This is for all of us that still have some weight to lose.
I was 122lbs pre-pregnancy. I gained about 45lbs, ending my pregnancy at 168lbs. I now weigh 145lbs. My goal is to loose 20lbs by the summer. In the past I've lost about 1lb per week until it was all gone.
Today I started walking, which I will try to do 4-5 days a week. I walked for 30 minutes with a baby in a carrier and my toddler in a stroller. I plan on building up to 1 hour of walking per day.
What are your weight lose goals?
Pre-pregnancy, I was 145.
At hospital admission, I was 194. 49lbs! Good grief.
About a month post-delivery, I was down to 150.
I'm now up to 155. And 90% of it is my stomach. So depressing.
My only goal is to back to my pre-pregnancy weight/work on my belly. I'm not expecting perfection. Obviously, carrying a child, the chances of you looking exactly like you did prior to being pregnant is slim to none, so I'm being realistic. I just want it to look BETTER.
I'm scared to do any exercising/dieting while I breastfeed. Is that bad? 1) Running hurts my boobs, LOL. 2) I already eat SO much, I might drive myself into bankruptcy if I started exercising, too. 
3) I'm afraid of hurting/drying up my supply. 4) I know this is a lame excuse, but I am so GO, GO, GO with school/work/housework/husband/animal/kids, when I do have a second to myself, I like to sit and relax.
I do crunches at night while kiddo naps, about 100/night... And, that's about it.
Also, it's cold. I don't want to take my kiddo out in it, and the only time I'd get a chance to walk with him would be in the evenings/nights when it's even colder, so I'm pretty much stuck inside.
I keep telling myself that I'll get serious about it when I quit breastfeeding and/or it gets nicer outside. Man, I'm just full of excuses.
I gained 3 lbs in the last few days. It's not much, but it's weird. I guess my milk regulated and I should stop eating like a damn horse. I also have a little belly pouch which is depressing. The little roll on my tummy + the huge boobs make my torso look pretty squishy and as if I am carrying a lot of extra weight, but my legs are like sticks. Very disproportional. I want to start working out- more walks and such. I like being able to eat what I want, so I need to offset it with some calorie burning! So while I'm still at my "target" weight can I jump in here for some exercise accountability? pretty please? 
Nicole - I've always been able to workout and breastfeed just fine. Most of the time I don't do anything super hardcore, I just tend to walk 3-4 miles a day (maybe 4-5 days a week) with a baby in a carrier. In the past that has always been enough to keep me healthy and thin. I like that as the baby gets heavier, I slowly get in better shape. When I lived in AK I would walk with my DS when it was COLD. I would put him in a fleece suit, wear him in a carrier and then zip a large jacket over the outside of it. It kept everyone warm and kept me moving.
While it's true that your body might never look the same again, I don't feel that motherhood should be an excuse to let ourselves go. Yes, I have stretch marks, but I've always lost my pregnancy weight and had a very good body pp. There is no reason that you can't look fabulous again! :)
J - Of course you can join us! Working out for the sake of being healthy is just as important and weight lose. :)
I agree, Abra! It might be harder to keep weight off now with changing metabolisms and new curves, but it's definitely possible to be fit and be a mother. I may not look how I did when I was 22 and childless, but I am embracing the changes. Question: when you're walking with babe in the sling, do you feel pressure in your pelvic floor? I know things are still healing and getting back to normal- and I've been doing kegels, too- but is that just normal for now to feel lax there? it's only when I'm carrying him in the sling, likely from holding that extra weight up. Is that a sign to take it easier or is it actually a good thing- as if I'm working out those muscles? Does that make sense?
Pre-pregnancy I was 141. Now I am 154 at eight weeks postpartum. I haven't even lost a pound yet but I've been eating tons of chocolate and drinking beer. Not good for the ole' thighs! My weight loss plan includes sledding with my DD1( since it is such great exercise walking back up hill pulling a 2 year old) and I try to go out and walk at night with a headlamp. I live in the middle of nowhere so I never even see a car. That seems to be the only chance I get to have a few minutes to myself. I am going to cut out the chocolate but I'm not giving up my one beer a day...I need that beer.
Pre-pregnancy I was 146 lbs. I was 178 at the end. I was 155 until 2 weeks ago. Then I ended up at 160. I'm now 158 after 3 days without soda. Seriously, I was drinking 32 oz of Mountain Dew a day. (don't judge, it was a HORRIBLE pregnancy craving and turned into an addiction) So, now I'm hoping that that helps me lose more weight. I need to start going to bed early again, so I can get up at 5 in the mornings and run, like I used to. That's the only way I used to get my exercise in before getting pregnant, was getting up super early before the kids got up. When it gets warmer, I'll have to get a jogging stroller, so I can take Levi, as he might wake up when I go to leave and wake Billy up. Waking up an hour before he's supposed to is not something that he will appreciate. lol
Jill, the one beer a day shouldn't be too bad if you drink lots of water. It'll flush out anything that the beer will make you retain.
I was 99 pre-pregnancy, 128 at the end of pregnancy, and am now 108. I don't have a weight loss goal, but I certainly have a "fit" goal. I need to get some muscle back after all these months of low activity. I also want to fix my diastasis recti as much as possible. I'm itching to go running, but I'm still bleeding! Argh!!! So basically I want to maintain a good weight (higher than 99) while working out to tone and strengthen my body.
Hmm, my pelvic floor has felt totally normal since about 2w pp. I don't notice any extra strain while holding the baby, and I carry her for most of the day. You might ask your midwives about it and see what they say? My body actually looked better after I had my first baby (a year pp), I was in better shape and thinner. Yes, I had stretch marks, but I still looked pretty darn good. I know it's possible and I don't like to blame things on metabolism.. It's all about moving and eating healthy. If you work out and eat well, you should be able to maintain a healthy body weight (might be different for each person). At least that's my thought.
I also like to make my every day activities a little harder. I'll do squats while folding laundry or carry a baby in my arms while vacuuming. It makes my chores a little more like a workout, which feels more productive to me. As for today, I've been sitting on my ass WAY too long. I'm going outside! :)
I agree, Abra! It might be harder to keep weight off now with changing metabolisms and new curves, but it's definitely possible to be fit and be a mother. I may not look how I did when I was 22 and childless, but I am embracing the changes. Question: when you're walking with babe in the sling, do you feel pressure in your pelvic floor? I know things are still healing and getting back to normal- and I've been doing kegels, too- but is that just normal for now to feel lax there? it's only when I'm carrying him in the sling, likely from holding that extra weight up. Is that a sign to take it easier or is it actually a good thing- as if I'm working out those muscles? Does that make sense?
Jill - I highly doubt that 1 beer per day will cause a weight issue. I say go for it!
Becky - Why can't you work out with both kids? I wear one and put the other in a stroller, it gets us all out of the house and my kids love to go for walks. In the summer I'll take them to the park, but for now it's just around the neighborhood. It might not be running, but it's a decent workout and keeps me moving.
So out of curiosity... what do any of you do if you're out on a walk with your baby in a carrier and they have a dirty diaper? My baby starts crying bad if she isn't changed within a short period of time, and I'd hate to be a few miles away from the house when that happens!
I love the idea of walking outside in the cold with my baby bundled up but have been so nervous to try it. I don't have a good grasp of what temperature is okay for a baby to be out in. It's cold here in Wisconsin but we've been having a ridiculously warm winter so far with only one day of snow that stuck! Very unusual. We've had some 40-50's weather recently with lots of sun. Would that be okay to take the baby out in? Is it ever okay for her face to be exposed in those temperatures to get some sunlight or no? *paranoid here!*
I got down to about 138 pre-pregnancy (after 4 months of eating all-raw), but hover around 144 when I'm eating cooked food, too. Got up to about 180 or so, and am currently stuck at about 160. Ugh. I hate it. I also feel that with these huge boobs and flabby belly I'm just all soft and jiggly and... ugh.
With the raw diet, I'd FINALLY gotten to a place where I felt amazing with how I looked... and then I went and got knocked up :)
I was an avid runner, too, running about 7-9 miles most days. I want to get back into that, plus lots of walking with baby strapped to me. I've gone for a run twice this week, for the first time in about 3 months, and ran for about 15-20 minutes with some walk breaks. Not tracking distance yet, so I don't get all hard on myself.
My DH likes my body better postpartum than before I was pregnant! He kind of thought I was "too skinny" before I got pregnant (which I, of course, took as a compliment). He likes a little belly. So at least one of us is happy!
So out of curiosity... what do any of you do if you're out on a walk with your baby in a carrier and they have a dirty diaper? My baby starts crying bad if she isn't changed within a short period of time, and I'd hate to be a few miles away from the house when that happens!
I love the idea of walking outside in the cold with my baby bundled up but have been so nervous to try it. I don't have a good grasp of what temperature is okay for a baby to be out in. It's cold here in Wisconsin but we've been having a ridiculously warm winter so far with only one day of snow that stuck! Very unusual. We've had some 40-50's weather recently with lots of sun. Would that be okay to take the baby out in? Is it ever okay for her face to be exposed in those temperatures to get some sunlight or no? *paranoid here!*
Re: the diaper dilemma... maybe just put her in a disposable for long walks? I don't know. Is she in cloth otherwise? I know my DD will go for longer stretches while wearing a disposable, which is why we're doing them overnight for the time being.
Those temperatures are fine for baby! I take my daughter outside if the sun is shining in just a onesie for a couple minutes so she can get some vitamin D. And it's been in the 40s here. I've taken her for walks when it's freezing or just below-freezing with only her face exposed. Her cheeks/nose get cold but it's not like she's not getting frostbite or any kind of damage! Plus she loves being outside. It's natural to be paranoid but those temps are totally fine. Unless your baby is super-sensitive and doesn't like it, in which case she'll let you know!
That's my go-to answer for most things, too... people are like "am I holding her right?" and my response is always "She'll let you know!" Your baby will alert you if there's a problem. Don't worry!
I've rarely had an issue with a diaper while I've been out walking. I do use disposables though and none of my kids have seemed to care if they are in a wet diaper for a bit. If a big blowout happens I will go home, which would rarely take more than 20 minutes. I suppose it totally depends on how far you go, what your neighborhood is like, etc.
Yes, it's perfectly fine for a baby's face to be exposed in 40-50 degree weather. I walked daily all winter long with both of my older kids. With my DS we lived in AK and it was often 15-20 degrees and we'd still go out. Mostly babies tend to sleep while you're walking, so their faces can be tucked inside if it's really cold.
So out of curiosity... what do any of you do if you're out on a walk with your baby in a carrier and they have a dirty diaper? My baby starts crying bad if she isn't changed within a short period of time, and I'd hate to be a few miles away from the house when that happens!
I love the idea of walking outside in the cold with my baby bundled up but have been so nervous to try it. I don't have a good grasp of what temperature is okay for a baby to be out in. It's cold here in Wisconsin but we've been having a ridiculously warm winter so far with only one day of snow that stuck! Very unusual. We've had some 40-50's weather recently with lots of sun. Would that be okay to take the baby out in? Is it ever okay for her face to be exposed in those temperatures to get some sunlight or no? *paranoid here!*
OH man. Ive got the most weight to lose out of everybody, and I gained very little when pregnant. I have an "ideal" weight of 150 for my height and frame (tall with a giant rack). Post-surgery in December of 2010 I was 160. After the surgery I gained 10 pounds and was up to 170. After pregnancy I'm 180.
My realistic goal is to lose at least 15 pounds. My ideal goal is to lose 30. Im a little concerned about how large my boobs will look on a smaller body.
My doc still doesn't want me exercising because I'm having some problems not bleeding- as in, I'm still bleeding a lot. But, Ive managed to make some great changes to my diet by cutting out white carbs, processed sugar, and dairy. My "fat pants" are already feeling looser even without exercise :)
Pre-pregnancy I was ~150lbs. Pre-baby #1 was ~145lbs. Currently 162. I would love to get back to 145 but will be happy if I'm at 150 and in a good exercise routine. I've been walking daily with both kids but will have to figure out something a little more intense once I'm back at work and have less time Mon-Thurs. I love swimming and yoga, but not sure when the little one will be ready to be away from me while I hit the gym (she'll be going to work with me so we won't be separated then). Weekends are nice with long hikes together.
While I love eating anything I want and working out to compensate, that has not worked for me post-babies (not because I did the same stuff and it didn't work, I just didn't have the time to workout as much or wasn't able to bike/walk everywhere, etc). So in this weight loss endeavor, I will also be more careful about meal planning and calorie consumption, but nothing drastic.
No, I've got the most to lose. I was overweight pre-pregnancy and I still am I was 207 the day I got my BFP, and 235 the day I was admitted to the hospital (10 days before birth). I was back to 207 one week pp, and I've lost one pound per week since, putting me at 191, currently. Which is great, I haven't been under 200 in over a year. I was 115 when I met DH, but I was very sick (eating disorders) and it wasn't good for my frame (5'7'' and large chested) so I certainly don't want to be back there, but I'd really like to be under 150. We'll see if I can do that!
As for diet/exercise... I am eating like a horse (in volume; I'm not consuming horse feed 
) on a mostly paleo diet and this week I've gone for a walk every day. I'm not one to 'work out' but I enjoy going for walks, swimming, hiking, etc.
I'm kind of afraid to take Rhyko swimming, though... the pool near us (like in our neighborhood, a half mile away!!) has baby swimmers classes starting at 6 months, but I am wary of the water and what's in it (not only the chemicals but the 'human added' stuff, too). Does anyone swim with their babies??
So out of curiosity... what do any of you do if you're out on a walk with your baby in a carrier and they have a dirty diaper? My baby starts crying bad if she isn't changed within a short period of time, and I'd hate to be a few miles away from the house when that happens!
I love the idea of walking outside in the cold with my baby bundled up but have been so nervous to try it. I don't have a good grasp of what temperature is okay for a baby to be out in. It's cold here in Wisconsin but we've been having a ridiculously warm winter so far with only one day of snow that stuck! Very unusual. We've had some 40-50's weather recently with lots of sun. Would that be okay to take the baby out in? Is it ever okay for her face to be exposed in those temperatures to get some sunlight or no? *paranoid here!*
Does she fuss while sleeping if she has a dirty diaper? I'd think the walking would put her to sleep, so maybe it wouldn't be an issue?
As far as outside temps and kepeing baby warm- it's okay for extremities to be cold to the touch (it's normal in fact since their circulatory systems are still developing), you just want to be sure their core is cold. I'd assume if she's bundled near you in a carrier and is dressed for the weather that she'll be fine :-)
That's my go-to answer for most things, too... people are like "am I holding her right?" and my response is always "She'll let you know!" Your baby will alert you if there's a problem. Don't worry!
Very wise, Katie!
No, I've got the most to lose. I was overweight pre-pregnancy and I still am I was 207 the day I got my BFP, and 235 the day I was admitted to the hospital (10 days before birth). I was back to 207 one week pp, and I've lost one pound per week since, putting me at 191, currently. Which is great, I haven't been under 200 in over a year. I was 115 when I met DH, but I was very sick (eating disorders) and it wasn't good for my frame (5'7'' and large chested) so I certainly don't want to be back there, but I'd really like to be under 150. We'll see if I can do that!
As for diet/exercise... I am eating like a horse (in volume; I'm not consuming horse feed ) on a mostly paleo diet and this week I've gone for a walk every day. I'm not one to 'work out' but I enjoy going for walks, swimming, hiking, etc.
I'm kind of afraid to take Rhyko swimming, though... the pool near us (like in our neighborhood, a half mile away!!) has baby swimmers classes starting at 6 months, but I am wary of the water and what's in it (not only the chemicals but the 'human added' stuff, too). Does anyone swim with their babies??
I am also wary of pools with little ones. I took one too many microbiology courses and cryptosporidium Freak. Me. Out. UGH! It's a valid concern with public pools. On the other hand, it is likely chlorinated to the max. That's also an issue. Heh. I guess it's just up to your personal comfort level. I do want to do swimming lessons with my older DS this summer. I don't think we'll be putting Dylan in though, yet....
Hmph. It's subtle, and feels kind of like it did immediately postpartum- so I'm thinking it's just that the muscles are still getting back to normal. He is a heavy boy, too. Maybe that's part of the issue. I have my appt this week and she will be checking my uterus and musculature down there so we'll see. I've DTD and everything was feeling fine so I don't think there's damage, but I might need to take it a little easier.
Hmm, my pelvic floor has felt totally normal since about 2w pp. I don't notice any extra strain while holding the baby, and I carry her for most of the day. You might ask your midwives about it and see what they say? My body actually looked better after I had my first baby (a year pp), I was in better shape and thinner. Yes, I had stretch marks, but I still looked pretty darn good. I know it's possible and I don't like to blame things on metabolism.. It's all about moving and eating healthy. If you work out and eat well, you should be able to maintain a healthy body weight (might be different for each person). At least that's my thought.
I also like to make my every day activities a little harder. I'll do squats while folding laundry or carry a baby in my arms while vacuuming. It makes my chores a little more like a workout, which feels more productive to me. As for today, I've been sitting on my ass WAY too long. I'm going outside! :)
Jill - I highly doubt that 1 beer per day will cause a weight issue. I say go for it!
Becky - Why can't you work out with both kids? I wear one and put the other in a stroller, it gets us all out of the house and my kids love to go for walks. In the summer I'll take them to the park, but for now it's just around the neighborhood. It might not be running, but it's a decent workout and keeps me moving.
nak. I don't usually weigh myself, but I suspect I went over 200 this pregnancy. I was around 160 before #1, kept an extra 20lbs or so on since then because of the PPD. My ideal weight is 140, my goal right now is to fit into my clothes from before this pregnancy, and then I'm going to work on getting back to pre-pregnancy size (pre-#1.) I do like to walk with the kids, but for rainy days (most days in a West Coast winter)I'm going to get a used piece of exercise equipment - an elliptical or stationary bike. Can't run with these boobs. I also have a serious sugar addiction, so I'm hoping addressing that will be a big help. I'm also back to getting my dairy rash, so once I can start taking my supplements again (when I go off the blood thinners) I'm going to eliminate dairy from my diet as well.
And as far as taking baby out in cold weather, I take Oren out every day in either the carrier or stroller, and the weather at times has been close to or at 0 degrees celcius. So that's like low 30s - 40s F? And he loves it. Hates to be in either carrier or stroller until the moment we step outside then he's asleep in 30 seconds. Today I walked 15 blocks in the pouring rain, about 4 C, with him in the stroller. I usually have him in a disposable for going out. For changes, I find it helps to have a destination that has a change table (coffee shop, library etc) but I also live in a dense urban area with lots of kid-friendly businesses. If you live in a strictly residential area, you could just stay near your house, kind of circle the blocks around, just to get out?
Disposable diapers - great idea for extending my time out of the house with the baby! I hadn't thought of that. *duh me* We cloth diaper almost exclusively but we were given a bunch of free sposies from a few friends/family whose babies outgrew the size, so we just started trying them out overnight and they do seem to make the baby squirm less and go longer between changes. Maybe she would stay asleep in a carrier if she dirtied a diaper while we're out walking. Sometimes she'll wake out of sleep super cranky needing a change if I'm babywearing around the house but I'm not constantly moving in those moments. I'll try walking with her today and report back!! 
I can't wait to get some fresh air with her now that I'm not afraid of her freezing out there either!
Luna - I'm glad I'm not alone here! My pre-pregnancy weight was 208 and I was up to 253 at the birth, so I had a 45 lb weight gain. I'm down to 226 lb and have a ways to go. I'm hoping this is my time to get down to a healthier weight than I was even at before! I'm determined.
Jbk21 - Cryptosporidium is a concern in public pools? 
Ugh. I didn't know that. I'm extra cautious because I got infected with cryptosporidium 2 years ago, just two months before my wedding nonetheless, and I was the sickest I've ever been in my life. I haven't been the same since. My gluten intolerance issues actually started just four months after that, so maybe it had something to do with it. No idea. We still don't know how I got the crypto, though, and I hadn't been swimming, so I suppose I wouldn't be that afraid anymore since it can literally happen out of nowhere from different water sources and we can't really prevent these things sometimes, ya know?
KayPea - I LOVE my elliptical! I don't think you'd be disappointed if you got one. 
It's one of the best workouts and such a calorie burner. I can get my heart rate up so easily and do interval training on there without killing my knees that are sensitive to running since my tennis playing years.
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