So here we are.

                   

February 20, 2019                                                                      April 15, 2019

There are 7.5 weeks between these two pictures. The first was taken just before I started BBG. I am now halfway through the BBG 12-week program and in week 4 of FWTFL. I am stronger, leaner, and lighter. I sleep better, I have more energy consistently and readily available throughout the day. I weighed 170lbs on the left and have no idea how much I weigh now, but honestly wouldn't be surprised if the difference was minimal as I have put on a considerable amount of muscle. I accomplished this without pills, meal replacements, or any extraordinary measures, and I’m proud of that.

Despite a deep and hard-fought respect for my body, sharing these pictures is not easy for me. I understand and respect my body so much differently now at 36 than I did in my 20s, but I still struggle with comparison, and even comparisons against my younger, though not necessarily healthier, self. I also don’t want to imply in any way that I look at my body at the beginning of this journey and think any less of it, or myself. That body in that form was healing from growing a new life and giving birth for a third time. The postpartum period has, for me, never been a predictable transition, and l think it’s necessary to show postpartum bodies in all their forms. Some women bounce right back and some don’t. Some women do this once and some a dozen. But no matter our individual journeys to and through motherhood, we are all held to the same worldly standard of physical ideal, and I think we have all wondered at least once if we are the only one occupying the uncomfortable space in which we find ourselves in that strange time after. That time when we’re no longer celebrating a drastically changed body because it’s pregnant, nor are we receiving praise for a body that we’ve quickly put back together. So for that reason and so many others I am sharing my truth and showing what at least one postpartum body can look like - for women who could benefit from the camaraderie and for men and women alike who could benefit from the reality.

With the exception of being lightened so you can actually see me, these are unfiltered and unedited. If I ever had more than five seconds to take them they might be better composed, or maybe I would have pushed the laundry out of the way. But I also like that it’s there and these are perfectly imperfect shots, because this is what life really is every time I make the choice to give back some time to myself. It is always a choice for me over something else. The work of life is never done.

I have nothing but positive feedback to give about the BBG program. There are more intense, more equipment-centered, heavy lifting methods of building strength, but if you, like me, need a focused, efficient resistance workout with minimal equipment, this is for you. I enjoy getting to the gym for the community aspect and to work out on equipment occasionally, but with three small kids, a busy job, a husband with an equally busy job, and the endless demands of home, this is my speed right now. And it’s FANTASTIC! I’ve done BBG exclusively for 7 weeks, could have probably gone up in weight a few weeks back, but kept putting off buying next size dumbbells, and still... here we are.

BBG and Instagram are near-synonymous these days, but in case you’ve never heard of it or are curious to hear more about it, here’s my take. Yes, it’s trendy, and I avoided it for a long time for that lone, dumb reason. It’s trendy because it works – as any program will if you commit to following it, but the structure of this one is what makes it a good fit for me and where I am right now in life. The basic program runs for 12 weeks. Each week consists of 3 resistance workouts – one arms and abs, one legs, and one full body. Each workout is broken down into two circuits of four exercises each that you try to complete as many laps of as possible in a 7 minute segment. The two circuits alternate until you have done each circuit twice for a total of 28 minutes. There are one minute breaks between circuits if you need them or you can skip through. The Sweat app (which I have and love) prompts you through each workout, with a little hologram Kayla Itsines (the founder) demonstrating each move. There are modifications for some of the harder moves, which is much appreciated in the beginning as you’re building strength and endurance. Each workout also includes a cool down at the end, which in my slightly older age I also highly recommend. The workouts are very hard, you will be dripping sweat everywhere, but it’s over before you know it and the results, I think, speak for themselves. To be able to give myself back this strength working out at home with $100 in equipment (a few sets of 5-10lb dumbbells, a flat bench, and a yoga mat) for about 90 minutes of time invested a week is invaluable.

BBG also alternates cardio, both low and high impact, in between resistance training days. I have not done cardio AT ALL consistently, maybe managing a run 1-2 a week in a GOOD week and can only imagine what my results would have been had I had the luxury of a treadmill or babysitter on demand to get out consistently. But I just recently bought a treadmill and the weather is gorgeous again, so I can take all my kids to the track with my local moms running group and hopefully start adding the cardio in more consistently. I’m not putting pressure on myself to hit every single cardio day, but I’m saying all this only for full disclosure that while I have had amazing results with the resistance portion of this program, there is more it can do depending on your level and ability of commitment.

And Faster Way to Fat Loss, or FWTFL. This probably deserves its own post, but since it is a near act of God to write anything longer than a text these days, I’m leaving it here. Hopefully I can do it justice.

Nutrition. What the heck to eat. Hands down my biggest challenge, always, forever, since the dawn of time. And especially so after having a baby and breastfeeding where your body just wants to be fed non-stop. Prepping enough whole food options is a joke with three kids, one of whom is a newborn... But I’ve done this before. Two times in fact. After my first and second babies I had the time and bandwidth to research and teach myself about basic nutrition and I was smart enough to realize putting good food in would not only get good results out, but also not undermine the physical work and effort being put in. So what was different this time? Everything and nothing. Going from two to three was easier than going from one to two in just about every single way except time. From the time we walk through the door at the end of the day until we tuck them in at night there is no stopping. There is no sitting. There is no meal planning or even cooking if it requires more than 1 pan and 15 minutes. Everyone is happy and healthy and well, but it’s nonstop, and when they finally rest, the work for us begins again. We bring work home, I have school, my husband has a team to manage… and we’re not special. This is life in the you can have it all era of having everything. Every single thing we make time for is a choice – including fitness and nutrition. And what a luxury that is.

So one day, a friend on the social webs posted that she was starting a round of the faster way. Being a supporter of all good efforts to improve one’s health, I immediately clicked to follow her new account and went down the rabbit hole of hashtags to see what Faster Way to Fat Loss was all about. A first I heard alarms. It looked and sounded a lot like an MLM, maybe a little social-culty, but there were also tons and tons of pictures of women who looked a lot like me with results that looked like they had been achieved sustainably. I read through several feeds and didn’t see any signs of pills or detox teas or excessive meal replacements. No product, just method. I googled and asked a ton of questions. Went through the feed of my friend’s coach and felt like I was reading about myself… working mom of three, wanting a long-term, sustainable plan for whole food nutrition that is inclusive and adaptable to just about every lifestyle. I checked into the science and credentials and found that the certification is approved by NASM and AFAA for recertification CEUs. I asked more questions.

It’s expensive. $199 to join a group for 7 weeks total and work with one of FWTFL’s certified coaches. But that $199 came with a ton of information and support. Resources and plans to support you along the way. Privacy, but also a Facebook group for accountability. I’ve spent $199 on my hair this year and still couldn’t pull up my jeans, so it very quickly became an easy decision for me. I realize full well that $199 is cost prohibitive for a lot of people. It’s cost prohibitive for me, but I also had several non beneficial ways I was spending money staring me in the face. Ways that were hurtful to and no longer serving me or my goals. So I decided to stop putting my money there and instead invest it here. I am so glad I did.

FWTFL is intermittent fasting and macro tracking, combined with effective workouts timed to get the max benefit and convert your body from burning sugar for energy to burning fat. I kind of wish it had a different name, but 4 weeks in I can’t argue that it’s working. It works with the 12 week BBG program, but gym and home workouts are also provided as part of FWTFL, and many people follow only the nutrition plan and still see phenomenal results. I’m seeing muscles emerge that I haven’t seen in over a year. And the greatest gift of all for me has been that I have lost all anxieties surrounding food. I don’t question whether every single bite is going to hurt me or help me. I wanted my nutrition to partner with and support my workouts and I was overwhelmed with how to do that. This program has given me an entirely doable framework without ever being hungry or feeling like am depriving myself of anything. I have quit every single diet or nutritional plan I have ever tried. I have been following this program (not a diet!) for four weeks now and I can say confidently that it is, as my coach said it would, becoming an automatic part of my day.

And I want to pause here for a second and say I am so wholly aware of the very real, crippling anxieties surrounding food and exercise that can not be taken away with a meal plan. I am not suggesting that this program is a cure for any diagnosable mental illness or eating disorder. I am a lifelong survivor of depression and anxiety and take very seriously the need to separate alleviating symptoms from actual clinical treatment. Too many messages hit my inbox suggesting the latest and greatest patch or ointment can cure my anxiety problems forever! And this is so dangerous. If you are not someone’s therapist or medical doctor you have exactly zero business trying to diagnose or treat them in any way. Oils can’t kill norovirus and vitamins can’t cure clinical depression. I take it very seriously when those assumptions are made of me and I would never impose those assumptions on someone else. Everything I share here or anywhere across social media is purely my own experience – good and bad – and I will always share honestly and answer any questions or criticisms with thoughtfulness and respect.

So what now? Our group just started week 4 of the faster way. I’m starting BBG week 7 over again since the stomach flu ravaged our house in the middle of last week. I feel better than I have in years, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I feel capable of keeping this going. I feel both disciplined and freed. And I know something has truly changed inside, because even though I have goals yet to achieve I am entirely at peace with trusting this process and letting those results come in their own time. I believe if I respect my body and not try to trick it into submission it will reward me with longevity and resilience, and what I build I will keep. I am not afraid of summer or swimsuit season. And I am grateful.

Lastly, I’m sharing an affiliate link for Faster Way to Fat Loss below. If you’re interested in signing up, I cannot recommend my coach, Melissa Shannon, enough. She has answered all of my questions, been completely approachable, and wonderfully supportive of our group. I trusted the referral of a friend and have not been disappointed. Linking Melissa’s Instagram below as well. 

Faster Way to Fat Loss Link

Melissa B Shannon Instagram