A few weeks ago, I took off my wedding ring, and I haven’t been able to get it back on. I realized I had gained weight–and that this was the year to re-gain control of my health.
One of my major goals this year is to re-gain control of my health.
Even those who know me best might have the false perception that I’m a “health nut,” simply because my family avoids junk and overly-processed foods and always reaches for the natural remedies before conventional medicine.
And they wouldn’t be remiss to think that based on the contents of our refrigerator, freezer, pantry, and medicine cabinet.
I am a grace-filled natural mama, after all.
But the truth is:
1. We ate out way, way, way too much in 2015.
If I’m honest, we did so in 2014, too.
Coming out of a period of living on a low income where cooking from scratch was a necessity and eating out once a month was a splurge, we went a little overboard in the opposite direction.
Eating out doesn’t only ruin your budget, but it can also leave a serious negative impact on your health.
2. I don’t didn’t exercise.
You can eat the healthiest foods on the planet, but if you don’t get moving, your body will pay for it.
For a long time, my excuse not to exercise was that I had not fully healed my diastasis, and I was scared of further injuring it, but the truth is I didn’t take the time to work on this healing in 2015.
My husband and I got FitBits before our Costa Rica trip last summer, and I was shocked to learn I was only walking a couple thousand steps per day before we left for our trip!
3. I never lost my baby weight–from my “baby” who is now over 3 years old!
Clearly, this is directly tied to #1 and #2 above!
I gained 50 pounds during my 3rd pregnancy–back in 2012!!
I was not overweight when I got pregnant with her, but I was not underweight either.
Fifty pounds was way too much to gain.
The weight melted off of me after babies #1 and #2, but this has not happened with baby #3. I thought that perhaps my breastfeeding was contributing to the lack of weight loss since some women can’t lose weight while nursing, but my daughter weaned a year ago next month.
The truth of the matter is, my mostly sedentary lifestyle as a work-at-home mom and blogger has contributed to not only not losing the weight but also packing on more pounds the past few months.
I had not taken my wedding ring off for a couple of months until the other day. It was painful to get it off, but, to my horror, I could not get it on the next morning.
Yes, my wedding ring doesn’t fit.
I’ve now gone several weeks without wearing my wedding ring because it simply cannot get it on.
There is no one to blame for this weight gain but myself.
What I’m Doing to Re-Gain My Health:
1. We’re eating at home a whole, whole lot more.
I’m committing to eating more at home this year, and, when I remember to, I’m posting what we’re eating for dinner each night on Instagram, so you can hold me accountable to this! (Follow me on IG here.)
Right now, I’m finding joy in cooking through several new cookbooks I acquired over the past year:
Good Cheap Eats: Everyday Dinners and Fantastic Feasts for $10 or Less
Good Cheap Eats: Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less
Both of the Good Cheap Eats books are so, so good. They really live up to the claim of being on the table in 30 minutes or less, and that is what I so desperately need during this season of life. (Can I get an “Amen?!”) The recipes are made with real, whole foods as well, which is an added benefit!
The Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook
I have to admit: This has become my favorite cookbook! My hubby got it for me for my birthday in November, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
I won’t be writing about it a whole, whole lot, but realizing I couldn’t fit my wedding ring was like a fire under me to get serious about the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan. I’ve been following the plan for just under two weeks, and I’ve lost 3 pounds so far.
I am contemplating a little “Eat at Home” challenge, so please let me know if you would be up for joining me in this one step in regaining control of my health!
2. I’m getting back into the exercise habit–once and for all!
It will take a whole lot of intentionality and discipline, but I am determined to make exercise a habit again in 2016.
What am I doing?
I am walking around my neighborhood when weather and circumstances permit it, and I was happy to learn that it takes me just under an hour and gives me 5,000+ steps to walk my entire subdivision.
Plus, it gives me time to listen to one long or two short podcasts during each walk!
When I can’t walk (which, to be honest, is five out of seven days right now–at least!), I am using my favorite online fitness studio–Fit2B.
Save 30% off annual memberships at Fit2B using code humbledhomemaker!
Since Fit2B exercises are 100% diastasis friendly, it takes that excuse away immediately. You can read about why I love Fit2B so much in this post.
3. I’m making goals, and I’m making a plan to meet them.
Back in college, I began the tradition of taking an annual planning retreat to set goals and a vision for the year ahead. These goal-setting sessions have been immensely helpful in setting my focus for different seasons of life.
A few years ago, I put together an eBook to help other women take a personal planning retreat, as well. Your Retreat: A Guide to Giving Yourself a Personal Planning Day, includes encouragement and inspiration for taking your own retreat (whether it be a few hours at a coffee shop or a full weekend away). It includes 35 printables to lead you through your own planning session.
(I’ve used the printalbes myself, as you can see in some of the pictures in this post!)
I want you to know that you aren’t alone in feeling like you need to make some changes in your life. I am right there with you.
Once you take your retreat, please shoot me an email and let me know how it went! I would love to see how you are doing with your goals this year!
What are some of your health and wellness goals this year? Have you ever gained so much weight that you couldn’t fit your wedding ring? What helped you regain your health?
Rebecca
I love this post. Thank you for being so open! And thanks so much for the ebook! 🙂 I’m having the same problem with my weight and getting healthy. I’m taking back my health this year and my husband has decided to jump on board too! I hate not feeling good…all the extra weight has led to my anxiety being out of control and I’ve begun having symptoms of depression. So it’s time to take control! 🙂
Erin
That is so awesome that your hubby has jumped on board too! My husband lost 10 pounds while we were in Costa Rica this past summer because he gave us sweet tea. I have been so proud of him for making this healthier choice! I have issues with anxiety too. I think losing the weight, exercising more, and just making healthier choices will make a big impact. I hope you love the eBook and enjoy your “retreat”!! 🙂
Dawn
You can do it, Erin! I can definitely relate to the not exercising part. Last year I felt like I didn’t deserve to take time to exercise because I was struggling with other areas of my life and didn’t “earn” exercise time. I know that sounds crazy now!
My main health goal for 2016 is to exercise 20 minutes everyday. I also drink a glass of water every morning before eating breakfast or drinking coffee. While I haven’t gained a lot of weight, I have gotten flabby and I really want to fix that. We can do it! 🙂
Erin
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Dawn! I think 20 minutes is such a great goal–very attainable but not over-the-top!
Lexie
I’m proud of you, Erin!
Erin
Thank you, friend! Did you see your name on the goals sheet?! LOL I really need to text you back a longer answer! This week has been a little crazy for some reason! I’m proud of you too!
Deb
Very encouraging post, I am right there with you with the wedding ring and my youngest is 19! 😉 Oh, you have a typo in this sentence, “I am walking around my neighborhood when whether and circumstances permit it” should be WEATHER.
Erin
Thanks, Deb! That’s what I get for writing late at night when I should be in bed! 😉 *Cringe* I will make the correction.
Keelie Reason
Awe Erin, don’t beat yourself. It is that 3rd kid that totally does your body in. I’m serious. I lost all my baby weight right away with the first two and the 3rd it stuck around with a vengeance. It really worried me because I have never been able to lose weight before. I have tried to get smaller from the time I turned 14 on. I was always bigger than others.
Finally, I found that eating smaller portions was the biggest thing that I struggled with. Sticking within my calories made a huge difference and I lost 30pounds and kept most of it off. You’ll get there. Stick with your plans. Eat at home, work out, go with smaller portions. You will get there. I overate on breads, crackers, and other carbs. Those things just piled weight on me. When I cut back on the carbs, my body really started dropping the pounds.
Good luck on it. I know you will see significant changes if you work towards. If you don’t, it is ok too. As long as you are working towards healthy.
Love ya girl. Don’t stress. 😀
Erin
Awww! Thank you, Keelie! You are such a great encouragement! I hope we can meet in person one day!!!
Keelie Reason
That would be awesome. I doubt we are more than a few hours from each other. 😀
Erin
Do you ever see Ray and Karen? We should try to make it happen when they are visiting some time!
Helen
Erin! Thank you for writing this 🙂 I still don’t have my rings back on 🙁 I really need to get back with Beth because I certainly am not pregnant but you wouldn’t know it to see me! Time for some healing.
Some things I am doing this year are:
-Utilizing my fit2b membership (and we budgeted for the renewal in the spring!)
-Purchased a paper planner to keep things organized
-Got a journaling Bible and some fun art supplies so I can get in the WORD more
-Taking more time for me!!
Erin
I hope you find healing this year as well too, Helen! We are in this together! Hopefully we can both fit our wedding rings soon! Thanks for sharing what your plans are; I think taking time for ourselves is so important and healthy!
Sheila
Thank you for posting this! I have been in that situation. My wedding ring got so tight that it hurt to wear it. That was the final straw. I didn’t want to have to size up my wedding ring, again. I started doing my Leslie Sansone Walking videos, joined Fit2B ( I have a diastasis, too.) and logged what I ate. After doing that for a while, my husband and I bought FitBits, too. I logged what I ate on MyFitnessPal and started following some people who were encouraging and had success at weight loss. Leslie Sansone is so encouraging with fitness. Beth Learn (#Fit2B) is great with making exercise relevant and also offering a wide variety of different types of exercises…including stretching and relaxing! I managed to lose my weight and firm up. I did discover that losing weight and firming up are two different things. 😉 Thank you for offering your Retreat book today!
Erin
I hope I can lose weight and firm up too. Beth is such a godsend!! I hope you enjoy the eBook and printables!
Jenn
I think I gained 10 lbs over the holidays! Yikes!! (some of it is bloating…I have a feeling I’ve become a little gluten-intolerant) But still…too many sweets that I don’t usually eat and too much eating in general!
My 4th baby is 15 months, but I had a very hard pregnancy with her and she’s a terrible sleeper (and was colicky for 4 months), so it’s been a really rough 2 years, basically. During her pregnancy I could not cook most of the time, so there was a lot of eating out…our health suffered terribly! We spent a month+ last winter with at least one (usually 2 or more) kid seriously sick and I know it was because our bodies’ immune systems were not up to par. I’m back in the kitchen and starting to cook more and much less eating out (our budget is thankful for this, too!).
My goals are to lose this last 10-15 pounds and get moving more! I have a Garmin Viviofit so it helps motivate me when I am able to get out and walk. We spent a week in January visiting my in-laws in Arizona…it was so nice to be able to get out and really walk! Kansas winters don’t really cooperate with that plan! 😉 But just being much more active, even around the house, will go far in helping me feel better and be healthier!
Thanks for the ebook! I look forward to using it to set some good goals and make plans to see them through!
Erin
Your story sounds similar to mine, Jenn! I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight…I always wondered what the “holiday weight gain” fuss was all about. Not so now!! I am so glad you are re-gaining control of your health as well! We mamas are not alone in this!! I hope you love the printables and eBook!
Annastasia McPherson
Way to go on taking control back! I gained 70lbs, 64lbs, and 51lbs with my 3 C-section delivered pregnancies. I know the struggle. I am 5’1″ and I weighed in at 185lbs just over 3 years ago. I decided to make changes. I started to eat good, and dedicated myself to a 3 month regimen of working out at home! In that time, I wasn’t 100% perfect, but I did pretty good. I was able to go from a size 16 to an 8! Since then, I’ve kept it off! I feel SO MUCH better, healthier, and happier heading into my 40’s at a healthier size and fitness level! You can do it! Just remember to plan! That is really the key! 🙂
Erin
Wow! That is such a huge accomplishment,Annastasia! Congrats to you, and thank you for inspiring me!!
Jill York
I have a hard time with exercise! I was really consistent all last summer, but once I start homeschooling my 4 girls in the fall, I have SUCH a hard time fitting it in. I’ve determined this month to make it work, and I’ve done better.
Erin
I can feel your pain! I am the same way. I’m hoping that starting small will help.
cynthia
Oh, I hear ya! I have not been able to get my wedding band off for a year! So yes, I needed to hear this! You are a real encouragement! What is the “eat at home challenge”? We have recently really cut back on eating out because of the budget but I didn’t even think about the positive impact it might have on my weight – bonus!
I just saw and signed up for your “Your Retreat” book – thank you! I think it will be a good compliment to the Make Over Your Year class I’m doing.
Erin
I am in the Make Over Your Year course as well! I hope you enjoy the eBook and printables! I am hoping to launch an “Eat at Home” challenge in February. If you are signed up to my newsletter, you will get notified. It’s just something I want to do to encourage us ALL (me included!) to eat at home more. I will probably be including stuff about meal planning, etc. Right now, it’s just me posting my at-home meals on IG. I need the accountability as much as anyone else, and I am so thankful for this community of readers to keep me inspired!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
After all the crazy, gluttonous holiday eating, I am determined we get back on track with our diet. This morning I made homemade granola so that we can switch from boxed cereals again. They are a convenience thing during pregnancy, but it’s not so necessary anymore. Eating more meals at home is great. You’re not the only one with the habits to break! I want to make sure my kids understand that eating out is okay as a special thing, but meals at home are much healthier all around.
As far as exercise goes, I just haven’t ever been able to stay consistent with it. We don’t live in a neighborhood, so walking down the street is out. And with little legs, walking through the woods behind our house isn’t so much of a workout. More just a nature walk. But, I know it’s important and hopefully I’ll figure something out eventually. (How’s that for a goal?)
I hope that all your changes are successful! Mostly that they result in a happier, healthier family!
Erin
Thank you, Lisa!! Homemade granola is so yummy! So far, I’ve stuck with my new eating plan (Trim Healthy Mama) for two weeks, so here’s hoping I will continue it! I am pretty determined this time around! Also, since my youngest is 3 now, I’m finding exercise is a *little* more doable (they are all sleeping in later now too!!). So give yourself grace…you are nurturing another human being inside of you!! That nature walk sounds lovely! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Karen
I am doing physician-prescribed back flexibility exercises, after developing back spasms. I stepped off a curb and caught my heel a couple of weeks ago. The spasms are almost gone, a very good thing.
And, BTW, my wedding ring still fits, after 40-1/2 years of wearing it.
Melissa
Thank you for this post! I, too, am a victim of the “mysteriously shrinking wedding ring” … I like to think it’s because I’m so content with my marriage & life–but the fact is, I need to get off my hiney and MOVE!
Erin
LOL! I’m glad it’s not just me!!
brooke
Great goals! I love fit2be, too! I am hoping to lose some weight this year, but my main goal is to be active and strong. I probably won’t be starting for a bit. I just had a baby last week. 😉
Erin
Isn’t Fit2B amazing?! I had gotten out of the habit but am so glad to be working out “with Beth” again each day! I am only doing a 15-20-minute video, but I am telling myself that it’s better to start slow then to start hard-core and give up. CONGRATS on the new baby, Brooke!! That is so exciting!
Fredy
This is such a great post. Erin you so open to share your confession. It is really very encouraging post. Thank you for the share.
Jerica
We have some friends who have only removed sugar from their diets and they look AMAZING!
I just had my 6th baby and I too have the diastesis. I’m starting a 60 day weight loss challenge in April where I’ll only be removing sugar and gluten from my diet and incorporating walking as my exercise.
I’m not big on fad diets because everyone’s bodies are so different. However, almost everyone can use less sugar (even the “good” sugars) and I’m removing gluten to help with my psoriasis.
Babies do a number on our bodies! I think everything you’re doing will pay off with being able to get that ring back on! ?
Cynthia
Thanks for this, because I am in the same boat. My wedding ring also doesn’t fit, and I am also no longer making excuses and working to get it to fit again! So, you are not alone!
Erin
Thank you, Cynthia! Best wishes on your journey!
Beth
Hi, I haven’t worn my wedding ring in two years, but I just started a new healthier lifestyle 3 weeks ago and have already lost 23 pds. I feel like I should go in and size it but I’m losing weight and not sure how much I have to lose to fit into it. I long to wear it but I can’t get it over my knuckle so I’m thinking I probably will have it sized. But thank you for always being honest and encouraging.
Cathie
I am fascinated by this… what do you mean you took it off and wasn’t able to get it back on? Do you mean you wear it 24/7? If so isn’t that unhygenic when cooking?
I was looking for why rings don’t fit- I don’t wear mine – I don’t like jewelry.. I tried mine on and they wouldn’t fit but I didn’t realize because I never wear them. Did yours suddenly change?