Post Partum - body image and metabolism

basscadet808

Hello,
I'm fairly new here. I gave birth to my second child 3.5 months ago. The weight melted off in 6 weeks with my first child but this time I have to work on it. I have 15 pounds to lose in total. I know its not THAT much weight, I know I can do it, I know I need to be patient...with that said my metabolism has slowed down so much since giving birth. I eat high fiber foods all day long and still have trouble going to the bathroom more than 2 times a week. This has never been the case in the past. Also, I have lost some weight since I started logging here and working out. I've lost 2 inches from my hips and waist. I am a natural pear shape and I was focusing on losing the weight there first. My hips do look noticable smaller but my waist doesnt and it actully feels and looks bigger. The measuring tape doesnt lie but I don't see it....

Any idea 1. How can I improve my metabolism? Is this a temporary thing after giving birth or do I have to live with this?
2. Why does my waist seem bigger to me? Could it be pushed outward more from doing crunches instead of flattening out? I know this is silly but I'm confused.

deannajf4

Are you breastfeeding? If so you really need to focus on staying hydrated. Also, if you are, you need to account for the calories you burn to make milk - if you are already eating low cals to lose the weight, but you don't eat back your breastfeeding cals (300-500 cals) you could be undereating, and not only will you stop losing weight, the baby's milk will suffer too.

basscadet808

I stopped breasfeeding 2 weeks ago. I didn't have success making milk this time around and had to supplement with formula from day 1. I had fenugreek tea, drank crazy amounts of water, etc and my milk supply never got to where it needed to be. I am drinking 50-60 oz of water a day. I'm wondering if this metabolism decrease is just something i need to live with. I'm 34 years old so its possible.

DawnieB1977

It took me a while after my 2nd baby to start losing weight. I did lose the inches though. It's taken me 18 months to lose about 60lbs! I started weighing myself when my daughter was 8 weeks old, so not sure how much I lost before that point.

I had the same problem with breastfeeding both of mine. My son (my 1st) went from a birth weight of 7lbs 13 to 6lbs 7 by 6 days old so I had to supplement with formula, and my daughter fed non-stop so I don't think she was getting enough, and I had my son who was 22 months old to worry about, so again I mix fed from day 4 or 5. I even took domperidome which is supposed to increase lactation, but all it did was make me put on weight!

BusyRaeNOTBusty

First, constipation does not = slow metabolism. And yeah, it's very common in pregnant woman and post birth. I'm not sure when it went away for me but it did. Try those nasty fiber drinks in the meantime, or even full on laxatives. And yeah, the hormones and the saggy body that comes with post-birth all combine to just make you feel horrible. Give yourself time. Eat at a small calorie deficit (set your goal to half a pound), try to get as much rest as possible, workout when/if you can. It takes most women a full year to get back to their pre-PG weight. I'm still not there after my 3rd kid and he's 2.5 (of course I'm not sure I want to be but that's not the point).

basscadet808

Thanks ladies!

FrancofilleSC

I'm having the same trouble and my 3rd is 11 months old now. I only have 20 lbs to go, but the weight hasn't budged since April 2012. I lost 50 lbs and 70 lbs within a year of my first two pregnancies so I don't know why this is so hard now Ty to stay focused! You can do it!

MrsSardone

After my first baby the weight practically melted off w/i a month or two. It's been 10mos since I had my second. I have about 20lbs to go to get to my pre-preg weight. For some reason it took awhile for me to start losing weight. Maybe with each kid it gets harder?