Post-partum weight... GAIN?!!?!??!?

[cymbeline]

Srsly??! I'm 5wPP and I am GAINING weight. This really sucks. What am I doing wrong?

Background: I'm 4'9". My "active" weight is 98 -- meaning when I am exercising regularly (which I am not right now). My pre-pregnancy weight was 108 (I wasn't exercising regularly then, either).

I gained around 35lbs this time, and I lost 10 pretty much right away. But I've been 123-126lbs ever since. I'm EBFing and co-sleeping. Usually the weight is all off within 6wPP!

Now I know what you'll say: don't worry, this was #4, you're bf'ing, it has only been 5wks, it will come off. My problem is this: I have NO clothes for this weight! Seriously, I am wearing the same pair of sweatpants every day, and even my nursing bras are too small.

I can't afford a new wardrobe!!! And I have even fewer options for cold weather clothing in y closet that isn't teeny tiny. Even losing just 5-10lbs would help! I'm eating healthy foods, nursing on demand, drinking lots of fluids and walking 1-2 miles every day to get the kids to/from school. What more can I do??

[Lula's Mom]

Me too! I've got no help for you, but you're not alone, at least. I was only 9 or 10 pounds over pp weight at a week post-partum... now I am 13 pounds over. It's definitely lack of exercise for me- I worked out all through pregnancy, and I can see all my muscles disappearing now that I'm not active.

I want to work out, but I have some prolapse issues happening, and I can't risk making that worse by running or straining to lift weights. I'm going to try not to worry about it, and refrain from working out until the beginning of next year to give myself time to heal. It's hard to see myself getting wider and flabbier, though. My belly is sooo squishy! The muffin top is ridiculous.

[confustication]

Count me in as well!

I know the culprit- nursing is making me insatiably hungry- but I can't stop eating all the wrong things. I'm giving myself a couple more weeks for things to level out before I really buckle down. I had my 6 week check a couple weeks early (doc heading out of town) and was given the 'all clear' to start working out more, but only once the bleeding stops- for now, I'm still bleeding when I push too hard physically. Grr.

It really a struggle, when I cut back on what I'm eating my milk supply drops, but really- it's not healthy. Yummy, but not healthy.

My clothes fit as I lost weight while pregnant, but at this rate, they won't for long. It's depressing!

[cymbeline]

Well, at least I am not alone! This is really frustrating. I look in the mirror, and I just don't recognize that body. It is disconcerting, to feel like after all of this, I am never going to be the same woman. Plus, I feel really unattractive -- DH swears I look great (he just likes the boobs, lol) but I can't imagine looking sexy on any level right now.

I want my body back!!!!! WAH!

[confustication]

I really like to get most of my exrcise by getting out and physically active- hiking/biking/swimming etc, but I'm seriously considering either an elliptical (I have access to one that's just sitting unused) or a treadmill for the winter months when I don't want to go out...