Pickles... (Skip the Ice Cream!)

Documenting my journey to be a healthy pregnant mommy-to-be!

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US WEEKLY COVER: Kate Middleton & Kim Kardashian’s Pregnancy Bond Over Weight Ridicule

More celebrity body comparisons...

Let's not forget these two ladies are seven inches in height different in the first place... different body types... and two unique individuals. 

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"Healthy Celebrity Pregnancies"

I admit, I love celebrity gossip...so I am part of the problem. I get US weekly and love to know the latest dirt, who is breaking up, getting back together, and who is pregnant. So I was curious today what celebrities are healthy pregnant.... Hmmmm, when I searched "healthy celebrity pregnancies" the very first link was . So many things are wrong with this...but I know the pressure must be enormous for celebrities to be back to their pre-baby weight within a month (or shortly there after). While Jessica Simpson went a bit overboard (most likely) with gaining weight, she also had so much press for not losing it as quickly as "we" think she should. As a non-celebrity, how do we have any hope to live up to these standards? The answer is we don't. We don't have personal chefs, personal trainers, and can't take off of work many times for longer than 6 weeks or so. If the celebrities have a hard time shedding the baby weight, it's no wonder the average Jill does too! Hopefully the next time I run that search I actually get an article about healthy celebrity pregnancies...

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Setting Goals

The online world is very critical.  Many people would assume that because I struggle with my weight means that I am careless, lazy, and don't work at my weight would be a huge misconception.  I work hard at things (however I love to eat).  I watch my portions (but love going out to eat where the portions are not always in my my favor).  I go to the gym (but not as often as I should).  Altogether, I would have to give myself a C for effort... definitely not where I want to be.

Anyone trying to lose weight (which I have done a lot of) will tell you the first step in losing weight should be setting goals.  So here is an article that helped provide me some perspective.  http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/prenatal-care/underweight-nutrition-pregnancy_71350

Based on my current weight and height--a comfortable size 12-14, I have a BMI of 29ish, which means I should be only gaining 15-25 pounds during a pregnancy). 

However, if I am at my goal weight--more like a size 8-10, I would have a BMI of 26ish, which means I should gain 25-35 pounds.

While there isn't a huge difference in what my overall weight would be, which is healthier?  Which is going to allow for a healthier pregnancy?  Which leaves better opportunity to get pregnant in the first place.  It is NOT all about the number/weight... it is all about getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy, and being a healthy mom for years and years. 

So, while my goal weight is in print.... it is NOT about this number.  It is about giving myself the best chance to get pregnant, stay pregnant, and having a healthy baby. 

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Wow-- this is not my goal, but I can see why this happens.  Especially these celebrities that are tiny, and have personal trainers, chefs, etc and drop the baby weight in a month.  This is just not realistic-- especially for those of us who struggle with our weights without being pregnant!

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Why blog?

I'm looking into a very foggy crystal ball right now, and I'm not going to lie that really bothers me.  I am a planner, an organizer, and a "to-do-lister" and in my near future I hope to be a mom.  My husband and I have been talking about trying to get pregnant next summer.  What worries me most is that I have always struggled with my weight.  I've never been at my ideal weight.  It has been something I have always struggled with.  I have the same body issues that most women have, but as I near the idea of mommy-dome, I also think about the fact that this means weight-gain, my body changing somewhat out of my control, and the crazy days of newborns when going to the gym is a non-existent option.  How can I reel in some of the worry I have about this? 

The best way I can think to do this is do get myself to my healthiest NOW, before getting pregnant.  I have a goal in mind.  I used to think I wanted to be a skinny mom, a size two running after my kids... but this is really not what I want.  I want to be an active mom, a healthy mom, and a mom that can keep up with my kids and be around for a long time.  So, I'm going to try documenting this journey.  Both for other moms-to-be, and also for those struggling with weight--but most importantly to keep myself honest and to hopefully gather some support from other bloggers going through the same things.