I couldn't cut calories because I was breastfeeding. I started tracking my food intake again.
I had no idea what I was actually eating until I started tracking. For example, on Halloween I consumed 1,200 calories in fun-sized candy bars. I thought, "Oh, it's the fun size, it's just 90 calories." But then I ate a handful of them throughout the day without even realizing it. So, when I saw my weight jump up, I knew it was because I had raided the Halloween bucket.
By January, I had to stop breastfeeding due to a medication I needed to take. I felt terrible not to be breastfeeding.
My son gave me the motivation to be healthy. I love that I can get onto the floor with my toddler and throw him around and do flips and burpees with him. I could never have done that three years ago.
I'm an older mom, so I'll be in my late 50s or 60s when he's in high school and college. I want to be able to participate in all those things with my kids that I couldn't even do when I was in my 30s — like going to theme parks where I am just as energetic as they are, and even running Spartan races with them.