Postpartum Weight Loss thread?

[Amandamanda]

I wasn't sure if this existed or not already, so I figured I'd start one. Point me in the right direction if it does?
DS was born on 3/2 and I am ashamed to admit this.. but I gained 40lbs during my pregnancy just because of lack of eating good foods and no exercise. This is on top of the 20lbs that I never lost after my previous pregnancy with my now 2 year old DD. I just weighed myself now, and 5 weeks after his birth I weigh.. 192lbs. yuck. this is more than I have ever weighed in my life while not pregnant. I have lost about 20lbs since the birth, but not nearly as much as I had hoped, considering how much I put on. I am nursing him exclusively, but nursing for me actually makes me hold onto weight instead of losing it quicker, so I have that as an added struggle. This week I am going to focus on eating healthier and making overall good choices. I don't want to RESTRICT my calories too much, but I am thinking a 1,400 calorie per day diet, might not be too bad. Next week I will start adding exercise to the mix as I will have officially hit the 6 week postpartum mark, and will no longer have any excuse to put it off.

SO there. now that i admitted all that, and got it out into internet-land, it is official. I HAVE to lose 50lbs. Granted, it took 9 months to put it on, so maybe it will take that long to take off. But mark my words MDC, by his first birthday I will not weigh more than 150lbs!

anyone else out there need to lose the leftover baby weight while nursing? what are you doing? what has worked in the past?

Just wanted to add a link to our current thread in case anyone was looking for us!

[nola79]

Yes! My dd will be 10 weeks on friday, and I am hanging on to 20lbs. I gained about 40 while pregnant, and lost 20 by having her. I have weighed 155 since 2 weeks postpartum. I would like to be 135, but I will be happy with
140. I have not restricted calories, yet. What I have done is at about 6 weeks, I started going on 2.5 mile walks with dd in the stroller. I do this while ds is in school. I just recently joined a gym, so I will be doing that in addition to the walks. I would really like to reach my goal in 6 weeks, although I am not sure if that is realistic.
When I had my son, I hung on to 20, 25 lbs, until he was 5 months. I was young then, not bfing, and the only thing I really did was started eating lean cusines for dinner. Also, though, I was in a stressful family situation so that may have it.
I am determined! I am glad you started a thread, I hope some others join, we can keep each other accountable

[mamacatsbaby]

t1h

subbing! i'll join! been planinning how to jump in again. bbl...

[RosemaryS-F]

If you figure out what your caloric needs are for someone of your weight, and do not add on the 500 calories for breastfeeding, you should lose a pound a week. If you want to lose more, then burn it off by exercising (don't overestimate what is burned!) and do not eat back those calories. Simple.

If you can afford it, Weight Watchers has a good nursing plan (extra food if you're nursing). Many insurance providers will pay the registration cost.

[bronxmom]

1,400 calories seems really restrictive for a nursing mom - especially if you weigh 192. I would guess that your calorie needs (factoring in your weight and nursing) would probably be closer to 2,500/day for maintenance. I would try to eat 1,800-2,000 calories a day and begin light exercise and just moving around. You're lucky that the weather is so nice. You can take your baby for twice daily walks in a front carrier and point out things to him. Take your toddler to the playground each day. I just bought a pedometer and just taking my son to the playground (only a mile roundtrip) and chasing him around adds about 3,000 steps to my day.

Just to share my experience. I did not gain as much during pregnancy but I started out heavy and then gained. At first, I lost 20lbs or so but I really had something funny happen where I lost energy (I wasn't depressed) and wanted to eat junk all the time. Like literally I got addicted to multiple peanut butter cups a day. And my partner had made me grilled cheese sandwiches (amazing ones!) during the first month post-partum and that became part of my routine. Anyways, by the time he was 5 or 6 months I had gone up to 203lbs - almost what I weighed when he was born - and was really, really out of shape. Starting in September, these were the steps I took.

I cut out all the junk food and just ate whole good foods. At this point I wasn't really tracking my calories. I also started going to the gym. At first I could only do 15 or 20 min on the treadmill at 3mph. But over time I really built it up to 30-40min and I started taking more walks and just trying to be more active. I lost 12lbs in a month or so. Then in October I added weightlifting and more intensity to my workouts and began mentally just trying to estimate my calories and keep them to 1,800 - 2,000. On days I worked out intensely, I would also add on those calories - so if I thought I burned 300 cals working out, I meet closer to 2,200 calories. Through all this I lost pretty steadily - at about a pace of 1.5-2lbs/week. Now, 7 months later, I weigh 155 (almost 50lbs less) and am nearing my goal weight of 140. None of this felt super-restrictive. Only now am I feeling I need to get more serious about calories and keeping it closer to 1,650-1,700 (more when I workout) but that's also because my son is on solids and nursing less and I weigh less so my calorie needs are less.

I say all this to say that I think you can take it a lot easier on yourself then you are thinking and still lose the weight. And I GAINED weight the first 6 months while nursing so I also thought I had trouble losing while nursing but I think it was really my lifestyle.

Good luck!

[basje]

I'll join too!

I am eight weeks pp, and ready to get more serious about loosing some of the baby weight and building some muscles. I gained over 70 pounds during pregnancy, and although I don't want to weigh as little as I did before getting pregnant I would like to be able to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes and build some major muscle and flexibly so I'm better prepared for my next pregnancy. I think I've lost about thirty pounds so far sticking me around 160. I figure that I'll balance out around 130-137, so I've got about thirty pounds to go.

I'm not keen on diets, and although I eat pretty well I do want to cut down on my sugar intake which sneaks in via by baked goods sweet tooth. And I want to add more sea vegetables and nuts to my diet.

As for exercise, I have a hard time staying committed my own. So I take a two hour yoga class twice a week and walk about an 30-60 minutes a day (as I don't have a car). I know that if I want to see significant changes this won't be enough and I need to add something more to add muscle tone, but I'm not sure what I am interested in. All of my pre-baby healthy hobbies are hard to do without childcare- rock climbing, ballet, swimming- and I don't have the money to leave her with someone else.

Okay. That's all for now. Looking forward to getting to know you ladies!

[nola79]

well, I did ok this week. I went to Zumba twice, and walked a third day. I did some weights as well all three days. I would like to go more often, though.
I plan on starting tommorrow off with a walk (my usual route is about 2.5 miles) As for eating, I tried to snack on healthier things such as nuts, fruit, vegtables. I didn't do great, but I am not one for diets or restricting food. I really don't know too much about losing weight, I am not a calorie counter and I really don't know where to begin. I figure just being more active will be enough. Hope I'm right!

[LynneMarie]

can i join in?

I'm looking to get back into shape after my LO born 5 months ago. Ended up with a cesearan birth, breastfeeding difficulties and PTSD, but feeling better these days. Got on the scale today and I am officially 5 lbs lighter than I was when I had my boy; so I now weigh 201 (which is the heaviest I have ever been). I need to lose 32 lb to make it to my prepregnancy weight. Ideally I'd like to lose another 30-35 on top of that. Wow! I just realized that means 62 to 67 lbs total.

I am finding it challenging to make time to get out and exercise since it is just LO and I. Now that the weather is nicer I am hoping to get out walking with him. I wish he napped a little more so I could do some DVDs at home. I have belonged to the local Y since before I was pregnant, but they only have childminding services for a couple of hours a day and I find it difficult to make it at that time.

My goal is to start eating better this week and try and make it out for a couple of walks. Start slow and keep on going

LM

[Peony]

My baby is almost one. I am down to the last 10 lbs, 5 of it pg weight, another 5 that had crept on that summer before actually getting pg. I feel like all I have done the past year is work on this weight. I eat right and exercise, lose 2 lbs, then the entire family gets ill, take 2 weeks off, repeat cycle for one year. I am doing the 30 day shred a couple times a week that is all I can manage with my current work schedule and 3 needy children. A healthy breakfast and a salad for lunch has been my standard, I get a couple treats a week. With the DD's all the weight was off by 9 months, not this time around. I would of thought by how much this chunky boy nurses that some of the fat would of been taken off of me.... I am really OVER this by now, it is getting warmer, none of my summer clothes fit still.

[RosemaryS-F]

What is your diet like? How many calories are you taking? Are you aware of what your range ought to be? If you have any questions, I took off my baby weight the hard way, and did tons of research to find out what I needed to do. Sorry it's been so hard

[nola79]

Rosemary-what do you mean by hard? How long did it take you?

[tri31]

Yeah, I was hoping to find a postpartum thread here. Can I join you all? I had my 4th dc 17 days ago. I am feeling up to small walks, and enormous amounts of house work. It's spring, and the bright daylight illuminates all that has gone undone. I can't stand to see my house like this anymore. As far as food goes I am struggling to eat more. All those fruits and veggies we are all supposed to get everyday. The hardest thing for me is remembering to drink. I love water, I just don't think about it often enough.

[RosemaryS-F]

Well, it was first hard because of the variety of information out there. Firstly, I was told that I had to eat above a certain (very high) number of calories in order to lose weight. I was told this both here on MDC and also at Babyfit.com. The amount I was supposed to eat was close to 3,000 calories. I tried it for a week and put on weight. It just didn't work for me. So then I went on Weight Watchers. It went well, and more or less that is how I got to my pre-pregnancy weight, however, I also used Spark People and continued to take nursing points after my baby started eating solids--I figured that his eating 5 cheerios a day wasn't really affecting my supply. But the weight came off quite slowly--.6 a week, sometimes a pound, never more. I was lax in my counting, not counting little bites or the milk in my coffee, etc.

I got back to my pp weight initially at around 7 months post partum, but then put weight back on that fall and found myself above it again by a couple of pounds--thankfully not more. I then used WW again to get back down, plus 4 more pounds to my 15%.

I hung out at goal until recently, when I found out what my ideal body weight was--not 137 (my ww goal) but 131. I am now 133 and have been losing about 2 a week, due to strictly careful journaling via spark people. I cut 500 from my base caloric needs and burn at least 500 a day through exercise. This helps me lose 2 a week. I know I'll be able to maintain it; I maintained my other goal weight for a year.

I have done a lot of research and especially in the realm of breastfeeding/weight loss, so I feel like I have a good amount of information to share and would like to answer any specific questions. hth

[Amandamanda]

I'm so glad to see everyone on this thread! I hope we can keep eachother accountable.

i am officially 6 weeks postpartum today!
and i weighed myself today.. from the day i delivered- to this morning, i have lost a total of almost 30lbs.
which isn't saying much, because i still have 30 to go to get me at pre-pregnancy, and another 20lbs to get me to where i am happy with my weight.

i realized that 1,400 was a little restrictive, so i upped it to 1,600 and I seem to be doing okay. I am at the point where I don't even feel like I am cutting back anymore, and I am starting to notice I am less hungry. I've found just by drinking water only, and no other beverages, I have been able to cut my calorie intake down without even thinking about it. I still haven't hit the gym yet, but I have been doing some exercise toning videos here on tv at home, and I am feeling the burn in my abs and legs. I am hoping to be able to have DH watch the kids at night, so I can do some cardio work. I have been going on walks too, which I think helps not only burn calories, but my mood too!

anyway, I hope this week shows even more results. I know I have a long way to go, and it will probably take me 6 months or more to get there. I just hope I can be patient.

[nola79]

Well, I have not been very patient at all. This is my 3rd week at the gym, and I am not really seeing results yet. I have a feeling this is going to take awhile.

[tri31]

Hi, I am curious. After my last pregnancy, I lost like a pound a week. I have lost 5 pounds this week. When my ds was discharged at two days old he had lost 9 oz and he gained that back in 5 days. Since then he has gained 2 and a half pounds. Will his metabolism drive my metabolism?

[nola79]

Tri31- I'm not sure about the metabolism question, maybe someone else may have insight into that.
How did everyone do this week? Any weight loss? Any struggles?

[Asiago]

My body hung onto the weight for a couple of months, I believe this is to ensure enough energy to draw upon to produce breast milk. I really do feel nature does it for a reason, in case of famine or inadequate caloric intake.

Then by the third or fourth month I was back to my normal weight. My son is exclusively breastfed and now almost 5.5. months. I did not do anything but normal activity as well as baby wearing and breastfeeding.

[kitteh]

I'm in!

Hi mamas.

I'm 28 and DD is almost 11 weeks old. I was 116 prepreg and I gained 35 lbs while pregnant, but looking back I probably could have gained less if I hadn't taken advantage of the excuse to indulge during the first trimester.

Anyhow, I lost about 17 lbs in the first week or two after birth and since then my weight has stayed exactly the same at 136. I started working out at 7 weeks and have averaged 4 times a week either speed-walking 2 miles or jogging 3, but always at least 30 minutes of fairly intense activity. And still the scale won't budge!

Now, I have to say that my body has changed over the past 4 weeks or so. I was a size 8 after birth and now I'm squeezing into size 4s and 6s (especially if they're stretch jeans!) but I'm frustrated by the fact that I'm not getting lighter. I know that I should just throw out the scale and focus on other markers of success, but it's tough.

I return to work in less than two weeks and I'm going to have to buy new pants because the pants I was wearing before are too small. I think I need to work some weight training into my routine in order to start fitting back into my pants.

I know mine is a calorie problem, but I'm working on it and I can tell that my appetite is starting to shrink. So that will be my biggest challenge. That and staying active when I return to work. Luckily I work on my feet, so that will help, but I'm going to need actual gym time on top of that, I'm sure.

[Carley]

OMG! Amanda that is amazing! I can't believe you've lost that much already!!!

I definitely have some "extra padding." I need to lose 25 pounds to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 130. I want to do it the right way - SLOWLY and steadily via a healthy SANE diet [i.e. inclusive of treats ] and a good fitness program that I'm not compulsively tied to.

I've struggled with anorexia in the past, but my "problem" now is being totally ravenous with little time to cook nutritious foods. The last 2 weeks I've stocked up on veggies, fruits, rotisserie chicken & eggs at Costco & having those around has definitely helped (though I just ate 4 granola bars while feeding an infant, so there you go! Not buying those again!)

I also made some ranch with Hidden Valley packets & light sour cream to encourage veggie eating

Here's the best online tool I've seen for calculating calories while pregnant or breastfeeding: http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/calories-burned

For the "Weight" figure, I entered in my "ideal weight" for my height & frame (130) + Breastfeeding 6mo < & my estimated BMR is 2217 calories.

That's going to be my daily target - it might sound high to those of you encouraging a 1000 calorie deficit while breastfeeding (!!!!!!!!), but if you eat as many calories as you would burn at your ideal weight... eventually (theoretically) you will get there.

A daily 1000 calorie deficit even while not breastfeeding is definitely "crash diet" territory. Different strokes for different folks, but I hope nobody feels that losing 2lbs/week (1200 net calories/week for most women) is where they have to be... especially us new moms. Dieting like that causes irritability (as if sleep dep & little ones weren't enough to drive us mad ) & could be generally detrimental to our health. Slow & steady wins the race, & crash dieting makes your hair fall out (trust me on that one! )

So anyway! I might not "eat back" calories intentionally if I'm truly full at the end of the day (& I'm at a reasonable level of 1500+) - but I HIGHLY DOUBT that will ever be a problem. If anything I'm struggling to keep my count down! SO hungry!!!!!

Thanks for starting this thread Amanda! It will be so nice to have some encouragement... it's so hard to stay focused!