20 lbs in 20 weeks ***please hide the Cadbury Mini Eggs, ‘cause I’m lowkey struggling.***

Springtime is the season of renewal. I’m feeling a deep sense of that these days. I’ve been focused on decluttering my house and mind these past few weeks, but I’ll be honest, this post-partum body still needs work. I have 3 inches of abdominal separation (moderate diastasis recti) contributing to a lovely bulge in my tummy, so you won’t catch me being a fitness model anytime soon. I have to be careful with the exercises I do, because it could make the tearing worse, and as such, the protruding tummy too…well goddamn. Am I ever going to want to wear a bathing suit again?

I’m being gentle with myself all around. I birthed a baby 5 months ago. And recognizing what my body did and continues to do for me---like produce a fuckton of milk for my growing girl, for starters---I respect the fact that biologically speaking, it’s primed to hold onto extra fat stores to ensure I keep my baby well fed. That said, I can’t exactly diet or reduce calories significantly or my milk supply will drop. But I can do 12-14 hr fasts without detriment to my precious supply, so I’m doing that. I’ll admit, I hate anything exercise related, save for cycling, yoga, pilates and hiking, so I’m hoping these activities if done regularly (but not intensely enough to further tear my stomach) will suffice to keep me toned and aid in stress reduction, which will help my metabolism too. I’ll also continue to baby-carry while walking the dog, and try to get in some rainy day workouts using the ringfit on the Nintendo Switch during my daughter's tummy time. Men never have to worry about this kind of stuff. It's annoying.

Anyway, by mid-August, I hope to see these last 20 lbs slip off. I’ll never be a size 2 (that ship sailed 15 years ago when I started dating my husband) and that’s fine, but I want to look cute in a pair of size 4 jean shorts again. For the love of God, why does it have to be Cadbury Mini Egg season right now though???