This is a 6-minute read dedicated to the insights I’ve gained from looking at my personal weight journey over a decade!
Wanna list your weight on the internet?
No?
Ok, fine.
…
….
I guess I will.
So ya- this topic can induce some serious boob sweat—but I’m goin’ there.
I feel like this post is ESSENTIAL because looking back on my weight throughout the years has given me perspective-shifting insight that allows me to honor my body (and its number) in every season.
So. In a nutshell, the plan for today is to tell the internet full of strangers and trolls my specific weight (we’re talking pregnancy, postpartum- all of it) over the last 10 years and pray that the lessons here inspire and encourage ya’ll.
So— if you’re a human with a body that weighs something and you’re alive during the year 2023— stick around. This is for you.
If you’re not interested in the details about me- scroll down to the major takeaways!
My Weight Journey Over the Years
2012
Background: Freshman Year of College.
Weight: 120 lbs
Workout Plan: Worked out at home, 20-30 minutes a day of body weight circuits
Eating philosophy: none yet. I ate Whole Foods intuitively but was likely undereating.
Cycle: inconsistent and few and far between
I felt: strong doing bodyweight anything but had no reference for strength beyond that.
2014
Background: After two years of collegiate-level rowing YER GIRL put on some muscle.
Weight: 145 lbs
Workout Plan: working out 2+ hours a day with strength training and/or rowing 6x a week.
Eating philosophy: none yet, trying (and definitely failing) to eat enough to support the workouts. Still eating “healthy” like above.
Cycle: Inconsistent/non-existent
I felt: Strong, very fit
2015
Background: A senior in college, no longer rowing.
Weight: 155
Workout plan: lifting and short-distance running
Eating philosophy: intuitive, Whole Foods
Cycle: Consistent
I felt: really freakin’ strong. My weight had gone up after rowing but my cycle was back and I was lifting heavier than before. Win!
2016
Background: In the real world, working two jobs!
Weight: 135
Workout plan: heavy lifting, training for 1/2 marathons,
Eating philosophy: learning about the importance of eating enough and properly using protein. I was eating in a very boring way (but I was single with no kids so it worked 😂)
Cycle: like clockwork
I felt: strong! And proud of myself for hitting PRs on my lifting and running.
2017
Background: After falling for good ol’ Benny, we moved across the state.
Weight: 140
Workout Plan: Workouts were less intense and not as heavy.
Eating Philosophy: Eating “healthy” like before but not putting much attention on it. Trying to just survive in a new place in a new routine.
Cycle: Like clockwork, symptom-free.
I felt: not very strong, not very engaged, and struggling mentally
2018 Pregnancy (Dec – Aug 2018)
Background: 1st baby vibes! Pregnancy was full of stress and drama due to unknowns (soon-to-be-discovered cleft lip!)
Weight: I started at 140 and ended at 175.
Workout Plan: I worked out 30 min a day every day. Ranging from circuits, lifting, and steady-state cardio.
Eating Philosophy: Well… at 9 weeks pregnant I collapsed due to low blood pressure and low blood sugar (read about it here). After that, I focused 100% on eating ENOUGH to support me and baby.
I felt: A lot— but in terms of fitness, I was proud of myself for maintaining and moving as much as I did! Watching the scale go up was a little brain spasm for me. I wasn’t stressing- I obviously was very aware of the fact that I was growing a human. But it was an interesting process.
2018 – Postpartum
Background: Beck was born via c- section and we found he had a bilateral cleft lip and palate. He had 2 major surgeries before he was 12 months. Survival was the name of the game. Read about Beck’s surgeries here.
Weight: 145
Workout Plan: Initial postpartum was very slow and light. The main focus was just 30 minutes as often as I could. Roughly 9 months after Beck was born I was back to my regular running, lifting, and circuit training.
Eating Philosophy: Intuitive, focused on whole foods
Cycle: Wonky! Ended up using acupuncture to regulate it to normal again.
I felt: like I was in the wrong body. I was not strong at all. If you’ve ever had a c-section you know that you basically have to relearn how to walk. I went from lifting heavy things to having to take a break on the stairs- it. was.wild. The biggest takeaway here was that I was the “same number” but my body was not the same.
2019/ 2020/ 2021
Background: working out in the gym, settling into motherhood
Weight: 147: This became my new baseline.
Workout Plan: Heavy lifting, lots of running
Eating Philosophy: Intuitive, focused on whole foods, eating 4-6 meals a day to try to eat enough.
Cycle: Regular and pain-free
I felt: SO GOOD. I remember I felt like I had energy for motherhood, work, and my workouts- ideal!
2021 Pregnancy: (July 20- Mar 21)
Weight: 147 start – 170 finish
Workout plan: I was in SO MUCH PAIN. I walked a lot and did stairs!
Eating Philosophy: Intuitive, focused on Whole Foods
I felt: uncomfortable
2021- Postpartum
Weight :149
Workout plan: 30 minutes of something, every day!
Eating philosophy: intuitive, focused on whole foods
I felt: happy
2021/2022
Weight: 144
Workout plan: heavy lifting
Eating philosophy: personalized macros, high protein, 3 big meals, 12-hour eating window
I feel: strong again!
The Takeaways of My Weight Journey
I mentioned this process has given me some superpower perspective – here they are.
- the number doesn’t matter, how it’s serving you does. (EX: No energy but a lower number is not helpful!)
- Whole health matters! If you have “the number” but don’t have a healthy cycle or sustainable workout habits- you haven’t won yet.
- It’s what the number is made up of that matters. I weighed 145 as an athlete, postpartum, and currently. All VERY different bodies, capable of very different things.
- Sometimes a higher number is better than the one you’re chasing
- Trying to “get back” to a number isn’t helpful. Make the number you have right now the best it can be.
- Paying attention to what you can do and how you feel is the ultimate scale.
- The scale is one slice of a giant pie- you should be tracking your cycle, sleep quality, energy levels, mood stability, digestion, skin clarity, etc.
Ok folks, there you have it. A decade worth of personal info about my weight journey. 😂 I hope what you took from it is a new perspective on your own weight journey! Stop chasing “the number” and instead pursue VIBRANT WHOLE HEALTH.
You won’t regret it ❤️
Xo, Tori
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