Getting Healthy Post-Pregnancy

BeShrable

Hi,
My name is Be and I'm a young mommy of two beautiful babies, born 13 months apart. My husband and I have started to make some drastic changes in order to lead a healthier lifestyle for us and as an example for our kids. After the birth of my first baby, the weight just "fell off" with pretty much no real effort on my part. My daughter was born 3 months ago and things are definitely not moving as quickly this time. I'm finding it pretty challenging to juggle running a household, taking care of children, working an outside job, planning and preparing healthy meals (yet eating enough calories to breastfeed the baby) and finding time to regularly exercise in the midst of it all. We've been eating right and exercising almost daily for about 3 weeks now and are already beginning to see results in several aspects of our lives. Sometimes it gets discouraging when you work so hard and nothing seems to be happening or the scale just goes up anyway! :P It's so helpful to have support from others though and I love all the encouragement I see going around on this site!

rhapsody527

Congrats on your beautiful new baby! I have 2 kids as well, a 2 year old and a 4 month old. Add me if you would like!

BeShrable

Thanks and way to go on losing 29lbs!

LikeNoOneElse84

Welcome! I completely understand what you're going through. I've got three kids. I was a-okay after the birth of my oldest (I'm guessing that being 19 had something to do with it. lol) but as I had my second and third, things got harder and harder. My youngest is 13 months old and (if you can believe it) I managed to lose all of the baby weight by the time she was 3 weeks old, but somehow managed to put all 21lbs of it back on and THEN ADDED another 20lbs! I bf as well and suspect that eating all of those extra calories may have had something to do with it. *sigh* I joined MFP as I hit my heaviest of 220lbs. I was utterly disgusted with myself. I'm always here (if you need a friend) and I love the site and all of the support everyone gives. Good luck on your get healthy journey!

BeShrable

Thanks for the comment and add!
For years, I didn't have much trouble maintaining my weight and being really good with portion control. Even through my first pregnancy, I didn't exercise much but I still ate healthy and my appetite didn't seem to increase at all. It was a completely different story once I started breastfeeding! Then, throughout the pregnancy with my daughter I was famished all the time and ate things and portions that would have disgusted me before. I was so used to eating more by the time I had her that it's been a challenge to get back into the healthy eating mindset. I'm always worried I will go over the balance of not overeating yet still eating enough to continue producing. I don't know about you, but I find it super difficult sometimes! Honestly, sometimes I struggle with feeling selfish for wanting to get back into shape so much. I wonder if this is just a mom thing? Another thing for us to feel guilty about! lol!

LikeNoOneElse84

Its not selfish. When we become moms we tend to let ourselves go in the process. We seem to turn into mombots. lol. We no longer do what we want or need. I was just saying (yesterday) that I am tired of bf'ing and am ready to get my life and my body back. lol. She has had it for the entire 9 months of my pregnancy and then for another 13 months on top of that, I think she's had it long enough. lol. As far as eating "enough" to continue producing, I think that you can do it without making conscience efforts. As long as your not constantly pigging out on snacks and fast food, and keeping a healthy balance between veggies, fruits, whole grains and such, I think you'll be fine. I'm doing Atkins and have cut out most carbs and haven't had a problem producing.

Thanks for the comment and add!
For years, I didn't have much trouble maintaining my weight and being really good with portion control. Even through my first pregnancy, I didn't exercise much but I still ate healthy and my appetite didn't seem to increase at all. It was a completely different story once I started breastfeeding! Then, throughout the pregnancy with my daughter I was famished all the time and ate things and portions that would have disgusted me before. I was so used to eating more by the time I had her that it's been a challenge to get back into the healthy eating mindset. I'm always worried I will go over the balance of not overeating yet still eating enough to continue producing. I don't know about you, but I find it super difficult sometimes! Honestly, sometimes I struggle with feeling selfish for wanting to get back into shape so much. I wonder if this is just a mom thing? Another thing for us to feel guilty about! lol!

BeShrable

Ha ha...Mombots! So true! Yes, it's hard to feel like you don't have control over your body for so long! For me, my son was 4 1/2 months old when I got pregnant, I nursed him until he was 7 months and I was too incredibly sick during my first trimester to continue. So, I haven't had my body to myself at all for about two years now. Way to go on breastfeeding for 13 months! It's a tough job and that is quite an accomplishment!