A new mother recently shared her experience of becoming overly focused on regaining her pre-pregnancy body, which she believes distracted her from fully enjoying her time with her newborn son. Ashley Archambault, who gained a total of **100 pounds** during her pregnancy, expressed regret over her fixation on weight loss immediately after giving birth.
After welcoming her son, Archambault found herself weighing **80 pounds** more than before her pregnancy. She became consumed with exercising and monitoring her diet, which, in hindsight, she recognizes pulled her attention away from the joys of motherhood. “I felt completely overwhelmed by that,” she stated, reflecting on the emotional toll of her weight-loss goals.
Archambault’s journey began with **walking** and eating healthier foods. Following a **C-section**, she experienced significant pain but was encouraged by nurses to prioritize walking for recovery. She committed to taking her son in a stroller for long walks, covering around **two miles** each time. Yet, as her frustration with her weight grew, she found herself over-exercising and obsessively reducing her calorie intake.
Her diet during this period focused heavily on vegetables and lean proteins, often featuring meals like tuna on crackers and cabbage “steak.” Archambault now recognizes that this approach was both emotionally and physically unhealthy. “I was putting an unnecessary amount of pressure on myself,” she said.
Reflecting on her early motherhood, she wishes she had devoted more time to enjoying her son instead of fixating on weight loss. “A more self-loving version of myself would have been forgiving regarding the weight gain,” she admitted. She believes that embracing playtime with her son might have naturally helped her lose weight without the added stress.
Looking back, Archambault hopes to approach future pregnancies with a healthier mindset. She envisions maintaining her regular routines of physical activity and balanced meals, which she feels would have positively impacted her experience as a new mother. “I should have been celebrating my body for giving me my son,” she noted.
By the time her son turned **two**, Archambault had lost most of the weight she had gained. While she felt satisfaction in her physical transformation, she also realized what she had missed during those early months. “He really did grow up so fast, and I’m sorry that I didn’t realize enjoying him as a baby was the most important thing at the time,” she reflected.
Ultimately, Archambault’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the balance between self-care and embracing the joys of motherhood. As she moves forward, she aims to foster a relationship with exercise and food that allows her to appreciate every moment with her son.
