Re-Creating My Curves

One Mother's Personal Story of Rebuilding Her Healthy, Beautiful Body

By Julia Lacy-Adelé

I thought I knew it all. At least when it came to how to reshape my physique. After having two kids back to back, I had struggled to re-create my body. But I won and rebuilt the body I thought I'd never see again. I was happy with my body. Energetic. And I really enjoyed my workouts and my life.

That, however, was over four years ago.

And then my husband Stephen and I decided to have one more child. And in March of 2006, we welcomed our third precious little girl into our home.

"I had the motivation to get myself back—for me, for my husband, and for my kids."

The Cold, Hard Facts of Pregnancy

During a pregnancy, an average woman's waist expands some 50 inches, her hips widen by a half a foot, and her fat cells expand by 125%—all 50 billion of them. And in my experience, with each child, your body seems to change more than you could have believed possible with the previous child. "Did I really get this big? This fast?" I frequently wondered.

After our baby was born, I gave my body a few months to heal, but then I knew it was time to get moving. I wasn't happy with how I looked or how I felt. Once again, I was mentally and physically drained. I was trying desperately to balance my workouts with feedings, diaper changes, housework, and chasing after our two older girls—driving them to and from preschool, activities, etc.

It was a battle I was losing fast. I was so exhausted that even when I did finally make it to the gym, I was too tired to work out. (I just wanted to go home and climb into bed.)

My days seemed to spiral out of control, and finding the time, energy, and inspiration to rebuild my body felt like a distant dream. How had I ever been able to do it all before?!

It seems like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't overcome the obstacles. Yet I desperately wanted to enjoy the health, energy—and the beautiful body—I had once had.

Months after my daughter was born, I still had more pounds of fat clinging to my body—especially my hips and belly—than I'm willing to admit. The worst part, though, was the way I looked on the outside was a direct reflection of how I felt on the inside (not good at all!).

I'm usually a total optimist. Filled with positive expectations. And now, I couldn't believe how cynical I was becoming. I soon realized my ill feelings were affecting my family too. It was time to do something!

A More Mature Approach

I hate to admit this, but I'm older now. (Though hopefully wiser as well.) I've entered into my "mid-30's." And with age, I'm smart enough to know that the metabolism (our bodies' natural fat- and calorie-burning mechanism) would gradually be slowing down. Add in having three kids, and my metabolism had taken a serious downturn. (In fact, it had come to a screeching halt!)

So what is metabolism anyway? Simply, it's the body's process of turning the food we eat into energy. And the time it takes for this to happen is called the "metabolic rate."

Though we're all different, metabolically speaking, it's been scientifically proven that as we age, our metabolic rates naturally decline. And that means our ability to burn bodyfat also drops. That's one of the reasons it becomes harder to take off weight and easier to put it on as we get older. Especially once we're in our mid-30's!

On top of this, I found that having three kids kept me so busy, most days I hardly found the time to eat. And when I did, it was usually not all that healthy. Worse, my cravings for sweets and sugars seemed to be at an all-time high. It was like a voice in my head was continually whispering to me… "chocolate, chocolate, chocolate… it's okay, go ahead, eat it!"

Problem was, I listened. And as a result, the excess sugar threw my blood sugar levels out of whack, making me feel even more sluggish and lethargic. I just couldn't seem to get my poor eating habits under control.

So I decided I needed to take a more mature approach, which led me to two conclusions: 1) I couldn't go back to the frustration and failed fad diets I had tried when I was in my early 20's. 2) I needed to help my body naturally increase my metabolism while decreasing my cravings for sugars and other carbohydrate-containing foods that were wrecking my diet, so I could burn off the baby weight and ultimately re-claim my body!

Finally, I knew the only way I would be able to regain my energy, strength, self-esteem, and ultimately, my shape, was with hard work, sensible lifestyle changes, and an extremely flexible plan. If you have children, you'll agree, there's no such thing as a "typical" day (literally anything can happen any time!).

Then I promised myself if I "messed up" (missed a workout or ate the wrong foods), I wouldn't dwell on it. I'd just pick up where I left off and keep moving toward my goals. I knew I wasn't going to give up. I had the motivation to get myself back—for me, for my husband, and for my kids. This was it. I had decided to take control of my body and my life.

"Often times I feel as if I've been given a gift—by reclaiming my body, my youthful energy, my health, and my improved self-image."

Getting Started

I couldn't wait to get back into the gym, but with three children, I knew getting to my club on a regular basis wasn't going to be easy—maybe even impossible. I wasn't going to let this hold me back, however. To avoid any potential failure, I headed downstairs into our basement, where we've set up a "mini-gym." We have a set of dumbbells called PowerBlocks. They allow you to select your weight easily from one primary dumbbell. They're convenient, easy to use, and even have a set especially made for women.

We also have a simple adjustable bench and the treadmill we purchased after our first two girls were born. Our whole gym doesn't take much space—just a corner of our family room. It's just right for my needs.

Going Back to What Works

Luckily, my husband knows a thing or two about getting into shape and shares this information with the "masses" through his magazine, Real SOLUTIONS, as well as through his online newsletter and his books, like the Lean System Success Plan.

As I was sitting down to start putting together my plan from these resources, Stephen asked me if I'd be willing to try a different approach. He told me he was currently working with a professional fitness competitor (the 2005 Fitness Olympia winner, in fact), Jenny Hendershott, on a book they would be producing [The Curvelle Lifestyle, Right Lane Publishing, 2007] that had a workout plan already custom designed for women like me. Women, that is, who are looking for a workout plan, whether beginner, intermediate, or more advanced, that would create awesome results in a little amount of time—all from the comfort of your own home.

Time isn't something I have a lot of, so I jumped at the chance to try it out.

You can see the exact plan that Stephen and Jenny put together by clicking here. I started with the Beginner Exercise plan and worked my way all the way up to the Advanced in just a matter of months.

I'll warn you in advance: this is completely different from most exercise plans you'll find. I've been exercising for over ten years, and I had never even heard of some of the exercises. But rest assured, you'll get a great workout—and fantastic results!

I kept a journal of my goals (for desired bodyfat and weight as well as energy and attitude) and logged all my workouts and how I felt that day to keep track of my progress. I found the optimal time to work out was while my younger girls were taking their afternoon naps and my oldest daughter was in school.

I kept my weight-training exercises very basic since I had only a set of dumbbells and a Swiss ball. But with Jenny's Program, there are so many different exercises I can perform, it actually made it fun.

I soon found I didn't miss going to the gym after all. (For one, I could play my favorite music!) And after only two short weeks, I started noticing some remarkable changes in my strength and muscle tone. Even Stephen noticed the changes and complimented me on how great I was looking. (I think even he was surprised how quickly I started to get results!)

It Takes More Than Just Exercise

When you're pregnant, eating what you want when you want just comes naturally—and is exactly what your baby needs. And I knew changing this habit was going to be a real challenge.

Some of my initial weight loss, right after my delivery, can certainly be attributed to nursing, as mothers who breastfeed tend to lose more weight quicker than mothers who formula feed. In fact, breastfeeding burns an astounding 600 to 800 additional calories a day, and women who breastfeed have slimmer hips and weigh less than those who don't.

I was aiming for gradual weight loss of about 1 to 1.5 lbs per week and therefore ate around 1,200 calories per day, which was sufficient for me, my new baby, and my exercise. My meals consisted of plenty of protein (I try to get a gram for each pound of bodyweight) from salmon and lean cuts of red meat and chicken, and carbohydrates came from half-size portions of whole-grain pastas, brown rice, and sweet potatoes. I also included plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Although I've always been a firm believer in vitamins and supplements, I found them to be particularly useful for obtaining my goals. My husband assured me they would not only help me feel better, they would help strengthen our baby's immune system as well as mine. He also said I would reach my goals faster with the use of supplements.

I found Eat-Smart® Nutrition Protein shakes very helpful as they replaced meals that normally take too much time to cook and clean up. Plus, they taste like delicious desserts! I often add some fresh fruit as well, for some added nutrition and instant bliss! In addition, since I'm always on the go, I started experimenting with some easy snacks to go with me and created some fun muffins, cakes, and bars. [Click here for some of Julia's favorite recipes.]

Because studies are now showing the importance of essential omega-3 fats (essential because your own body cannot make them on its own) for helping develop the brains and immune systems of infants, I included fish (salmon) oil capsules with my morning, afternoon, and evening meals. And I also prepare many of our meals using Odu's oil blend, which is a rich source of these essential fats. If you're following a nutrition plan that's low in fat, these "essential fats" become even more important.

Of course, I also took a multivitamin and mineral formula daily to ensure I had the nutrients my body needs for my overall health.

After I finished breastfeeding, much to my dismay, I still had 32 pounds to lose. So at that point I decided it was time to incorporate a weight-loss supplement into my daily plan.

As I mentioned, I'm older now, and after having three kids, I wanted something to help me look better on the outside, but, just as importantly, I wanted to feel better on the inside. I wanted something completely natural and made with ingredients that were familiar that I knew were safe. That's why when Stephen asked me if I wanted to try a new natural weight-loss formula he was designing with a doctor, made just for women, I couldn't wait to use it. It's called Curvelle™.

"Curvelle worked. Really fast. In just eight weeks, I lost those 'last' 32 pounds, and I love my new body!"

Here's what I love about it:

• It's made especially for women.
  
  
• The ingredients are all natural and familiar (like cinnamon, raspberries, green tea, natural caffeine, and elderberry).
  
  
• It didn't upset my stomach or cause me to feel jittery.
  
  
• It didn't cause me to lose sleep.
  
  
• It didn't cause me to crash at the end of the day—my energy levels were up from morning until late evening.
  
  
• Because it contains special antioxidants, it made my skin and hair look beautiful.
  
  
• It helped control my cravings for sugar, gave me just the right amount of energy...
  
  
• And it worked. Really fast. In just eight weeks, I lost those "last" 32 pounds, and I love my new body!

Here's exactly how I did it, and how you can too:

A Day in a Life: Julia's Nutrition Plan*

• 8 oz water
• 1 scoop Eat-Smart
• 1 scoop of Flavor Enhancer™ (Double Vanilla Ice Cream or Strawberry Cheesecake)
• 3 fresh strawberries
• 2 to 3 ice cubes
• Mix in blender for 45 seconds

2 cups of fresh green salad (romaine or spinach)
Dressing: 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil
1 kiwi fruit or 1/4 cantaloupe or 1/4 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup (8 oz) of green tea
Curvelle™ women's weight-loss supplement, 2 capsules

Mid-Day Snack
4 to 6 oz plain yogurt (no sugar added)
Add 1/4 fresh blueberries
1 apple
Handful (10 to 12) of walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts
Glass of water (8 to 10 oz)

Dinner
4 to 6 oz wild salmon (grilled, baked, or broiled)
Green leafy salad (as described for lunch)
1 cup steamed vegetables (such as broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, carrots, etc.)
1 kiwi fruit or 1/4 cantaloupe or 1/4 cup fresh raspberries
Glass of water (8 to 10 oz)
Omega-3/fish oil supplement, 3 to 4 gel capsules

Before Bed "Dessert" Snack Eat-Smart® Pudding

• 4 oz cold water
• 1/2 scoop Eat-Smart
• 1 scoop of Flavor Enhancer (your choice)
• Sprinkle with your favorite fresh berries
• Mix in a bowl, vigorously, for about 2 minutes; chill in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes and eat with a spoon

1 cup (8 oz) of green tea

"And now I feel like I have my whole world back: with a great husband, great kids, a great body, and the energy I need to keep up with them all!"

*From The Curvelle Lifestyle: 9-Weeks to Slimmer Thighs, Tighter Buttocks, and Sexier Curves by Jenny Hendershott.

Unstoppable

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not perfect. No one is. Along the way, I had many "hiccups." But I didn't let my setbacks get in the way of my progress. I would simply pick up where I left off and keep moving forward. I never let anything get me down.

I didn't do this for a challenge or for anyone else. I did it for me. (Okay, for me and my husband and kids.) Often times I feel as if I've been given a gift—by reclaiming my body, my youthful energy, my health, and my improved self-image. However, changes in my life have been overshadowed by an even greater gift: the opportunity to inspire other women—especially other moms. Women approach me constantly for advice while I'm out and about with my three girls. I tell them if I can do it, they can too. I love helping them and sharing my success plan with them.

You couldn't put a price on the way I feel now. I'm in better shape than I ever was. I lost 32 pounds in just eight weeks. People tell me I look 10 years younger. And now I feel like I have my whole world back: with a great husband, great kids, a great body, and the energy I need to keep up with them all!

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