My name is Danielle Tolbert. I’m a high energy,
self-motivated, fun loving person who loves my family and loves people!! I’m
married to a wonderful man who is my best friend and the greatest dad I could
ever ask for our two boys. We met in college and our love for fitness and sports
has always been very important to us. When I was pregnant with our first son, I
was put on bed rest at 28 weeks for preterm labor. I had already gained more
than expected by that point, then after being on bed rest for the next 12 weeks,
my weight gain quickly ballooned to about 70 lbs. After having our
son via C section, I was really depressed. I loved my child but the weight gain
was taking a toll on me emotionally.
First Pregnancy
I thought I would never be the same again.
When I finally decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and get off my butt (and
I do mean BUTT), I decided to start hitting the gym. The only time I could go
was before work so I would go at 6 am while my husband would be home with our
son. I used to be very fit and even teach aerobics, therefore it was humbling
stepping foot into the gym. I was so much larger that I had nothing to even wear
to the gym! I remember going in a large T shirt and my husband’s Umbro shorts!!
Do you remember Umbro’s? Wow. I would go every morning (usually hiding out at
the elliptical in the back corner) and when I started to see results, it
motivated me to work out even harder! It took a year but by my son’s first
birthday, I felt healthy and fit again. I enjoyed my time as a mom
with only one child but I knew we wanted another child. I had been very active
by lifting weights, running and playing soccer on an adult women’s soccer
league.
I finally felt it was time, our first son was 3
½ and I knew I needed/wanted to do it again. Did I feel selfish
for not wanting to do that to my body again? Yes, but I also knew I needed to be
ready physically and emotionally to do that again. So, we got pregnant with our
second son and history repeated itself! I couldn’t believe my body would balloon
out that big again! I didn’t have a complicated pregnancy this time and no bed
rest but my body still gained around 65lbs. I had another C section and when I
could get back to working out, I did. This time we had a gym in our garage which
made it much easier to get it done whenever I needed to. Though easier, the hard
part was still ahead of me. I was depressed again with my body. I remember a
moment crying in the department store dressing room, thinking this was it. Not
only did getting back to normal seem hopeless, but this pregnancy also came with
a hernia the size of a grapefruit in my abdomen, and severe diastasis recti. I
was in serious pain and my back hurt all the time. Every time I ate l looked 6
months pregnant again! It was a depressing cycle. I worked through the pain most
days trying to lose all of the weight. The hernia was a medical problem that was
getting worse and causing alarm so I had surgery to repair the hernia caused by
the pregnancy. This too, set me back in my journey to getting my body back.
After the recovery period, I was back at it again.
I have continued to stay active by weight training, doing
cardio, and eating clean. My friends call me a Transformer. They couldn’t
believe my transformation, not once, but twice! I think my mission in life is to
inspire other women to get fit and eat clean. If I can transform my body and
mind, I know you can too! It was not easy, but if you do it the correct way it
will become a lifestyle that transfers to your children as well. I love being a
fit and active mom and my husband and children love it too!! Hang in there
momma’s, you can do it!!
Danielle will be entered along with the other June Feature Friday Members to win a box of Quest Protein bars www.questproteinbar.com/vroyerand About Time Whey goodies www.tryabouttime.com CODE fitforlife to save 25% off
No comments:
Post a Comment