This is the first morning since Blythe was born that I'm all alone downstairs (sans baby, toddler, husband) with just my coffee and my pup. Also, probably the first Saturday in about 3 months that I haven't been hopping on the trainer to get a "long ride" started.
It's crazy to think that I'm 3 months into official training for my next race. It does look like there is a good chance of it actually happening but that's not something I put much energy into worrying about. If it happens, awesome. If it doesn't then at least I'm in shape.
Since my last post, I turned the big 4-0 (new age group), Blythe (Bug) is 7 months old and I'm fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine. AND I got a new bike!! March 1st was supposed to be my last day of breastfeeding/pumping but I'm having a harder time stopping than I thought I would. There are two freezers in the basement that are full of frozen milk that's enough to get us to a year BUT the chance that I may be giving Bug antibodies against this virus is really keeping me going. (and a small dose of guilt as I did it for 1 year for Sloane).
It won't mean much to folks who have never done it but I'm only pumping 4 times a day. That's about 1 hour and 15 minutes of being attached to the pump, not including all the washing parts, bagging excess and just hating life:) Stopping would absolutely open up more time for training and snuggling with my girls. It may also mean that I stop eating everything in sight. Between breastfeeding and training slowly ramping up, my other hobbies include eating. This brings me to another postpartum topic....WEIGHTLOSS!!
I have never been a person who jumps on the scale regularly or ever really. I view it as a number, a number that I refuse to let dictate my day. I do go by how I feel and apart from my chest, I'm starting to feel like myself again. I gained probably 40 lbs with Blythe and I'm guessing I've lost the majority of that but if I hear one more person tell me I need to "get my body back" I may implode. WHAT I AM getting back are watts on the bike and faster swim and run times!! Society's constant emphasis on appearance has got to stop.
While probably well intentioned, I've heard "you've really bounced back" many times as well. No. Bouncing, to me, implies a certain level of ease or effortlessness. The first swim, bike and run after having a baby is not easy. Physically or mentally. My body seemed foreign to me so I had to learn how to move it all over again. Sure, I started feeling more "normal" after several weeks but it is taking consistently choosing to get up and go and no go back to bed after pumping. So I'm just keeping swimming, running, cycling and pumping.....
