Bye bye, big appetite. I miss you!

I'm a twin, and my mom has told me, "When I nursed you and Becki, I could eat whatever I wanted! And as soon as I weaned you I gained five pounds."

Well, I was pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 4 1/2 years straight, and I looooved having an increased appetite for so long! I relished having a genuinely good reason to eat all those calories. As Zoodle's nursing slowed and then stopped, though, I did gradually put on a few pounds.

All my life, I've had a tiny appetite. My sister and I used to share half a hamburger when we were little--that's 1/4 hamburger each! And it wasn't because my parents didn't have enough food to go around; it was because we just didn't naturally eat a lot. I realized recently that I'd gotten in the habit of giving myself larger portions, because for over four years I actually needed those calories. I don't need them anymore.

It's an adjustment--and a bummer of an adjustment--but I'm learning to once again put less on my plate, since I'm no longer using my body to grow a kid or two. Now, mind you, I'm not talking about starving myself. I'm a big fan of eating and really not a big fan of being hungry! I'm just having to re-learn what my ideal portion sizes are. And I like eating "treats"--foods that aren't particularly healthy. I just try to somewhat balance that with plenty of genuinely good stuff, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Some days and weeks are less balanced than others, of course!

And I guess (along with the running and working out), it's working! Today I grabbed two pairs of jeans from my closet that had been rendered recently unwearable due to my not-so-tasty muffin top...and they both fit.

I'm in the post-infant phase of my parenting (a.k.a. the lower metabolism phase); and I'll probably be in this phase the rest of my life. But even if I'm not hungry enough to eat a whole burger, I can still enjoy every bite I take!