I gained 12 pounds while pregnant, but quickly lost it thanks to magnificent calorie-burning power of breastfeeding.  Within a couple of months after giving birth, I found myself 5 pounds less than my pre-pregnancy weight.  I could eat like a linebacker and still maintain my weight. For a foodie like myself, that was pure bliss.

That was short-lived, however, as the nursing slowed down when Baby Champuru turned 6 months old and the weight returned.  I was still eating like a linebacker and starting to resemble one, too.  (Okay, slight use of hyperbole there, but you get the idea.)

When I weighed myself yesterday, I was aghast to see that I was 5 pounds OVER my pre-pregnancy weight.  Shari’s wedding is coming up in late October and I’m her matron of honor.  Although the dress that Shari selected for me is quite forgiving, I would prefer to be about 10 pounds lighter than I am now.  So that’s my goal: lose 10 pounds by Shari’s wedding.  Ambitious, I know.

How do I intend to do that?  Diet and exercise.  I’m reducing my carb intake and increasing my exercise.  I am hoping to go for a brisk 40-minute walk at least once a day, 5 out of 7 days a week.  Hopefully that won’t be too little, too late for my October 24 goal.  I have exactly 2 months to accomplish this.  Can I do it?  We’ll find out.

I gained 12 pounds during pregnancy and quickly lost 18 pounds shortly after I gave birth thanks to a rigorous nursing schedule when Baby Champuru was a newborn.  When she hit six months, the nursing slowed down and I began to supplement feedings with formula.  Due to a lack of exercise and overly enthusiastic eating, the scale is starting to tip in the wrong direction again.  I’m hoping to stop this trend before it gets out of hand, but as a new mom, finding time for exercise isn’t always easy.

Hubby’s new hobby is biking, and although I don’t share the same ardor for the activity, he managed to find something for me during his recent trip to the bike shop: a pair of FitTrek Nordic Walking Poles.  When he brought them home, I was less than excited.  To be honest, I’ve seen people walking around the neighborhood with those poles and thought it actually looked quite comical.  After all, it looks like cross-country skiing without the benefit of snow and a fabulous cold-weather outfit.  Seeing the price tag still hanging from the poles ($89.95), I thought I better give them a chance.

So, that afternoon, we put Baby Champuru in the stroller and I wielded my new Nordic walking poles.  It took a little getting used to, but after a while, I got into a good stride and they actually felt great!  The poles help you get a better full-body workout during your walk, without increasing your pace.

Here’s a description of the benefits of Nordic walking from Wikipedia:

Nordic walking can be done year round in any climate and anywhere a person of any age or ability might otherwise walk without poles. It combines simplicity and accessibility of walking with simultaneous core and upper body conditioning similar to Nordic skiing. The result is a full-body walking workout that can burn significantly more calories without a change in perceived exertion or having to walk faster, due to the incorporation of many large core and other upper-body muscles which comprise more than 90% of the body’s total muscle mass and do work against resistance with each stride. “Normal walking” utilizes only 70% of muscle mass with full impact on the joints of the legs and feet.

Nordic walking produces up to a 46% increase in energy consumption compared to walking without poles.[2] It can also increase upper body muscle endurance by 38% in just twelve weeks.

My plan is to be able to take baby with me in the Beco Baby Carrier while Nordic walking.  The poles should also offer the benefit of increased stability while I walk.  So, if you see me backpacking Baby Champuru with my Nordic walking poles, please try not to point and laugh. I’m doing it for my health.

Mahealani, the great fitness instigator, has rounded up the walking posse for another walk/run event.  This time, it is the Ford Island Bridge Run on April 4, 2009.

I have to be honest. My fitness routine has been a big, fat zero lately. (Emphasis on fat.)  I blame the cold/rainy wintry weather for keeping me sequestered indoors.  The prospect of participating in a 10k (6.2 mile) walk in exactly one month may just be the thing to get me off my butt.  Not to mention Mahealani has advised me that our goal is the “15-minute mile.”

Hubby has agreed to be Mr. Mom that morning while I participate in the event.  After all, how often do you get an opportunity to walk across the Admiral Bernard Clarey Bridge and around Ford Island?

Gratuitous Baby Champuru camera phone photo

Tonight, I went with Jan to hip hop class again — our third time — and it seems to get a little better with each session.  The comfort level is increasing and I’m actually having a blast learning a new dance routine each week.  Of course, I’ll likely never look as cool and effortless as the other (younger) attendees, but the fact is I’m having fun and I’m getting a good workout at the same time.  I enjoy the mental workout as much as the physical workout of a dance class. It’s so much more entertaining than running on a treadmill for 30 minutes.

Right now, our weekly hip hop class is all the exercise I get.  Unless you count the arm workouts I get from carrying Baby Champuru.  (At her last weigh-in yesterday, she was 14 lbs. 14 oz. with her clothes on.)  The busyness of our daily routine often leaves me wondering where the day went.  I really need to make a concerted effort to get more exercise into my schedule.