from fat to fit … and back again

Emma Graham - 12 Apr 16

I don’t know about you, but I have always been a relatively chubby girl; I remember all too well the day, during a school swimming class when I was around 8 years old, how a boy said to me “You have got THE BIGGEST thighs in class!”
Now, I definitely wasn’t huge, but I was chubbier than all the other girls, and I always knew it.

Before I fell pregnant with my daughter, I decided to do a 3 day juice detox, I had been exercising religiously, had competed in my first half marathon about 6 months prior to my detox, and really wanted to try it out. I felt amazing after I had completed it; I had lost weight (I was the slimmest and healthiest I had ever been in my life) I was energised and sleeping better, and it also appeared I was at my most fertile, as low and behold, a month later I was with child!

What’s the point of this blog I hear you asking? Well, in all honesty it is about the current road I am on, which really does lead back from fit to fat. I lost a lot of my baby weight last year, I wasn’t excactly back to my pre-pregnancy size, but I was bloody damn close and I was happy with that, however, it seems this year (the year you’d think I’d lose even more weight) is the year I’m struggling with most.

I recently read a blog written by one of my dearest friends (a friend who is extremely fit and takes part in various athletic and competitive events throughout the year – shout out to Mother City Fit Girl in Cape Town) and it reminded me of a few certain facts:

1) We are all different. We shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to other mummies, who may have had easier/harder births, easier/harder babies to contend with, or easier/harder jobs to go back to once maternity leave is over. Each one of us has a very unique journey ahead of us, and I could sit here all day comparing myself to all those yummy mummies who are back in their pre-pregnancy skinny jeans, but it wouldn’t make any difference – I am struggling with my weight, I am trying to do something about it, and that’s the best I can do.

2) SO WHAT if I am a little bit chubbier again? I carried a baby for 9 months, I nurtured her and protected her from everything and anything that could be thrown at me, and she is healthy and happy. She’s really not going to care whether my jeggings are elasticated or not!

3) My body will never be the same again; I’ve come to terms with that fact, especially seeing as this year (and last) I have faced various illnesses which have come about from having my daughter. I have never been on antibiotics so often (and for so long) in my life than I have done in the past year and a half.

Until I am back to my slimmest (which, let’s face it, might never happen *sob* – I definitely have a Mummy Tummy going on, C-Sections really can be a bitch) I will continue to try and better myself, and will make conscious efforts to be as healthy as possible, but for the time being I will have to make do with my current, chubbier bod, which I still think is pretty damn amazing.

So this blog is for all you marvellous mummies, who have carried, nurtured and protected your babies at every cost possible, remember just how AMAZING you really are. Whether your baby is 1 week, 1 month, 1 year or even 10 years old, be proud of your post-pregnancy bodies, they are truly amazing!

P.S – I will be doing another juice detox soon, it really did make me feel amazing and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who thinks they would like to try it – Long Live the Juicer!

Emma Graham

First time Mum to Evie Rose, who is 15 months old. Currently juggling life working full time whilst trying to enjoy as many special moments with Evie as possible. Starbucks and shoe addict, the latter more for my daughter now than myself.

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