Since becoming a Mummy for the first time last November, a number of things have changed in my life. And I’m not merely talking about the sleepless nights, dirty nappies and a house full of colourful, noisy and well-chewed toys.
Everybody knows that with a new baby comes responsibility, unconditional love, stress, irresistible chuckles and gurgles, anxiety and the joy of watching the developmental stages arrive. But often overlooked – or in my case, ignored – is the issue of weight gain (my husband’s as well as mine, how does that work?!). I would like purely to blame my recent ‘blossoming’ on having carried my darling daughter for nine months and the ensuing hectic lifestyle that comes with this gorgeous little bundle of joy. But if I’m being honest (and I might as well be) I can’t lay the blame solely at that one door. In truth, I’ll probably be using the ‘I’ve had a baby’ excuse for my Rubenesque stature until Holly’s 30th birthday but I need look no further than a long-forgotten hobby for the cause of my ever-expanding waistline and constantly shrinking wardrobe.
You see, since Holly’s arrival, I’ve rediscovered the joys of home baking. I used to bake. I always enjoyed it.
Now? It’s become somewhat of an obsession. I. Just. Can’t. Stop. Baking…
And when one bakes, one must inevitably eat what one has produced, leading to the onset of what I like to call a good old-fashioned healthy roundness and glow. Yeah right. Who am I kidding? This is pure, out and out weight gain, and whichever way I look at it, my clothes are getting tighter by the day! My bathroom scales aren’t too impressed either.
You see I blame breastfeeding. While I was feeding Holly myself I was able to, within reason, eat just about anything I wanted. Being a total lover of food this was a wonderful, exhilarating and liberating time for me. I’ve always battled with my weight like so many others, but while I was breastfeeding I couldn’t fail to lose my baby weight without even trying – perfect.
But then I stopped breastfeeding. Perhaps the mistake I made was not stopping eating like I was still breastfeeding? Could have been. And so, my celebrated weight loss during that time of scrumptious excess was slowly but absolutely cancelled out.
But how does one resist the lure of chocolate cupcakes? Coffee-fly cakes? Triple chocolate brownies? It’s definitely impossible. Especially for me as I have absolutely no willpower at all when it comes to baked goodies. I am the slave of a yummy treat. There, I’ve said it.
And so it has come to pass. For the sake of my daughter, my health, my weight and all inanimate objects that must bear that said weight, I’ve had to stop baking. It’s been an effort but I’ve managed to put my obsession to one side, for now, and head off the inevitable weight gain that has become a part of my life.
Perhaps now would be a good time to brush the gathering dust off my trainers and unearth that long forgotten sports gear to head out in search of some of that stuff they call exercise. So here starts my quest to become a ‘yummy mummy’ rather than a Mummy that says ‘Yummy’… a lot!
Maybe I’ve just time for a quick cuppa, chocolate biscuit (bought of course, I no longer create my own) and a cuddle from my little angel… after all, she isn’t going to be a baby for long!
by Helen Bowman © 2011
Helen Bowman is a freelance writer, editor and proof reader who lives in Whitley Bay and works with small companies, individuals and groups to write, edit and proof read articles, press releases, website copy and all forms of the written word.
Contact her on 07725 196929 or at helen@in-the-detail.co.uk for more information.
