It’s been 7 weeks since I walked into the hospital at 7 centimeters and squeezed my little chubster out 2 hours later. She is getting bigger every day, and I, thankfully, seem to be getting smaller.
At my 6 week appointment last week I learned I am 15 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight, having lost 28 lbs since Leyna was born. I’m wearing my first pair of non-elastic waist pants today, and while I’m happy with my progress so far (go calorie burning boobies!), I’m eager to tone up, slim down, and fit back into some more of my old clothes.
Now, before some of you start telling me to “take it easy,” believe me when I say I’m not about to embark on some sort of crash diet. I get that I may not lose all of those last 15 lbs for a long time, especially while I’m still breastfeeding. It’s not so much about the weight for me as it is about just getting active again and firming up a bit. Before I got pregnant with Leyna, I was fresh out of training for and running a marathon and in the best shape of my adult life. I don’t want to get too far from where I was. I don’t want to get too comfortable, too complacent.
But how will I fit in working out with 2 kids now? Especially after we had to cancel our membership to 24 Hour Fitness because I’d rather leave my children in the care of monkeys who very well may throw feces at them than the people they choose to staff their childcare center with. I can’t run with Leyna just yet, she’s too small for the jogging stroller and it’s still a little too chilly for long runs.
Enter the Wii.
As a pre-teen, I played Nintendo for hours on end. I’m fairly certain I spent an entire summer cooped up in my best friend’s room, tirelessly plugging away at Super Mario Brothers 1,2 and 3 until we beat each one. I was, to be completely honest with you all, a TOTAL NINTENDO BADASS. You know… until that became WAY uncool,and, like, I wanted to impress boys and stuff… so then I started playing with makeup.
Then last year the lovely Justine from Brand About Town reached out to me to see if I might be interested in becoming a Nintendo Ambassador. I think my inner 11 year old peed herself a little while the outter 29 year old tried her very best to remain composed and calm at our casual meeting.
A couple months later, Nintendo sent me a Wii and a Wii Fit Plus system and the love affair began all over again. I’ve been itching to dig in and get a good workout on, and now that I’m finally cleared for such things, I can’t wait to begin!
As a Nintendo Ambassador, I get to try out cool new games, like the newly released Mario Sports Mix. I also get to rope my husband into fun challenges and convince him he must dress up in dorky gear and team up with me to play another team for the chance to win personalized Nintendo jerseys (awesomest prize ever). We took the whole thing very seriously… and it paid off!
While I had a blast playing Mario Sports Mix and challenging Vanessa from Chefdruck Musings in Chicago via Wii’s WiFi Connect this weekend, I’m ready to get serious about using the Wii to get back into shape. I happened to stumble across a crazy good deal on the EA Sports Active 2 for Wii (only $19 at Toys R Us!) and picked it up yesterday.
I hope to set it up later tonight and get in my first good workout in nearly a year. I know there are a ton of other fun, active games for the Wii, though, so please tell me if you have one that rocks your socks off and makes you sweat! So far, Zumba and Just Dance are also on my workout wish list. Any others?
Have you had any success with working out on the Wii? Want to join me over the next couple months? I read there’s a way to set up a fitness group of friends with the EA Active. Would any of you be interested in joining in? I’d have to do a little more research to see how that works, but I’m sure I can get my friends at Nintendo to help me figure it out.
Kendall is 2 2/3 and Leyna is 7 weeks old today! And momma is ready to get her skinny jeans back on 🙂
**Disclosure- Nintendo sent the Wii, Wii Fit Plus and games to me at no charge. They also sent those rock star headbands, armbands and SEX-AY socks because they are awesome like that.
- 19Shares
38 comments
I also use my Wii when I need a mommy-friendly workout. One of my favorite things about that gaming system is it draws so little power (especially compared with others like PS and XBOX.) It’s waistline and eco-friendly! Hah!
I had no idea about the eco-friendliness. Cool!
Uhh ME! I have a 6 week old little girl, and had my 6 week (c-section!) follow up today. I was given the ok to start exercising again. If you figure out how to start a team or whatever, count me in (somehow…)
Very cool, Jill! The socks were very old school and my favorite part of the outfits. 😉
Sounds like a fun way to get back in shape!
I have been working out with my Wii since before Christmas – I love it! I get bored easily with standard workouts, so my favorite is Walk It Out! (I can only find it on Amazon) – As you walk, you earn coins to unlock everything on the island, like trees and houses or new songs and even a rainbow and constellations. I do about 3 miles a day on it, and my 2 year old likes walking with me on the 2-player game (he just uses the nunchuck/wiimote to count steps). The music is great, the pace changes from slow to a quick jog – and I have fun changing my walking style to work different areas of my legs.
If you like to dance – Just Dance Kids is great. Me and my 2 year old love dancing together to the Yo Gabba Gabba songs on there! Just Dance 1 and 2 are good too – but a little harder for the little ones to dance along. I’ve found it’s so much easier to get a workout in, if I’m doing something the kids can do along side me.
I also have Your Shape – which comes with the nifty camera that projects you onscreen next to a computerized Jenny McCarthy 🙂 It’s a typical Jane Fonda type workout….Flailing around like a maniac. Not my favorite kind of workout, but it’s nice as something different.
Wii Fit Plus is another one I throw in after my Walk It Out walk. I love the yoga and the targeted workouts they have.
Good Luck!! I’m off to check out the EA Active – I can never have enough variety when it comes to something like working out!
Aaah- I didn’t even know there was a Just Dance Kids- you just made my day!
I am all over Just Dance Kids. I should have bought it when we were snowed in last week!
yeah. you work that out and I’m in.
LOVE the Wii. Just Dance 2 is my new workout friend & I definitely break a sweat with it.
hmmm…I wonder if there’s any way for us to duel each other? I would be down for that.
BRING. IT. That would be so fun!
EA sports active 2 is the best game EVER. i am 6 weeks in to the 9 week training program and i am totally in love. if you create a workout group i will totally join it! (if i can figure out how….)
I would love to join the group if you figure out how to do it. Just let me know what I need. I have a Wii but I have limited games.
Wii is so fun. I wish we could afford to buy one but we alrady have a PS3.
You look super cute in the headband!
Gosh, thanks 😉 I should totally get one in every color to match all my outfits.
Love the EA Active 2. If you start a group, I would love to join. It would be good motivation for me. They only allow something like 12 people per group, so a couple groups may need to be started, ie BabyRabies1 and BabyRabies2, etc… but everyone could participate in the BabyRabies forum on the EA Active boards.
So good to know. Thanks! I’m looking into it this week.
I Love the outfits!!
You already look fantastic as a mother of a 7 week old! (mine is 7 years and Im way off that lol)
Must confess, Im a ninetendo addict too!! Great for those long breastfeeding sessions and must admit My kids dont own a DS but I do!! I love it!
I loved EA Active during the months between Little Sir and getting pregnant again! Can’t wait to start it up again. Remind me to ask you about that group thing once they clear me at my 6 week appointment!
Good luck on the weightloss! I’m new to your blog and enjoy it! Especially cause our kids are so close in age. I have a 2 year old (10/03/08) and a 6 week old (1/1/11) – so it’s good to see a mom going through what I am. 🙂 I don’t have a Wii, but I have the Kinect – so I wonder if I can find a workout game. 🙂 By the way, I’m Bri!
Welcome! Thanks so much for chiming in and introducing yourself.
I look forward to talking more!
LOL, you guys are total dorks, and it’s AWESOME!!! So fun!
I just took up Zumba a couple of weeks ago and I. AM. HOOKED. And I hate to work out. But I do love to dance and I love to salsa… Zumba is like salsa on speed! Seriously a killer workout and so, so fun. DO IT.
So far everyone who’s talked about Zumba is in love with it. I must give it a try.
if you are looking for anything for kendall in the future, my friend bought her 3.5 year old nickolodeon fit and it’s pretty awesome. It’s kid based and can be used with or without the balance board, and with more than one player. It gets them moving doing fun things like, pretending they are on a pogo stick. Pretty good for those stuck in the house days. And simple enough that he can operate it himself.
I am definitely going to have to get this. I’m actually thinking maybe I can use “late Valentines gift” as an excuse to get it for him now.
Jill, I have a Wii and would totally join you in a work out group. I have been trying to find some inspiration to get back into it. I’m scared to step on that thing though since I am probably a lot heavier since the last time I was on it. The Wii Fit guy always makes me feel guilty for being a slacker.
LOL. That Wii Fit guy made my husband feel like a slacker and he’s basically the most in shape person I know. I’m afraid to get on and set up my profile. I should have done it while I was still pregnant so it would be all, “Wow! You lost 28 lbs in 6 weeks!” 🙂
Y’all look adorable! We are like the only people on earth who don’t own a Wii, but it’s on my MUST BE NOW list so I’ll be sure to check out the Mario game, because Mario is like THE MAN.
Mario is SO the man. And the Wii is totally awesome. Nintendo has come a long way from the Nintendo of our youth. I love that it’s a whole family experience now.
I just got Just Dance 2 for Valentines Day! I did it for 1 1/2 hours that night and I could barely walk my ass to bed…lol. I was also popping Advil the next day like it’s nobody’s business.
So, if it’s on your list, I highly rec it.
I got the first EA Active last year and had a lot of fun using that and using WiiFit. I don’t think I noticed a diffence while using it, I was in pretty good shape to beign with. And I didn’t keep up with it long enough. But working out is still working out.
I just started getting back into it and I’m a little more out of shape. So I think that I’ll see a bigger difference.
I’d totally be up for joining some sort of group:)
And thanks for the slickdeals heads up!!
First off…you look amazing for just having that beautiful baby! And I would love to join a workout group…my mii is itching to get off my screen and meet some new friends 🙂
Um, going to list my husband’s xbox on ebay NOW so I can then go and buy a wii. Holy crap balls, you look amazing after 7 weeks!
I have to admit, I wasn’t fond of Zumba once I bought it. I had heard all of the raves about it but I just couldn’t get into it. Just dance 2 was a lot of fun, but not so much of a workout. However, the Biggest Loser Challenge is great. It’s not so much a cardio workout as it is a toning and strength training workout! Have fun!
I think it might be hard to Zumba at home… at the gym, in a class, it’s like being in a really big salsa club… dim lights, pounding music, and the energy that comes with a room full of people. So fun. So many, many calories blitzed in just one hour. 😉
Can I just say that your husband went all out and the socks put it over the edge. It looks like he had you beat in the dorkiness factor.
And good on you for admitting you were a Nintendo junkie. I spent many, many hours playing Mario, Contra and the like. That and my Sega Genesis. Good times.
I LOVE EA Sports Active 2! I have lost 25 lbs with it! I have quite a ways left to go so I would love to be in your Wii group! Send me the name and password and I will join ya. I just got back from vacation so I need to find motivation to get back into workouts. Good luck on your last 15lbs!
Is anyone still doing this? I need a workout buddy, and none of my friends have this game