(This is a guest post from Ashlee Kizer @ www.AshandLewPlus2.com)

Hello all, I am Ashlee, mom of twins LB and Daisy, wife to Lew and blogger behind www.AshandLewPlus2.com.

On July 20, 2009 I took the test that would change my life, the pregnancy test. Since 2004 I had been on a journey to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. I never could imagine the kind of curve ball becoming pregnant was going to throw into that journey.

Six years ago I weighed over 215 pounds. After turning to healthy eating and exercise
I lost around 50 pounds and have since fluctuated between 160 and 170 pounds.
This was a very comfortable weight for me and I had stopped working so hard on
the healthy eating side of things. One month before we found out I was pregnant we
had moved to a small town in northeast Tennessee. I had not been able to develop a
normal workout or eating routine and was finding it hard to fit my love of health and
fitness into our new life. We had moved from Chattanooga, which is a very healthy
city. There are places to run, numerous workout facilities and restaurants that offered
healthy, local and organic options. Where we are now living was a far cry from my
Chattanooga way of life. 

This photo was taken after I had been on a walk and I was 8 weeks pregnant.

We now live in a small town without sidewalks or beautiful bridges for me to run on. After finding out I was pregnant I knew I needed to get back into my fit lifestyle. I kept walking and would walk a few miles a day. A few weeks later I found out I was having twins. At this point I was only about 8 weeks pregnant and had already gained about six pounds.

After everyone at our churches (my husband is the pastor of two churches in our
town) found out about my twin pregnancy I would often get the comment “don’t
worry about what you eat, you are eating for three”. I knew this was not true. I had
the conversation with my doctor about my recommended weight gain and I knew I
only needed about 600 extra calories a day for my two babies. However, after hearing
over and over to “not worry” and “eat whatever I want” I soon began living by these
fallacies.

I still found it very important to exercise and tried to 3-4 times a week. However,
I again listened to everyone around me and cut down the time and intensity of my
workout level. Before pregnancy I ran 4 miles and I took countless strength training
classes. My body could have done more than walk a few miles a week while pregnant
but I let others tell me it could not. My weight was spiraling quickly out of control and
by the end of December (around 27 weeks pregnant) I had gained 50 pounds.

This photo was taken December 1, 2009 around 23 weeks pregnant. This is one of the
last photos taken of me while pregnant.

The day I delivered my twins, February 26, 2010, I weighed about 250 pounds. I had
gained around 80 pounds over the 7 months I knew I was pregnant. (My babies were
born at 35 weeks).

My son, Lewis Bond III (LB) weighed 5 pounds 3 ounces and was 18 inches long.
My daughter, Daisy Ann, weighed 5 pounds 2 ounces and was 17 inches long.

After giving birth I knew I had a challenge before me. I needed to get fit and I wanted
to be able to teach my children to live a fit lifestyle. My husband and I decided the first
step in doing this was breastfeeding the twins as long as I could. It turned out that I
had to supplement with formula but I was still able to offer breast milk for their first
four months of life.

After my doctor cleared me for exercise at 4 weeks postpartum (check with your
doctor as most need to wait until 6 weeks before beginning regular exercise) I
began developing a daily routine that would include healthy eating and exercise.

For LB and Daisy I decided to make slightly untraditional choices regarding their diet.
They were strictly breastfed and formula fed until six months. We never introduced
cereal or any fruits or vegetables before six month. On their six month birthday we
started offering fruits and vegetables but still have not given any cereal. (They are
now almost 7 months) After my own research and consulting with their pediatrician
we decided this was the right choice for us. They have not shown signs of needing the
extra calories so we simply have not offered them.

We started off by offering avocado and then moved to sweet potatoes and bananas. So
far I make a lot of their food but have also given them canned veggies. They love these
foods and I feel great knowing I am offering them some of the best foods possible.

Our journey to a fit and healthy family is by no means over but we are enjoying
every minute of it. We would love for you to follow us on this journey at
www.AshandLewPlus2.com.

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Ashlee Kizer, www.AshandLewPlus2.com

Photo credit:  http://www.chattanoogatnrealestate.biz/