New to MyFitnessPal

kenzziemalcombb

hello! After having my child and struggling with my body image for over a year, I have decided to take control. My weight is normal but I’m struggling to lose the extra body fat. I need my body to become more toned and strengthened instead of looking at all this blubber. Anyone have tips or help to get me where I want to be? My main focus is to eliminate fat in my thighs and stomach. I also would like to look into chest exercises that could help my breast. After breastfeeding they seem to have gone down multiple sizes. I’m too the point being intimate with my partner is a struggle because I’m afraid he will look at me the way I look at myself.

Fursian

Hi Kenzzie, it says you were last active May 15, but in the event that you're still reading the boards or come back to this at a later date, welcome to MyFitnessPal. :)

To lose weight (specifically bodyfat) you'll need to be in a calorie deficit. This means eating below your maintenance calories. There are loads of calculators online or you can use MyFitnessPal's guided setup. Depending on your weight, losing 0.5 lb - 1 lb per week is generally considered safer and arguably a much more comfortable experience than a faster loss of 2+lb per week, with a higher risk of giving up altogether.

I weigh/measure my food and log it all here in the food diary, and I personally like to weigh myself daily every morning and put this data into a spreadsheet to keep an eye on my trend weight, as the trend is a lot more stable to work with and to make sense of than raw scale readings. There are quite a few weight trend aps out there as well if you think that they could be something that helps you along the way.

As for strength and building muscle to get toned, if you're able I'd suggest utilise a gym, preferably finding a personal trainer. It's not to say that you can't just workout at home, I do, but I imagine having a PT that can offer a structured plan of action would be more helpful for what you're looking for.

The end bit of your post. I sympathise with your concerns and will not tell you how to feel about your own body.

Congratulations on your new baby, all the best to you.

littlejeanette9382

WALKING is your best friend. Whether you decide to hop on a treadmill or walk in a park, walking works. It tones thighs and tightens up your body everywhere. Brisk walking and running is a full body workout. After having children, our bodies are different and when you tone down what you’ve gained…….It becomes solid. That will give you a new level of confidence! 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃‍♂️