Losing the Baby Weight
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Ladies, here’s a fun open thread for today: how did you lose the baby weight? If you haven’t yet (but have tried), what do you think the reason is? Have you discovered any new great recipes or workouts you love along the way?
For my $.02, I’m still struggling, I guess with weight that I originally put on when I was pregnant with my first (who was born in August 2011, so, uh, it’s technically still baby weight, right?). I did everything to lose weight after J was born — being in a new body at the same time I was going through my postpartum identity crisis seemed like adding insult to injury.
I finally got into a good groove right around the time we got pregnant with my second, H. During my first trimester, J was just starting a new “school year” at his daycare, and I caught at least two stomach bugs from him. As a result, I actually lost about 10 pounds during those few months. My doctors said not to worry, one telling me cheerfully, “You have a very efficient little parasite in there!” I was already so overweight that minimal weight gain during my pregnancy was the goal anyway. I gained 20 pounds after that point — before delivering a 10 pound, 2 oz. baby. After H, I fell into a good weight training regimen and lost more weight — then hit a stressful patch last summer and gained a ton of it back… and then tore my ACL on vacation in November, which at least put the focus on food.
Going back even further than THAT, though, I had lost/maintained a healthy weight for years when I was in BigLaw — but when I left my firm (ending my nightly healthyish Seamless dinners for 1) and got married, and started drinking a glass of wine (or more) with dinner most nights, that was when the real weight creep started. I never really found my “healthy” groove, if that makes sense.
SO: I’m pretty much exactly where I was after having J. I make small adjustments to my diet/lifestyle every week, it seems (I’m only going to eat the same 5 dinners! I’m only going to have a glass of wine every OTHER night! I get a star if I work out 3x a week!), and I’ve been doing some version of Weight Watchers for the better part of a decade at this point — so I’m not really the best person to give advice.
So instead, let’s turn it over to you guys — what did you do to lose the baby weight? Have other lifestyle changes (new job, new house, new baby) made maintaining your diet a challenge? What is your body image like right now?
Pictured: Pixabay.
I’ll play.
Baby 1: 9 months (I wanted to scream when people said “9 months on, 9 months off” but it was true)
Baby 2: 12 months
Baby 3: 15 months
See a trend ? :P
For me, it was a combination of hormones returning to normal (FWIW, I was still breastfeeding for the first two), returning to a normal diet with normal portions, and fitting in exercise.
IME, if I tried to limit calories while BFing, I actually GAINED weight. (Awesome!) So I had to be patient. During that time, I focused on getting plenty of protein at each meal, eating as much vegetables as I wanted, and watching my snacking/indulgences closely.
Exercise is hard to get in, so I’ve had the most luck by working it into activities or time that I already have. Walking kids to school, family walks in the evening, bike commuting, etc. We had a membership to a gym with a great kid’s program, which would have been super if I were part-time but using it only on the weekend wasn’t enough. So then we got an elliptical for home, which helps in the winter when it’s dark and bad weather, although I can really only use it after the kids go to bed, so it really only gets used when all the kids are routinely STTN.
You know what? I’ve realized this isn’t a priority for me. And it’s GREAT! Between twins and bedrest, I was 45 lbs heavier a week postpartum than I’d been before getting pregnant. (And that was already about 10lbs heavier than I’d been when I met my husband — I’d had a seriously hard core regimen going but didn’t have time for it once I had a serious relationship.) Now my twins are 2, I’m still 10-15 lbs heavier than I was pre-kids, and am about 2 sizes bigger. I tried losing weight, and I did take off some. But it’s just not how I want to live my life. Our family meals are a healthy mix of protein and vegetables. I eat lots of fruit, naturally drink lots of water. In the mornings I walk my dog 30 min and sometimes jog if we’re both feeling it, but don’t stress if we’re not. We recently joined a raquet club and I’ve picked up squash again and am learning tennis. And most weekends I pile all 55lbs of toddler into the double stroller, hitch the dog to the handle, and we go out for about an hour. As the boys get bigger, I expect we’ll spend more of our free time outside doing active things, which sounds great.
But I seriously love not worrying about this. For the first time in my life I really am focused on being healthy. Not saying “I’m just trying to be healthy” while actually just worrying about weight. I wear a one-piece bathing suit I bought at LL Bean and it’s fantastic. I might even buy a suit with a skirt this year because I’ve always felt naked exposing the skin around my bikini line and now that I’m a mom I can wear the damn skirt. If I’m at a happy hour I have some wine and snacks without trying to count what I’m eating in my head to write it down later. I don’t stress when a surprise work lunch with unhealthy food pops up because I didn’t “save up” for it elsewhere in the week.
In the end, what’s better for my boys, a mom who’s always worried about what she’s eating and who treats exercise as a chore, or a mom who’s down for an ice cream cone on a summer night and who also loves splashing around in the pool? Sorry. Stressing about weight is a young woman’s game. I’m 38, I don’t worry, and it’s great.
I’ll play! I’ve lost most of the baby weight – most of my pre-baby clothes still fit, with the exception of most button downs (still nursing at 15 months) and some pants that were tight pre-baby. First, I didn’t stress whatsoever and didn’t think about weight loss at all. I had gone to therapy for disordered eating and body image issues years before, and it really came in handy. Having patience and accepting what is, relaxing that tight control and feeling like you must bend your body to your will is very freeing and, in my opinion, essential postpartum. My body was pretty broken after childbirth and weight loss was not something I wanted to think about. I do think a combination of nursing and walking (once I could walk) helped the process along naturally.
I only recently began hiking again and doing body weight exercise – we’ve had all kinds of routine interrupters: buying a house, huge projects at work, clingy, high needs baby making dinnertime a challenge, and it’s been hard to establish. But it really did take the better part of a year postpartum to really feel myself again in my body and to let the process happen naturally. Overall, my body image is very good. I feel strong and able and confident – I mean, I had that baby and nourished that baby and she’s doing great, you know?
Now that baby is set up on solids and generally eats well, and is getting more independent in play, I can actually take 20 minutes on a weeknight and make something relatively healthy – when I’m not exhausted because she still sleeps like crap. Weekend cooking helps, I love my slow cooker. This is one of my all-time favorites – it’s a weight watchers recipe and it’s freakin’ delicious to boot: https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/recipe/provencal-beef-stew-1/5626a5ef2084d63a3401868c
This is the perfect topic for me today! I was just feeling discouraged this morning, since its getting hot and most of my summer clothes don’t fit. I’m three months postpartum with my second baby and 13 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. I lost it all in 4 months with my first baby but I gained less during that pregnancy and went back to a stressful job situation and actually was secretly interviewing for another job right about that time. When I’m under stress I tend to eat less. The weight is coming off this time, but more slowly. I’m aiming for 6-7 months postpartum. I was able to exercise 5 times a week when I was on maternity leave, but I just started back last week and my work-out times have drastically diminished. I’ve never had to watch my weight and even with these extra pounds am not overweight. I need to be patient with my body and buy a few pairs of shorts to get me through the summer.
This is a tough topic for me (as I’m sure it is for many women). I only gained about 20 lbs during my pregnancy and I lost it all (plus a couple of pounds) by 6-8 weeks postpartum just by virtue of breastfeeding. BUT my body was not the same at all. I thought that since I was in great shape before I got pregnant and continued to exercise throughout my pregnancy, that I wouldn’t suffer from the dreaded “Mom Bod.” But, even now, almost 1 year after my little man was born, my stomach has a little extra pooch to it and my hips are wider than they were pre-pregnancy. I’m still breastfeeding and I wonder if I might drop the pooch after my guy is weaned, but I’m not holding my breath.
I got pregnant five months postpartum with #2 (with 10lbs still on me from #1). After #2 was born and I lost all of the labor/birth weight, I was at a total of 25lbs over my original pre-pregnancy weight. I still looked pregnant for months on end.
My husband surprised me with a gym membership with daycare, which changed my life – no exaggeration. I started going every day during the week because it provided a break from my toddler and infant. I’m still carrying an extra 15lbs, but I think I may need to recalibrate my expectations because I used to be skinny fat (just skinny but no muscle tone) and I’ve been lifting weights this time and look more toned. So honestly I don’t think 125lbs is my goal weight anymore. I want to get down to 130 and see how I look then.
I aim for 1/2 hour cardio (running, elliptical) and 1/2 weights. I also walk back and forth from the gym. My pre-pregnancy clothes fit, but just a little too tight for my liking. I try to not keep sweets and wine in the house, but I definitely don’t beat myself up for indulging. Life’s too short.
Gained 25 lbs, had a 7 lb baby, lost the rest in about two months because I was so queasy from lack of sleep that I wasn’t eating as much as I should have been. I mentally can’t and don’t diet and know that about myself, so my main way to “lose the baby weight” was not to gain more the 25-30 my doctor recommended. I also just feel like most of us have a certain set body type. I’ve always been pretty thin, and it just reverted back to that.
Note that I didn’t say that I’m healthy, which is so much more important than being thin. Because I eat like crap (small portions of crap, but crap nonetheless) and barely exercise. I started working out occasionally in the last few months, which is good, but I’d like to do more. And I will when my daughter is a little older. Until then I’m not going to worry about it too much.
In terms of body image, I feel like I look pretty good probably because I cant remember what I used to look like, which is fine by me. I like my new bellybutton. I don’t really wear pants anymore. I don’t think my body changed that much, but pants are just not comfortable any more.
I wrote a long response to this but I think the answer in my case is “coffee and stress.”
Okay, I’ll join in.
Baby is 18 months, and I’ve made no effort to lose the weight. I got pregnant at 123 lbs and just having run a half marathon plus doing yoga daily and walking all around the city to get to work, etc. Ended pregnancy 26 lbs heavier and figured it would just drop off, but it didn’t. Lost about 13 lbs with the delivery, and have gained a few more back since. I’m still breastfeeding, I’ve moved to the suburbs, hubby and I have both started new jobs and I’m exhausted. For the first year I made it to yoga once a week and the occasional walk and that was it because I was just so tired. I don’t know how moms do it, maybe they are younger or just have better sleeping babies because I could barely function let alone find energy to work out. I’m getting there though…this summer I’ve started walking in the mornings wearing my toddler (because she hates are Bob jogger and I barely get down the street with it…) and most days we go about 3 miles. I do yoga at home now and I’m not missing my studio as much as I thought I would. I eat what I want but I’m trying to get back into eating healthier. I used to be a health food freak that followed a whole foods oil free vegan diet. I went from that to pizza multiple times a week. Now, if I have time to cook something or even make a salad I feel more like the old me. I know many have babies/toddlers who don’t STTN for the first few years and I feel for you guys because I am there with ya. It’s hard, especially when you can’t catch naps during the day.
After my first, it took me about a year and a half to really feel normal. I rediscovered my love for trail running and mountain biking, I worked from home and I found a few great workout buddies. I lost the 15-20 lb I had hanging around from the pregnancy. I was clicking along nicely when I got pregnant with #2. After she was born, I took off the weight really quickly – within 6 months. Apparently breastfeeding plus a slightly overactive thyroid will do that for you. When my thyroid leveled off and I stopped nursing (around 18 months) I put 15 lbs back on (boo). Kind of stuck now. I exercise frequently, but not much cardio. So I feel like I’m pretty healthy but most of that last 10-15 lbs is still hanging on.
I would chalk my weight loss up to luck/genes and breastfeeding. I started at a comfortable weight and gained 30 pounds (a few more than I wanted, but eh), and I lost it all by 6 months post-partum. But like many moms have said, my body is not the same. I’ve always carried weight in my stomach, but now my hips are wider, too. My attitude, though, is who cares? Being in the “pregnancy corridor,” I’ve just decided not to beat myself up about my less than perfect body. I go to weight training/cardio classes 3-4 days a week at lunch so that I get a workout in (and a class keeps me more honest than hitting a treadmill) and try to take family walks every day. Breastfeeding spurred me to eat a better variety of healthy foods, but I know I would see some more weight loss if I didn’t have desert every day.
I’m 13 months postpartum with baby 1. I don’t think I’m entirely back to my pre pregnancy weight but I don’t know for sure because I don’t get on a scale regularly. Last time I did I was about 4 lbs up. I don’t care about the weight…Just a meaningless number to me. Also I’ve been lifting weights and have gained some noticeable muscle weight which I love. I fit most of my prepregnancy clothes, though I have more of a tummy pooch now so some things I used to wear are no longer flattering.
I don’t love my flabby tummy, but I don’t spend time hating it either. I still wore a bikini this weekend. Im not actively dieting though I eat relatively healthily. My biggest problem with my postpartum body is actually the complete disappearance of my butt. Where did it go?!? (Oh right, to my tummy). I never had a big one, but it used to be round at least. Now it’s a pancake. Months of squats and deadlifts have made some improvement, but it’s pretty sad. Oh well.
I highly recommend weightlifting/strength training postpartum. It has done so much for my body confidence. Still, it is difficult at times. My body had been mostly the same since high school until I had a baby at 30. The first time I really looked at myself naked post partum, it was pretty surreal.
I have been thinking about this lately. With my first, I was back in my most of the clothes by 6 months and all of my clothes 9 months post-baby. Now, 16 months after my 2nd baby, I still can’t wear some clothes and it’s frustrating. I tend to wear pretty fitted/tailored sheath dresses and even though I’m just a few pounds above my normal weight, that weight is all in my belly so it shows.
Is there any way to get rid of that dreaded pooch?! I’ve always been fit and had no such pooch after my 1st, so this pooch now after my 2nd is annoying. But in the overall scheme of things, I’m happy with my body.
I went to the gym yesterday for the first time in 6 months, probably. But I do walk at least 2-3 miles a day, and I really love doing that.
Maybe this is a little square, but I did Weight Watchers after both of mine. It was faster with one (maybe 6 months) than with the second because I was able to give it more focus, (maybe 9 months). My hip bones are totally in a different place now. Maybe I should have done one of those hip binding things, but I’m okay with it.
My youngest is almost three and my oldest is five. I put on a solid 10-15 pounds during infertility treatments and 45 with my first pregnancy. During both the infertility treatments and my first pregnancy, I had restrictions on exercise. I managed to loose most of the baby weight from no. 1 about 18 mos. post partum and then became pregnant with my second. I was adamant that I would exercise the second time, and I did… and I ended up at the exact same weight at the end of my pregnancy.
I don’t weigh myself but go more by how my clothes fit. I have lost the baby weight (and infertility treatment weight) but my body is just different now. I run, do barre and eat healthily. I would say that I am more healthy and stronger physically now than when I became pregnant with my first (I was in biglaw). I don’t believe in dieting and did not concern myself at all with my weight for the first year of each child’s life. When they started sleeping a bit and I knew that I could get exercise in on a regular basis (I run at lunch), I focused on getting healthy. Running also keeps me sane and is my guaranteed “me” time. My mommy tummy has never really gone completely away and things are…different, but I try and be content with my body and the awesome things it has done.