We've watched the scale go up together, wanna watch it go down? - Page 4

[emmaegbert]

lifeguard, sorry about the frustrating weight gain, though a few pounds is not much (as you know) considering the losses you've had!

I would not be surprised if the hips thing is also partly temporary. My DH was talking about the labor- he was applying counter pressure with his hands to the back of my pelvis, and said he could literally feel the pelvis widening as the baby's head moved into my birth canal. He said he knew she was almost born b/c of that. also, ftr, he said he felt my tailbone move. (he did study anatomy in art school so has a basic understanding of the skeletal structures he was feeling).

Anyway, just saying. its been what- a few weeks? IME it takes a while for the bones to come back together.

Originally Posted by lifeguard 

This lack of sleep is really screwing me over with the weight loss. I've gone up a few pounds this week & there really is no other explanation. I know from experience that if I can get a good solid stretch of sleep I'll see this little increase drop away again. Sigh.

I had two workouts this week & they were great. I'm super pleased with how they went. We kept the weight low with higher reps. No increased bleeding so that is good. My mobility without the belly is astounding (well, not to someone with actual flexibility but for me it's fabulous) & I can definitely see an increase in my strength in body weight exercises (ie. I can do a FULL push-up now!).

How's this for weird - my trainer took my measurements yesterday. When I compared them to my last measurements in February which was a good 20lbs heavier I literally haven't lost any inches - in fact I've gained inches in my hips (but I suspect that might be a bit of a placement issue) & my chest (which isn't surprising). How do you lose 20lbs & it not show up in any of your measurements? No wonder I'm still wearing the same size I was 40lbs ago. Sigh. SO discouraging.

[lifeguard]

Thanks - I'm not stressed about the hips thing - I'm actually not very hippy so a change there, even if permanent wouldn't bother me too much - might actually make clothes fit better - more just don't understand how I could be down 20lbs but not take up less space - it's just weird.

And that is so cool that your dh could feel things moving - very neat.

[mythik]

As with DS  my weight loss stalled at 20ish pounds lost after 3 weeks so now at 3.5 weeks I need to start on the treadmill for short walks and I plan on starting DD on a bottle this weekend to get her used to the idea (I go to work 12wks pp anyway) and DH will watch her while I take the dog for short trail walks this weekend...she has been sorely ignored and homebound.

I have 20lbs to lose to get to where I will be happy and 23lbs to lose to get to pre-preggy weight with DS....FX I can do it in the next two months - I want to fit into some of my old non preggy work clothes when I return to work around Christmas :).  At least a few....

[emmaegbert]

I'm waiting a week to weigh myself (I'm 4d pp right now). And probably 2 weeks to start worrying much about food (though I am trying to eat a high protein breakfast and remember to have protein in my snacks).

Staying home entirely for a week, and then I will start with one easy outing per day max for the second week. I will ease back into regular life around 2 weeks and plan to wait until at least 3-4 weeks to start any concerted efforts at increasing my activity level. My regular life activity level includes a lot of walking, so I think just working up to my usual 2-4 miles a day, but babywearing, during weeks 2-6 will be a great goal.

I also am planning to apply for financial aid (finally) at the Y and hopefully start some formal exercise classes whenever that application goes through- which my friend says can take quite a while. I believe that they have babysitting, which would mean I could actually go.

I would so like to be even just approaching a "normal" size by after christmas. Its partly a silly reason... but DH works for a clothing company and he can use his discount at the post-holiday sale (most of the time he can't use it on sale clothing, so its still too expensive for us)... I mean, regardless I will go ahead and get some decent clothing b/c I think that is important to feeling better at whatever size you are. I don't know. I guess I'll see where I am at 6w pp- which is December 9.

[emmaegbert]

okay so I am 1 week PP today and exactly 15lbs down from when baby was born.

that means I have 21-24 lbs to lose to be at pre-baby weight. Its a little depressing, but on the other hand, when I think about losing 15 lbs (which I think would let me start wearing "normal" size clothes), that doesn't seem insurmountable.

bad news is that I'm sick with a nasty cough, my bleeding hasn't slowed as much as the MW wants so more bedrest for me, and I generally am feeling pretty crappy- I think as much from the cold as anything. But still really having to take it easy. Also my blood pressure was a little high at my visit yesterday. That with the continued bleeding made the MW recommend really more effort at rest. Hard b/c DH is back at work. But my parents are around, and I am taking friends offers to watch the olders for playdates and stuff so even if I don't sleep, I can lie down more. So, my plans to get out and start moving around more are on hold for the time being.

my mom thinks if I stick with my moderately low carb diet and with the tandem nursing, that PP weight gain won't be a problem for me like it was in the past. Hope she is right! I am going to only weigh myself once a week though. I don't want to get too wrapped up in it.

[RosemaryS-F]

nak

emma, 15 lbs in a week is pretty good. but i hear you. you gotta get some stuff at that holiday sale anyway though--do it for me!!! i mean not literally for me, but you know, so i can live vicariously through your discount.

i'm 6 days and 16 lbs down. i've been binding my belly and it is really working to put it all back. i don't have that bread dough belly i had with ds at all.

[Amy May]

I'm 11 days pp and down 20 lbs, but still 11 lbs from prepregnancy weight.  Yesterday we left the house (only for the 2nd time, first was to pediatrician), and took a walk to our main downtown (Jamaica Plain, Boston).  It was really nice to get out of the house... feeling a little stir-crazy too.

I sort of wonder if I'll ever have a firm and muscular torso again.  It is pretty soft right now, and I have to remember that there are probably still muscles there somewhere!  I was able to zip up a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans, but hello, muffin top!  I would never wear them in public (yet).  But, I'm still less than 2 weeks postpartum, and nursing nonstop.  In a few weeks when I'm more recovered and bleeding has completely stopped, I'll resume a bit more activity.  In the meantime, I do think it is important to really rest and take care of myself.  I've definitely been good about taking it easy, but I'm not napping the way I should.  I feel guilty for napping- I don't want to close my eyes and miss being able to look at my baby!

It sure is nice to be able to sleep on my back again, and to roll over, move, get up without grunting or having to make a plan-of-attack.  

[RosemaryS-F]

Originally Posted by Amy May 

It sure is nice to be able to sleep on my back again, and to roll over, move, get up without grunting or having to make a plan-of-attack.  

i know, right? i don't want to forget how luxurious these simple things feel.

[dollyanna]

I hit my pre-pregnancy weight (about 20lbs lost) yesterday at 13 days PP.  Woohoo!

Of course, my belly & hips are still much bigger than they were pre-pregnancy.  I did manage to get into a pair of Old Navy cords that have always been big in the waist a few days ago.  I've been wearing them, but they don't feel great on my still-sore c-sectioned belly so I'll probably go back to yoga pants for a few days. I haven't really done much the last few days, but I'm bleeding a bit more than I was and my belly hurts more.  I did spend a few hours sitting on the floor the other day, which was uncomfortable, so I'm guessing maybe that is the cause.  I ordered some more cords from ON - it looks like a different style than the ones I have now, but I'm hoping they'll fit me.

Once I'm feeling myself again I'd like to work on losing the other 25lbs or so that I've been carrying around for way too long.  Before I got pregnant with DD1 I lost about 15lbs from my highest non-pregnant weight, but I've been stuck there since.

[DragonflyMom]

So my last OB appointment weigh in (at 40 weeks) was 264, yesterday (at 28 days PP)  I was at 229!!

I dont look like it though... :(

I just look...deflated...

[Trinket90]

Originally Posted by DragonflyMom 

So my last OB appointment weigh in (at 40 weeks) was 264, yesterday (at 28 days PP)  I was at 229!!

I dont look like it though... :(

I just look...deflated...

Holy smokes!! Good for you! I know what you mean with the "deflated" look, though. From what I've heard, though, it usually takes longer to get back to "normal" (or as close to it as we can get) than it does to drop the weight.

I'm currently 28 pounds down from my pre-pregnancy weight--but still, of course, in the same size clothing. Boo. But I'm trying to remember that it's not about the size I'm wearing, it's about my health and the loss of those 28 pounds make me more healthy than I was before.

[RosemaryS-F]

You ladies astound me. You've lost 35lbs in a month, Dragonfly. Whoa. And Trinket, 28 down from PRE-pregnancy??? For the floppy skin, seriously try binding your belly with an "adjustable waist trimmer" that you can get at the drug store. If your belly still is too big for just one, they can velcro together. I waited a bit too long with ds last time, but when I did it, it helped me immensely. I put one on this time on the day I left the hospital and I have no flabby skin. (I do have chub, but it's not flabby if that makes sense.) Lots of cultures do this, and I always thought it sounded so vain, but it really works to do more than slim your waist, It helps muscle separation, uterus to go back, and all that other stuff that gets shifted in pregnancy to find its way home.

Down 18 lbs today, 1 week pp! Sweating like crazy last night--absolutely soaked--yuck.

[lifeguard]

Oh my do I know what you mean about deflated - especially if I'm not wearing a bra - it's quite depressing. I find it interesting that I am nowhere near wearing the clothes I could previously wear at this weight - interesting & disappointing, but it will come. <

y workouts are going pretty well, actually they're quite inspiring. All the work I put in during the pregnancy is paying off now & that is exciting. I am seeing improvements in all sorts of areas - but especially in my mobility & form.

I am so exhausted & getting so little solid sleep is really messing with commitment to my nutrition so my weight loss has totally stabilized which is sucks. I wish I was one of those people who lost weight due to stress.

Unfortunately I have started bleeding again & it is quite red. Not sure what started it though I think just the complete lack of sleep is probably the biggest factor. I am running on fumes & am a very unhappy mommy right now - poor ds.

[~pi]

I was down to pre-pg weight early on but have now gained a couple of pounds back. Note to self: grabbing three oatmeal chocolate chip cookies every time I sit down to nurse the baby makes the postpartum weight loss train go the wrong way. So I was down 33 lbs, and now am up 2 from there.

So that is not ideal, but it is not the end of the world. I'm getting back to normal now, though things are still not quite in the place I left them. And my boobs are huge. I'm a G cup now. (I topped out at E with DS1 so this is new for me.) My middle is quite mushy, but this is not a shock, being postpartum and all. I do have a bulge above my waist that was never there before, though. It's in the same place that felt super sore at the end of pregnancy and it is still quite tender, so if it's still there next month, I'm going to get it checked out.

I bound my belly and hips occasionally for the first 4 weeks, but I can't really tell if it did anything. I did get back into my nice clothes by 3 weeks pp (in time for a conference) which was the whole point, but I don't think I did it regularly enough to credit binding. I think I was just lucky, and the exercise during pregnancy made the biggest difference. I haven't decided whether to keep doing it for the 6-8 weeks recommended. It's a pain, and I am concerned that it is contributing to the upper abs issue by pushing everything up there. I might just do my hips. I'd really like to shove my hips back into place, largely because ever since my first pregnancy, the slight widening of my hips has contributed to greater hip and knee pain when playing field sports.

Lifeguard, for working out again already! I am definitely not there yet, though I'm now starting to ramp up with longer walks. We pulled the old pram out of the basement, which is nice for longer walks. I also have big plans to do a gentle yoga postpartum routine this weekend. Woo-hoo.

[lifeguard]

Thanks Pi - but really it's fear driven. I was SO terrified of my first workout back because of the memories of how painful it was to get back into shape after ds (which was ridiculously 'cause I waited almost a year before going back to the gym). So, yeah, I was so scared of undoing all my hard work thus far that I couldn't stand to wait longer.

[Amy May]

Lifeguard- you've mentioned for a while that you're burning the candle on both ends, between sleep, family obligations, and taking care of yourself (including working out).  After birth, we have a wound on the inside of our bodies the size of a dinner plate from where the placenta was healing.  If it were on the outside of our bodies, we would probably not all try to do as much as we do in the early postpartum period.  Bleeding, especially bright, is the best sign our body gives us that we're doing too much- the wound on the inside of our body is still healing. 

I totally get it that getting back to working out is very important to you, but it may also be delaying your recovery and healing.  You just gave birth, and your body is most definitely still healing.  Don't forget to take care of yourself during this time too!

[lifeguard]

Thank you Amy May. The bleeding has stopped today (it seems) & dh & I came up with a better plan to get me more sleep. I'm also going to try to change my focus to my nutrition as that should also help me with my recovery.

[akind1]

I am down to 211 (highest pregnancy weight was 235, started at 224) so that is great!

I don't work out at all yet - 3 1/2 weeks PP - will begin maybe some ab stuff after my 6 week check up. Since I am still losing, I am not really concerned about upping the ante so to speak. Once I seriously plateau, then maybe. Also I still have occasional spotting, so don't really want to do more than I am already. For instance, I probably shouldn't be carrying my 25 lb almost 2 year old. But sometimes it is just easier - and a necessity, for everyone's safety and piece of mind.

so many have had great weight loss!

I totally have a doughy belly. I don't bind though, and I figure it has time to get back. DD isn't even a month old yet! (and my belly wasn't exactly flat to start with).

Just try to take it easy and not stress.

[emmaegbert]

I am so frustrated that I am still bleeding and its been 10 days. The bleeding will stop for a half a day or so, and then start again. I am tired and under the weather with a nasty cold, but also getting so bored! I don't normally work out but I am very active in my daily life and this is very dull for me. I literally have only left the house to go to my son's teacher conference last week, and then to the bus stop at the corner to pick up or drop off my son. However, I am clearly not spending enough time in bed...

and seriously guys, WOW on the weight loss you all have been seeing. I was at 16lbs last I checked (Sunday, which is my usual weight check day, and was 9d pp)

anyone have a good (free) resource for some simple stretches/strengthening things we could be doing that would be okay in the PP weeks? I am starting to feel like there must be some stuff i can do safely...

[RosemaryS-F]

Maybe some postpartum yoga on youtube?

I just took a walk with Iona solo. She's still pretty little for the baby carriers and when she is in them I'm absolutely paranoid that she's not breathing, so dh set up the bassinet attachment for our stroller and we were both very happy, though I felt guilty for not holding her. In general, babywearing also hurts my back (not a wrong carrier issue, just a back issue). I'm not sure what to do! I want to give Iona as much in arms time as I can...