My Zumba Weight Loss Journal(Pics)

*Warning, lots of text!*
I just had my baby on November 12, 2010 and I gained A LOT of weight while I was pregnant. My pre-pregnancy weight was 160 and my weight at the time of her birth was 218. I lost only 18 pounds from actually giving birth(making me appx. 200 lbs...yikes) and since then I have gotten down to 173.6 lbs. through diet(after 6 weeks recovery) and exclusively breastfeeding. I think it is time to add some exercise to the mix since my baby is going to be 3 months old soon and I am choosing to do ZUMBA!

Start date: Jan. 25
Height: 5'7"
Starting Weight: 173.8
Current Weight: 171.2
Pre-Pregnancy Weight: 160
Goal Weight: 150
Weight left to lose: 13.8 to pp/ 23.8 to goal

Pant Size: 8(tighter in thighs) or 10(loose on hips) in Women's/ Size 9 Juniors
Shirt Size: Usually a large due to my boobs, but sometimes a medium or XL.

Measurements:
Thigh: 24in
Upper Arm: 13in
Waist: 32in
Hips: 40in
Chest: 43in

My workout week schedule(starting Jan 26):
Day 1: Cardio Party
Day 2: Sculpt and Tone
Day 3: Cardio Party
Day 4: Cardio Party
Day 5: 20 Minute Express
Day 6: Sculpt and Tone
Day 7: 20 Minute Express

It is hard for me to post pictures of what my body looks like now. I am not happy with it and that is why I am trying to change. I do however want to look back and see my progress and provide these for anyone interested in my results.

Before Pictures:
From the side, not sucking in and standing up straight-
From the front, not sucking in and standing up straight with legs slightly apart-
From the back, legs together-

What I see and want to change: I'd basically like to get my pre-pregnancy body back. I want a flat stomach and to lose the love handles I gained. My upper arms and thighs are also areas I'd like to see a reduction in. I also would like the fat on my hips to slim down. I WOULD LOVE MY BOOBS TO SHRINK! I like having curves so I don't want to be stick skinny, hence the goal weight of 150. After I hit my goal weight I may move on to a different workout to tone up. As you can see on my stomach I got a few stretchmarks above my bellybutton and a slight pooch towards the bottom. I have been pretty athletic during my life up through high school(I am 21 now) so it shouldn't be too hard to reach my goals!

Overall my main goal is to feel sexy, healthy, and to set a good example for my baby girl. I don't want her to have the body image issues I am having currently.

OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS:
-I exclusively breastfed so I burn more calories a day than someone who does not and wants to do this workout.
-I am on a diet of healthy foods at appx. 1700 calories a day(more than the usual 1200-1500 due to breastfeeding and now Zumba)
-My breast size is a 36H American so my proportions may seem different for someone of the same weight wanting to see my results.
-I am on birth control, the Depo-Provera shot. It has not made me gain weight yet as far as I can tell but it may.
-I will also take my daughter on appx. a 2.5 mile walk at least on some of the days of the week. It depends on her mood!

Well, that is all I can think of. If you have any questions or would like to join me, feel free. I hope to write in this everyday and update pictures every two weeks depending on my weight loss.

Quoting Meow+1:" *Warning, lots of text!* I just had my baby on November 12, 2010 and I gained A LOT of weight while I ... [snip!] ... like to join me, feel free. I hope to write in this everyday and update pictures every two weeks depending on my weight loss."

I'm jealous you look great! What kind of fitness program are you doing?

Good Luck!

pffft.. screw you. I don't even look like that WHEN I'm sucking in!


Good luck!

Quoting Mommy of 2 + 1 angel:" I'm jealous you look great! What kind of fitness program are you doing?"

I haven't done any exercise yet until today starting Zumba workouts, so it is mostly cardio. I tried like 4 days ago to do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred but it made me so sore I couldn't bend over which does not mix well with a 2 and a half month old lol.

Quoting Meow+1:" I haven't done any exercise yet until today starting Zumba workouts, so it is mostly cardio. I tried ... [snip!] ... Michael's 30 Day Shred but it made me so sore I couldn't bend over which does not mix well with a 2 and a half month old lol."

oh I've never heard of zumba lmao. I just thought you made that up haha. My bad.

Quoting Mommy of 2 + 1 angel:" oh I've never heard of zumba lmao. I just thought you made that up haha. My bad."

Lol Don't feel bad. It has only recently gotten popular, at least from my knowledge, so a lot of people still don't know what it is. It is just latin dancing made into a high impact cardio routines pretty much.

Also thanks for the good luck everyone  

Quoting Meow+1:" Lol Don't feel bad. It has only recently gotten popular, at least from my knowledge, so a lot of people ... [snip!] ... so a lot of people still don't know what it is. It is just latin dancing made into a high impact cardio routines pretty much."

That sounds like a lot of fun!

Quoting Mommy of 2 + 1 angel:" That sounds like a lot of fun!"

Yeah, it is recommended for people who want to workout but hate doing it. Perfect for me. lol I am not such a great dancer though so I will probably look foolish, but oh well!

Good luck mama!

Quoting Peace.Hope.Love:" Good luck mama!"

Thanks! Love your avatar picture(or whatever it is called) btw!

Quoting Meow+1:" Yeah, it is recommended for people who want to workout but hate doing it. Perfect for me. lol I am not such a great dancer though so I will probably look foolish, but oh well!"

lol me either. haha. Good Luck!

Okay! I did the basics part of the DVD tonight and learned all the moves for the real workouts. It still got me sweating because I kept doing the moves while they would explain. I doubt I burned too many calories, but it is just the learning portion of the DVD! It was fun. Much more fun than 30DS.

I think I will start doing workouts in the morning instead of at night. My baby doesn't like to go to bed until at least 9 PM so it is hard to work out that late. Tonight grandma watched her while I did my thing.

If anyone is interested I track my eating and calories at livestrong.com/thedailyplate and I like it a lot.

Quoting Meow+1:" Okay! I did the basics part of the DVD tonight and learned all the moves for the real workouts. It still ... [snip!] ... I did my thing. If anyone is interested I track my eating and calories at livestrong.com/thedailyplate and I like it a lot."

Very cool, I wish our class taught the beginning steps. I go take classes at my gym. I like to mix it up so I go to cycling, step, zumba.. and then do my own thing some times when I go. With the zumba class, though.. it's the same fore beginners and experts lol.. so we just got to jump in and make the most of it!

I'm pretty sure I look like a fool too but it's fun!  

I use myfitnesspal.com to track my calorie intake and burn. I also bought a cheap HRM with a chest strap for when I work out. The first time I did zumba I burned over 700 calories!!!