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Need encouragement - weight loss after baby
Hi All,
Can some of you share post baby weight loss stories with me? I could use some encouragement. I have a 4 month old and a 3 year old. I'm 5'7" and have always been around 135 with healthy diet and moderate exercise. I gained 54 lbs with my 2nd and have lost almost 40 of them (25 came off from having him). I've been hanging out around 153-155 for several weeks now despite a high protein low carb diet of 1500-1600 calories, and half hour of cardio 4 times a week plus some weight lifting (not a lot by any means though). I know that's not a ton, but it's what I'm fitting in on my lunch break. I have this paranoia that I'm not going to lose the weight. I think it's because I've seen my mom struggle so much with not being able to lose weight, and all of my family is obese, and so I have this nagging voice that is telling me that I'm getting older and it's getting harder and I might never get my body back. Please share your stories for encouragement! With my first I gained 43 pounds, but it came off quicker and a little easier. TIA!
Re: Need encouragement - weight loss after baby
I would cut your self some slack. It took 9 months to gain the weight, give your self at least that long until you get too discouraged!
You lost 25 right after you had him, so you've lost about 15 pounds on your own (while working and taking care of two kids) in 4 months, so maybe a little less than a pound a week on average. That's not bad!
Are you tracking what you are eating with a website like mydailyplate.com or myfitnesspal.com? You might find that you aren't eating exactly the calories you think you are.
Also you might look into getting a heart rate monitor to track exactly how many calories you are burning. The ones with the chest straps seem to work the best for me. I have a Polar brand one.
Also I have heard that some mothers who breastfeed tend to hold on to some of the weight until they wean. You didn't mention if you were formula or breast feeding, but I thought I'd throw that out there.
I understand where you are coming from. My parents are obese as well and I always have that fear in the back of my mind. You are not your mom though, and you can make good lifestyle choices and can make being fit a life long thing.
Good luck!
I'm about the same size (maybe closer to 5'8"), and gained 60 pounds with my first. It all came off - but it took some time and I was nursing. I was back down to about 140 by the time he was a year, and now hover there, but thanks to running regularly I am an much better shape than I was pre-pg. My point is that it just really takes time for your body to readjust. You're doing all the right stuff. Honestly - I bet you're not getting all that much sleep and that can cause your body to hold on a bit of extra water or fluff.
You are no where near even being overweight and you have not even been "unpregnant" half as long as you were pregnant, so try not to extrapolate. Keep eating right and getting exercise. And don't skimp on calories - you're eating a pretty low amount if you're working out a lot. It can work against you in terms of losing weight.
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
Are you nursing? In my experience about 10 of those pounds just would not come off until after I weaned.
This was the case for me. It is coming off slowly this time too. I think I was just spoiled the first time around, and am trying to remember that a small loss is still a loss. I have been using my fitness pal, and I do find the weight loss stalls if I don't eat all my allotted calories. Good luck!
2012 Goal: working towards pre-pregnancy speed!
04/15 KI Metric Marathon/16.3 m (2:05:55, 7:43 pace)
05/06 Frederick 13.1 (1:41:09)
11/04 NYCM
Our ideals are about the same - I'm 5-7 and 135 is my happy place. I had my 3rd in July and I am right around 145 now, but, I too, was stuck at 155 for awhile after topping out at 180-something on my delivery day
.
I have BF'ed all my children for a year or more and, 10 pounds, literally, falls off me after I wean so I am banking on that this time too. If that doesn't happen, I guess I'll have to put down the ice cream carton and count a few calories
You'll get there - obviously you are mindful of it and working towards your goal, so keep up the good work and you will see the results you want soon enough.