losing weight after baby

[HeatherAnne]

I had a baby, ten weeks ago. I am fustrated with my current weight about twenty pounds over my prepregnancy weight. My questions are, Can I diet and nurse?(my husband says no) How long will it take to lose?, How many calories do I really need to nurse?, Do the abs ever come back? I have always worked out and generally watch what I eat. I am just so depressed. The baby is terrific though. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[jroe]

Congratulations on your healthy baby! 10 weeks doesn't seem like very much time---is this your first baby? I lost my weight very quickly with my first daughter, but the second one took a while (I'd say 4-5 months).Nursing really seems to help take the weight off and I don't think dieting is probably such a good idea. Give your body (and baby) all the nutrients you need, drink tons of water, and I bet you'll notice your weight will eventually return to normal. If possible, enjoy your "fat self" as a medal of the terrific things your body has just accomplished! Don't worry, you'll get your old body back in no time.

[MrsReber]

I exercise pretty regularly now. I am just concerned about the weight since it took me a long time to get down to a size 8! But I guess it's a sacrifice us women have to make! I really do want children and I, too, am curious to see what it'll do to my body. My sister now has wavy hair! It was always perfectly straight before her two kids came along. She is back at her weight and might've even lost extra weight. I am worried, but not so much that I don't want children. Thanks for the information! Good luck, Lisa!

[Kathy]

HeatherAnne, Congratulations on your little sweetheart! 20 pounds is not much only 10 weeks later..as I recall the weight came off in shifts..a lot at first then it stopped them for no reason it started moving again...hang in there..get your exercise and watch what you eat..it will come off! Nursing definitely burns a lot of calories adn you need to eat to produce milk so you can't diet as you normally would. My sister nursed followed Weight watchers with extra points and lost very quickly. Most importantly, get some rest and enjoy your baby!

[MrsReber]

I don't have children yet, but we are going to try very soon. I am terrified of gaining weight, but I know it can be lost just as easily. I am curious, how does nursing help to take the pounds off?

[LIsaP]

Mrs. Reber,
I too am planning to have children soon.

Breast feeding required a lot of energy and thus burns a lot of calories helping the body to loose extra fat faster.

Weight that is gained quickly, as in when you have a baby, is generally easier to loose than weight that is gained over a long time and has been with you longer.

As long as you continue to exersize in moderation through your pregnancy and after the birth, you should not have a problem!

I am looking forward to this part of my life and anxious to see how my body will change to accomodate the baby-it is truely an amazing thing!

[food girl]

Congratulations! I have no children, but I have been cataloging information from all of my friends. Even my *most fit* friends took several months to get back to thier pre-pregnancy weight. A nursing baby will suck 500 calories off of you in a day, but your body is genetically programmed to hold onto some body fat while you are breast feeding. (in case there is a famine)Most of my breast fdg friends complained about upper body & back fat. Once they quit breast feeding this seemed to go away. (I never noticed it anyway and neither do your friends)

[Kristilyn1]

You really should consult your doctor. I know that there are healthy ways to reduce enough calories to lose weight while nursing and still have enough for the baby. But definitely not something to do without medical advice. The best advice I can give is--watch the empty calories and try to exercise as much as you can. It will come off--but ten weeks--you are just not giving yourself enough time. Unfortunately, we all know women who leave the hospital squeezed into their size 4 jeans but that is definitely the exception and not the rule. I just lost my weight from my 13 month old and I admit--it was my own laziness that made it take that long. (I did not nurse) Keep in mind that even if you lose the pounds--you need to give your body time to get to a shape that resembles your old body.

Also, the other way nursing helps you lose weight or at least inches--is that it helps shrink your uterus after having the baby.

Kristi

[HeatherAnne]

Thank you, everyone for your help. I feel a little better. I just am sick of my husbands shirts and want to wear my clothes. Anyway it definately was worth it. She is beautiful! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
I will watch what I eat and exercise more, and hopefully things will improve. I will give myself more time. Thank you so much for the encouragement!

[cookgirl]

HeatherAnne
Congratulations!
Pregnancy magazine had an excellent article (in early Spring?) about after pregnancy workouts. They include subtle back strengthening and tummy toning movements. I wonder if you could look them up on-line and search the archives?

[Regina]

Wow! Such positive response to baby fat. You can "diet" - but I found I was just ravenous everytime I tried to cut back; friends have said their milk supply really dropped, too, when they cut back. My baby will be one year old in just 2 1/2 wks, and I'm ONE POUND over pre-pregnancy wt; but, I'm still 2 sizes over. I am breastfeeding still - we start weaning after his 1st bday. I had lots of swelling & gained 41 lbs. w/him - 9lb.1oz. baby. Lost 30 by 6 wk ckup, w/no special diet, just walking. Continued losing & gaining same 5 lbs until he was well-estab. on solid foods, about 8 mos. (he hated cereal & refused to eat much baby food - texture thing) Suddenly, those 5 lbs. disappeared! Hit another plateau, until he transitioned to more table food & less nursing. I realized I wasn't as hungry anymore, either, & was able to eat less. The wt's been dropping steadily since. I've been doing the Good Moves 2000 & it has helped my energy level so much. A friend took her 2 yr old & 2 mos. old, bundled up in snowsuits, out walking in Chicagoland in Jan.! They're temporarily in a sm. apart, & they were stir-crazy. The fresh air & movement did them all good. I've tried to focus on good parts of my body - I have a waist that's firm, big chest!, strong arms (baby's over 24 lbs now!), and cheekbones again. My belly is still jiggly, much to the baby's amusement, but I like trying on my clothes & seeing what DOES fit now. Also, finally bought some new stuff & updated my wardrobe a little. I indulged in some trendier stuff, knowing I won't be in bigger sizes forever. Enjoy your little one & get walking; get her in the stroller & move. You'll both love it! Good luck!

[Laura]

Hello -

It has been awhile since I went through this because my children are 8 and 11. With my daughter I gained 47 pounds and was back to pre-pregnancy shape around 8 months. That may seem like a lot, but it took 9 months to make your angel, give yourself the same time to get back in shape. Nursing does help you lose weight faster, but I found that I did not lose all my weight until I stopped nursing completely. I have heard that the body holds on to some fat to continue to produce the milk. I can tell you that I now am in much better shape then I ever was before I had kids. Maybe it is the motivation to stay healthy for them. Yes, the abs do come back but it is a lot of work. I found a great exercise for lower abs but can only do it at a club. Either hang from a bar or use I think what is called a Roman chair and do knee raises. I started being able to do only 10. Now I do 3 sets of 20 with the last 5 being straight leg raises (word of caution make sure your lower back is strong enough before doing the straight leg raises) My personal belief is that if you were in shape before you had kids you will be after as well. It is hard when they are very young to find time to exercise but strollers, bike carriers and a small set of hand weights (3, 5, 8 & 10 pounds) are really all you need. You can do it and your kids will ultimately benefit. You will be around longer, have more energy and they will see the benefits of a healthy mom. congratulations and enjoy what will be the most rewarding, frustrating, incredibly loving and scary time in your life. It is worth every bit of it!

[Lauren]

I'm not sure I agree with all the comments about breast feeding helping the weight loss. I didn't nurse either of my sons and took the weight off in six weeks with the first and eight weeks with the second.

A tip for those of you out there considering pregnancy, continue walking or exercising while pregnant. I think staying fit is what really helps to take the weight off more rapidly. Plus, you'll feel better after the birth. Also, try to eat healthy while pregnant. Some women say they gained over 50 pounds during a pregnancy. No wonder it takes time to lose it! I beleive 25-30 pounds is the recommended weight gain for a single birth.

[andi]

Congratulations! I just had my third baby six months ago and still have 30 lbs to go (I gained about 55 lbs). I've breast feed all my children (still am nursing this baby) but for me I never lost all the weight until I was done nursing. I think in some women your body holds onto the weight as a way to ensure adequate stores to nourish your baby. Yes, I hate not fitting into my clothes but one look at my healthy (and last) baby and I realize I have many years to loose the weight, only a few months to nurse. I would just focus on eating healthily and exercising when you can. The weight will come off! Think about what your body has accomplished!!!!

And yes, your abs can eventually look awesome!!!