Postpartum shape up plans

[Cativari]

I know we're only half way through pregnancy but I've already began to think about the postpartum period. Specifically getting back into shape after the new person is here. With DS I didn't get around to any exercising until he was 11 weeks old, during that time I lost 9lbs or so giving birth and another 20lbs from tandem nursing and a wheat, dairy and soy free diet (for DS, he was very sensitive to these for the first 6 months or so) So a total of about 29lbs before begining to exercise. That put me at about 145 (give or take a few pounds). I was able to get down to 129 after 12 weeks of exercise added. In the end before getting pregnant again I had gone back up to 145-150 due to lack of exercise (moved to some very short term job sites and had no access to a gym or child care for the high needs kiddos AND no kitchen in the hotels we stayed)

My abs never really flattened out, I think had/have a bit of muscle seperations.

This time around I'd like to get back to exercise a bit quicker if life will allow. And I'd like to compare postpartum shape-up plans with other moms as I have none IRL I can speak with.

So here's my plan:
Belly binding soon after delivery. (I'd like to know your thoughts/experinces with this)
Start slow with simple kegels and breathing exercises (a day or two after birth)
Some simple pelvic tilts after a week or so (provided HCP oks it)
walks with the kids everyday, outside if weather permits (depends on where we're transfered next) inside at malls if it doesn't.
After about 4-6 weeks (or as soon as HCP oks it) of the above start the "Yummy Mummy" program quick (which I got the week before I found out I was pregnant again) start for 4 weeks and continue walks. After I reach a desent fittness level I'll prolly start a more "bootcamp"/"Kick boxing" routine.

I'd like to get down to about 115-125lbs, (maybe a little more since I tend to put on lots of muscle). FWIW I'm right at 5' and I was a constant 118 until I took the depo shot in college.

Thanks

[nummies]

I plan on belly binding after birth. And if it is anything like my last pregnancy, I will have lost the weight plus 10lbs within a couple months. Breastfeeding really takes the weight off for me. So after the first month or so, I will probably just try some gentle exercises, but I don't have a set work out plan yet.

[AfricanQueen99]

I plan on belly binding, too.

Man, I lost all my daughter's weight plus an additional 20 pounds due to cancer. Guess I won't be so "lucky" this time.

[StrawberryFields]

I don't have plans to do anything shortly following the baby's arrival, because I know that I won't follow through at that time in my life. Once the baby is a little bigger though, since this is my last pregnancy, I have big plans!! I want to join a gym so that I can get back into shape. For the first time in 5 years I feel like I can get back to my pre-pregnancy size without being right back in maternity clothes a short time later. I am tired of the weight gain-weight loss-weight gain-weight loss of back to back pregnancies. I also hope to be 115-125 in the end.

[BeccaBaby1]

I'm buying a double jogging stroller. I got a single with my first babe and it was my life saver - physically and mentally. My weight falls off with breastfeeding but I want to be fit too so I'll run in the area and do weight training at home. It is free except the initial investment of the jogger, plus the kids LOVE it.

[oregonmama79]

Tell me about belly binding....

[rlmueller]

I'll check

on the belly binding thing. Only thing that works for me is running. And I'm a big girl.

[nummies]

Originally Posted by AfricanQueen99

I plan on belly binding, too.

Man, I lost all my daughter's weight plus an additional 20 pounds due to cancer. Guess I won't be so "lucky" this time.

Belly binding: I plan on buying this: http://www.naturallytrendy.com/item_...lly-Bandit.htm

It gives a little info on belly binding on that site. Basically I have heard horror stories about ladies carrying twins and being left with all this leftover saggy skin. I am hoping to avoid that with belly binding.

P.S. I am so jealous of the runners. I just can't run.

[AfricanQueen99]

I'm with you, Mandie. I'd rather die than run. Seriously!

[~Christina~]

I'd love to hear more on belly binding as well. I just recently read about it and wished I would have known about it when I was pg with my first. I will head back to Weight Watchers and get back into running. I will keep up my weekly yoga as well, which really helped me bounce back after Noah was born.

[BeccaBaby1]

I used to hate to run too but it was either run or be a slug because I didn't have any other options. I started really really really slow and small - like run for 15 seconds and then walk - and soon I made it up to a mile and then a little more and a little more and a little more. I believe anyone can learn to run (and probably even like it) with time. I don't always love it, but I always love how I feel and who I am when I consistently do it.

[AfricanQueen99]

Google "belly binding" and you'll find a whole slew of info. MDC has had many threads about it, too.

This blog lists the main options = http://westmama.wordpress.com/2009/0...belly-binding/

[S.Elise]

Last time for me it was all about walking around with my stroller all day (I live in a city so I need to walk everywhere I go), breastfeeding and eating small portions of mostly veg and lean protein. It took me about two months to go back to the gym or to yoga, and I am sort of glad I didn't rush that. But walking was the key, I think. I did wear spanx at first, and looking at pictures it took four months or so for my stomach to go back to where it was.

This time I am hoping my baby will actually take naps in the house (Kasper only slept during the day when being pushed in his stroller, hence my extreme weight loss since I was forced to walk for at least 4 hours per day), so I am also going to use the post-natal pilates and yoga DVDs I bought last time and never used!

[guitarmama]

I loved Cindy Crawford's post-partum dvd. It's called New Dimensions. I would stick dd in a bouncy seat so she could watch me. She usually only found it amusing for about 20 mins at a time though. Between that, waking, karate and the fact that dd nursed like a newborn for over a year got me into pretty good shape.

[Vespertina]

Belly binding (I'm considering the Belly Bandit or body shaper)
T-Tapp

[NekeT]

Originally Posted by BeccaBaby1

I used to hate to run too but it was either run or be a slug because I didn't have any other options. I started really really really slow and small - like run for 15 seconds and then walk - and soon I made it up to a mile and then a little more and a little more and a little more. I believe anyone can learn to run (and probably even like it) with time. I don't always love it, but I always love how I feel and who I am when I consistently do it.

I couldn't agree with this more. I was never a runner, not even through elementary - high school. But I started about 5 years ago really slow like you mentioned, I would run 30 seconds and walk one minute for 30 minutes about 5 times a week. In about 6 months I was able to do a 5k in about 30 minutes and 1 year after I started running I ran my first marathon. Trust me, I had never been the athletic type and I know it sounds cliche, but if I can do it anyone can. When I first started, I was about 70lbs overweight. I lost all the weight and haven't seen it since. The key is to start of SLOW and be consistent.

[Dea]

I've thought about it a lot!
I plan to get myself into a Weight Watchers meeting as soon as I can. Then for exercise I figure chasing a toddler around while wearing a baby will be plenty good! Although I do have a treadmill that I'll use also. If I get really motivated I'll hire my trainer again, she's so much better at motivating me than I am at motivating myself.

With Trixie I had a c-section and the hospital gave me a belly wrap, but I had one already, it really helped with the pain and just being able to move easier.
I found that wearing Trixie all of the time helped my abs to come back.
When she was 4 months old I went for a workout with my trainer and I had no troubled keeping up with her grueling ab workout that she inflicted on us all. (it was a boot camp thing, some just aimed at me)

[Mulvah]

I have no idea whether breastfeeding will help me lose weight or not, but I can certainly hope. Beyond that, my plans are belly binding, brisk walking/light jogging, which I'm doing currently, and weight training.

[seaheroine]

Originally Posted by BeccaBaby1

I'm buying a double jogging stroller. I got a single with my first babe and it was my life saver - physically and mentally. My weight falls off with breastfeeding but I want to be fit too so I'll run in the area and do weight training at home. It is free except the initial investment of the jogger, plus the kids LOVE it.

I'm buying one, too, and a Wii Fit. I'm going to do it!

I lost a lot of weight immediately after DD's birth but it wasn't until I stopped BF'ing that I lost all of it and could wear my PP jeans. I've always been really tiny/petite and I was actually shocked by the changes in my body last time - I really wasn't prepared for my PP self! My boobs went up to an F and I couldn't get my pp pants past my knees. It was a really big adjustment...I'm really glad I know what to expect this time and will be sticking with my yoga pants for a long time, ha ha. This time I would definitely like to be "firmer" - that shouldn't be an unrealistic goal.

[Gray's Mommy]

I am the same height as you are & was in the 120-125 lb range. I would like to go back down to the 115ish range after the birth.

I am not going to do much except walking (about 2 miles a day) & yoga. I hope it is the same way with this baby, but with breastfeeding, I didn't have issues losing weight afterwards (fingers crossed HERE )