Two kids and a bikini!

So, about 3 months ago I cleaned out my swim suit drawer - sadly, but finally, removing my maternity swimming suits and some very stretched out tankinis. I'm sorry, but tankinis were the worst offender when I was young. But I totally understand now why they are not only necessary, but very handy.

And while I will not go to a public beach with a regular bikini on, I have decided not to throw out my pile of bikinis. It am just under 2 pounds away from my goal weight and I have no intentions of stopping exercise, weight lifting and the like! I look forward to tanning my flat, albeit still a little giggly tummy and perhaps wearing one of my mid 20s bikinis. Life is so much better when you don't feel like you have to cover every inch of your body - at least that's how I feel.

My goal, now, is not to continue to lose weight until I disappear. It is to keep up with my pilates (encorepilates.net) and strengthen and tone to keep my back and belly in summer shape - hopefully through the summer and for the rest of my life.

I thought my goal would be about losing weight. It turns out, it will be about how I changed my life to stay fit and eat healthy as a mom. I've never been able to do it before ... so it will be a challenge!

Encore! Encore! -- I love my pilates class!

So, I am always complaining there aren't enough exercises out there I can do with my bad back. But I have been doing pilates for the past 2 years, and it's very low impact on my back if I do it correctly.

I took pilates at a gym, but I hated it. I take a mat class from one of my neighbors, and I absolutely love it. The mat class is held in a private home in Holly Springs not far from Avent Ferry. If you live in the Holly Springs, NC area, I highly recommend you check it out www.encorepilates.net/ ... the instructor is Kathy, and she has had two kids and understands how a woman's body changes, especially her belly area, and what it takes to get your belly back in shape and strengthened the RIGHT WAY.

The mat classes are usually five people or less, so you can expect a little bit of one on one attention, not like those gym classes when  you are one of 20.

Pilates has helped my back so much, as it focuses so much on core strengthening. My belly is flatter, stronger and so it my back! I feel like I can do more, and her classes have helped me break the pain cycle. I cannot say enough good things about her, and she's a little shy about sharing her success stories. But she's amazing!

An exercise I can do without hurting my back

So, my husband bought me a recumbent bike after Christmas, which is something my physical therapist said I could use any time. I bought it off craigslist and credit that bike for at least 80% of my weight loss. It isn't just the calorie but, but it keeps me from falling off the wagon with the food, too.

I know it will all have gone in vain if I eat like a pig or really unhealthy. Why exercise at all if you're not going to try to eat right and help it along!

I am happy to say I hit my original goal weight of 155 pounds, but I realize there is more toning and weight loss to be had, so I readjusted my goal to 149 pounds. I am struggling a bit, but it will come. I am not 153 pounds and have been as low as 152. I am going to do it!

After I hit 149, my goal will be to look good in a bikini. Those tank-inis make me feel old!

Try this recipe - YUMMY!

Found a new, FANTASTIC shrimp recipe. I cut the olive oil by 1/2 tablespoon and it was awesome. I feel like I could cut it even further and love it just as much. Maybe 1 tbsp total because there is so much marinade to keep it moist. On a whim, my 3-year-old picked a Mediterranean Couscous and together it was outstanding (I also cut the olive oil in the couscous by 1 tbsp, and it was perfect).

It wasn't the lowest fat recipe, but I didn't feel like I was cutting fat at all! It was nothing short of wonderful and I would do it again and again, if fresh shrimp were not so expensive. I will wait for deals and make it whenever fresh shrimp is on sale!

We got the recipe from eatingwell.com, and it is called Shrimp Paulista.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
• 8 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, divided
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (again, I cut this by 1/2 tbsp)

Preparation

1. Place shrimp in a medium nonreactive bowl and toss with lime juice, 1/4 cup cilantro, half the garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, marinade and remaining garlic; cook until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper. Toss to combine.

Nutrition

Per serving: 164 calories; 6 g fat ( 1 g sat , 4 g mono ); 224 mg cholesterol; 2 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 24 g protein; 0 g fiber; 456 mg sodium; 241 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (66% daily value), Iron (20% dv).
Exchanges: 3 1/2 very lean meat, 1 fat