Baby weight 6 wks postpartum

hoorayselma

Hi
I just had my baby six weeks ago I'm currently 145 and I want to lose 20 pounds to get back to my prepregnancy weight 125 I was wondering any women out there who have lost their baby weight within months after having baby and any tips on how to lose it, i dont breastfeed only formula feed ... thanks

elphie754

Losing weight after a baby is the same as losing weight without having a baby. You have to eat less than your body burns.

RachelElser

omg, 6 weeks is not a lot of time- even eating on a deficit 6 weeks would only have me losing 5 ish pounds. Talk to your OB if you are concerned, but please be kind to yourself. You are a person, not a rubber band.

CattOfTheGarage

elphie754 wrote: »

Losing weight after a baby is the same as losing weight without having a baby. You have to eat less than your body burns.

But as we all know, the real battle is fought in psychology and habits/routine, and the specific challenges are unique to the situation. Having a new baby is definitely a specific set of circumstances with its own specific tips and tricks.

OP, I didn't succeed (nor try) to lose weight at that point, but I wanted to say congratulations and best of luck!

FreyasRebirth

You may have 20 lbs but it probably isn't 20 lbs of just fat. There is nothing magical about 6 weeks. For example, extra blood volume can persist for something like 4 months.

StaciMarie1974

I imagine at 6 weeks ppd your body/hormones are still a little wacky. If you're been approved to return to normal activity, then do so. Get plenty of rest as/when you're able, and without breast feeding there should be no harm to counting calories & eating at a deficit. BUT because of the whole 6 weeks ppd bit, don't focus so much on scale weight right now. Save that for 2-3 months down the road.

hoorayselma wrote: »

Hi
I just had my baby six weeks ago I'm currently 145 and I want to lose 20 pounds to get back to my prepregnancy weight 125 I was wondering any women out there who have lost their baby weight within months after having baby and any tips on how to lose it, i dont breastfeed only formula feed ... thanks

sardelsa

Congrats on the baby! You are only 6 weeks postpartum, your body is still getting itself back to normal.. so I personally wouldn't rush weight loss at this point, especially if you are concerned about body composition. Focus on getting enough rest, getting back into an exercise routine (provided you are cleared by your doctor) and monitor or track your calories to eat less than you burn.

SmithsonianEmpress

^^^what sardelsa said!!! Listen to her. It's wayyyyy too soon to be jumping out there. Physically I'm sure you won't be able to anyway.

Running_and_Coffee

I have had three kids. I recall having about 15-20 lbs left at 6 weeks PP as well, and lost the rest by 4-5 months. I did breastfeed and pump a lot when I went back to work, and I think the weight flew off because of that. Everyone is different--I have friends who lost very slowly while breastfeeding but I happened to lose relatively quickly.

I don't really think baby weight that soon postpartum is the same as losing regular pounds. I never lost so much so quickly ever again in my life!!! :-(

marieamethyst

I was 145 lbs when I had my son last year, and was back down to 123 lbs within 6 months by exercising five times a day when the kids took a nap (I started a week after the birth with the main exercise I did during the pregnancy) and just logging everything on here. Good luck, momma! Take it one day at a time and work on small changes. If the weather is nice where you are, just getting out and walking with the baby is a great form of exercise (and I know getting out when they were newborns did wonders for my mental health). Congrats on your baby

jjohnstonlni

I'm 9 months post partum and just finished losing the baby weight. It was 70 lbs so it took longer but I started pretty much right away..as In the day she was born. Nothing excessive, just cut out all the crap and ate low carb high protein. I breastfed so that helped but in general your body should shed appropriately by simply eating only what your body needs and cutting out the rest. Go with the flow.

ProfDawnLee

Add me. Could use some support from other breastfeeding mamas!

Mini_Medic

Small adjustments and add exercise if you are cleared to begin again and listen to your body and be good to yourself.
The thing no one realizes is that the lifestyle has changed. People ate more to feed the baby, then you deliver and now you can't keep eating to feed the baby unless you are breastfeeding.
This is the same as people who weigh 300 lbs and then suddenly want to cut down to eat like a 100 lb person. Their body is used to the calories it took to stay 300lbs and will take time to get used to the smaller intake.
If you stop exercising the body will want you to keep eating like you are still exercising but since the burn is gone the gain will begin. Hence all the new people here saying, I used to be an athlete in high school but gained the freshman 15 in college. Many of them stopped exercising the same due to studying more and moving less but continued to eat like an athlete unknowingly because that's what their body was used to.
So eat like the not pregnant version of yourself and increase exercise. Without increasing the calories burned either through a calorie deficit or exercise, if you go back to pre baby eating you will likely maintain and not lose because you were used to maintaining that weight not having to burn more to lose back down to it.
Good luck, and congrats on your new baby!

savithny

Even without breastfeeding, you hormones and body aren't back to normal right afterwards.

Among other things: At the end of pregnancy, hormones loosen your ligaments, to prepare your pelvis to be able to stretch and separate for labor and birth. They do not return to normal tightness right away, and you do not want to overdo exercise while they're in this loosened state.