose to think good thoughts about my body, even when it wasn't the way I wanted it to look; And, I shopped for clothes (mostly on amazon) that made me feel good in the skin I was in. Thankfully, I learned from my postpartum journey with Maddie that I would go further if I took care of my body from a place of love rather than criticism, and I can honestly say from experience, it is so very true!

All through the past 24 months I have experienced so many setbacks, curve balls, and hurdles that would make anyone say, "you have a good excuse to not take care of your body!" In fact, there were many months in this past season of my life that I was just trying to survive! However, despite all of the unexpected and down right HARD things I have been through, I never stopped showing up and being consistent in caring for myself. I am convinced taking care of my body may have been the thing that helped me not to "go under" when I felt I might drown. I continued to progress in my fitness, even when it took a few steps back before going forward again. I continued to eat mindfully, nourishing my body with plenty of protein and good sources of healthy fat and fiber. I continued to renew my mind daily and speak His promises over my body, my life, and my mind, (as well as my family and others). I also chose to care for my body, even when I didn't feel like myself, knowing that I would again one day, if I didn't give up! So, I chose not to.

And that my friends, is the message I want to get out there with sharing my postpartum story today. Of course, even after two years after having my son, I don't feel the exact same as I did before having him, because I am not the same! My body has been the home to three beautiful children, and for that, I am forever grateful and honoring of my body!

I hope that no matter what obstacle you may be facing, whether hormonal changes, emotional struggles, fitness setbacks, major life changes, and even how you feel when you look in the mirror; I hope you take one thing from this message: DON'T GIVE UP!!! Keep moving your body, keep eating to nourish your body, and keep loving your body despite what it looks like, because loving your body will carry you further than hating it ever could!

I pray this message brings hope and encouragement to all the pregnant, postpartum, and women in any season of life that is on a weight loss journey today! Thank you for letting me share my heart as always, and continue to share what God is teaching me along the way! Love you all! xo Katie