Is My Metabolism Ruined from Pregnancy?

BarbaraCarr1981

Hello, just wondering about metabolism!!! Is mine messed up or what???? I had my first baby at 30 years old. He's 16 months old now and I'm 155lbs. I was 139lb when I found out i was pregnant, 209lbs the day I had him, 175lbs one month postpartum, 155lbs prob about 6 months postpartum. But here it is 16 months postpartum and Im still at 155lbs. I am lifting heavy now though but don't really see many changes..... nothing on the scale and nothing with measurements. Maybe just a little shape change (butt sits higher up, some arm def showing.. To me those changes are bull!!! Looking for the bodyfat percent decrease! Tiny waist - it's currently 30inches. Nice toned arms and legs and of course!!! a flat belly - i never had a flat belly before pregnancy but I was nice and slim! My belly is a little off due to lipodystrophy from too many insulin injections there. Hundreds of thousands as Ive been diabetic for over 20 years. Anyways, can I not get past this 155lb due to having a baby at 30 years old, or is it my controled hypothyroid, or my diabetes or all listed??? I know I've lost weight easy before I was pregnant. I lost 15lbs in 3 months just by light weights and cardio 3 times a week and healthy eating with some cheats here and there. Why can't I blow past this 155lb this time????

endoftheside

I think it will be hard for people to give advice without more information. How much are you eating compared to your BMR and TDEE?

Lots of people have babies post-30 and can lost weight, so I don't think that alone would be your problem.

yarwell

Victoria Beckham's photos suggest weight retention after pregnancy is not inevitable. Granted she has all the resources to do what she wants, but pregnancy does not "ruin your metabolism".

Your diary is closed so we're guessing.

Diabetes is often associated with obesity but if you're Type 1 on insulin that's not really your scenario.

More info please :-)

BarbaraCarr1981

Tdee is 2050. BMR 1450. Im eating 1700cals per day. I havn't went over since this weekend. I drank and ate alot. What else do u need to know to be able to give some advice. thx

ChelseaM8726

Do you do a lot of cardio? I found that after having my Daughter, cardio got rid of a lot weight!!

BarbaraCarr1981

Do you do a lot of cardio? I found that after having my Daughter, cardio got rid of a lot weight!!

NOt really. Badminton once a week for an hour straight and a couple walks/jobs with the baby in stroller.

3dogsrunning

Log consistently.

In the past two weeks you have logged 6 or 7 days, 3 were over calorie goal, two had one meal entered.

ETA - I went back a lot farther, you seemed to be more consistent in March and April but there were still quite a few days over goal and quick add calories.

carolmcgov

It definitely doesn't ruin your metabolism I weigh less now than I did before I had my two little girls. When I started this I wasn't losing as much as I wanted mostly I believe down to guessing portions rather than weighing (even the amounts on food packages can be out quite a bit) so if you are not weighing your food I suggest you start. I know I have underestimated meals by up to 500calories which is huge!
Track EVERYTHING or there really is no point. If I have so much as one of my little girls chocolate buttons I add it in, the effort of logging it in should stop you doing it again (not saying you can't have treats just picking at things without logging can add up to quite a bit)
Prelog your meals for the day so you don't end up out of calories by the evening time and hungry.
Something else I would recommend is getting a fitbit. It motivates me to move around a bit more.

BarbaraCarr1981

Log consistently.

In the past two weeks you have logged 6 or 7 days, 3 were over calorie goal, two had one meal entered.

ETA - I went back a lot farther, you seemed to be more consistent in March and April but there were still quite a few days over goal and quick add calories.

Okay, but still what's the big deal with being over 3 times? Will that REALLY make me fail? Plus I stopped logging recently because I lost weight before I got pregnant without logging and I lost it in 3 months. Didn't have the stress of logging - meaning I didn't get upset when I didn't see if I overate or not. I've got lots of experience from being diabetic for 20 years with eyeballing food portions and carb amounts. I really don't want to log anymore. Just eat healthy/moderation/few treats, lift heavy, do cardio 2-3 times a week AND lose weight!!! OR just change body size. Either or OR both!!! Whatever!

3dogsrunning

Log consistently.

In the past two weeks you have logged 6 or 7 days, 3 were over calorie goal, two had one meal entered.

ETA - I went back a lot farther, you seemed to be more consistent in March and April but there were still quite a few days over goal and quick add calories.

Okay, but still what's the big deal with being over 3 times? Will that REALLY make me fail? Plus I stopped logging recently because I lost weight before I got pregnant without logging and I lost it in 3 months. Didn't have the stress of logging - meaning I didn't get upset when I didn't see if I overate or not. I've got lots of experience from being diabetic for 20 years with eyeballing food portions and carb amounts. I really don't want to log anymore. Just eat healthy/moderation/few treats, lift heavy, do cardio 2-3 times a week AND lose weight!!! OR just change body size. Either or OR both!!! Whatever!

You are asking why you can't get past 155, I pointed out some patterns in your diary. Its not about being over 3 days, it was showing the pattern of the past two weeks that included days not logged, possible partial logging and being over in calories which could very well cause you to fail if this is a regular occurrence.


If you don't want to log, that's fine, I just don't understand what you were asking I guess.

BarbaraCarr1981

I am going to log what I ate today to see if my "ballpark" logging is close to what I should be eating to lose weight. 1700cals is the goal. My logging from before might show patterns but it's still not enough to keep me at 155lbs. At least I dont think so.... Anyways, Im gonna get busy here and log the food for today. Please look if u don't mind. Thanks

3dogsrunning

I am going to log what I ate today to see if my "ballpark" logging is close to what I should be eating to lose weight. 1700cals is the goal. My logging from before might show patterns but it's still not enough to keep me at 155lbs. At least I dont think so.... Anyways, Im gonna get busy here and log the food for today. Please look if u don't mind. Thanks

When did you start exercising? I saw some logging of exercise in April but don't think i saw some in March. If you started working out lately that could have an affect.

BarbaraCarr1981

I am going to log what I ate today to see if my "ballpark" logging is close to what I should be eating to lose weight. 1700cals is the goal. My logging from before might show patterns but it's still not enough to keep me at 155lbs. At least I dont think so.... Anyways, Im gonna get busy here and log the food for today. Please look if u don't mind. Thanks

When did you start exercising? I saw some logging of exercise in April but don't think i saw some in March. If you started working out lately that could have an affect.

I just logged today's food and im at 1330cals. I did good today. I started exercising 6 weeks after giving birth BUT I started exercising consistantly (heavy lifting 3 times a week, badminton once a week, jog with baby in stroller 1-3 times a week on April 1st 2013. I never really logged exercise on here - few times, that's it. Plus I did squat challenge in April and im doing crunch challenge in May, Come to think of it, I think when I was logging I was using MFP as an excuse to eat more!!! "oh gotta get to 1700cals today!!!" "Hmmm 1800 shouldn't hurt today" Sounds crazy!!! I know!!! BUT according to today, I do better not logging.

3dogsrunning

I am going to log what I ate today to see if my "ballpark" logging is close to what I should be eating to lose weight. 1700cals is the goal. My logging from before might show patterns but it's still not enough to keep me at 155lbs. At least I dont think so.... Anyways, Im gonna get busy here and log the food for today. Please look if u don't mind. Thanks

When did you start exercising? I saw some logging of exercise in April but don't think i saw some in March. If you started working out lately that could have an affect.

I just logged today's food and im at 1330cals. I did good today. I started exercising 6 weeks after giving birth BUT I started exercising consistantly (heavy lifting 3 times a week, badminton once a week, jog with baby in stroller 1-3 times a week on April 1st 2013. I never really logged exercise on here - few times, that's it. Plus I did squat challenge in April and im doing crunch challenge in May, Come to think of it, I think when I was logging I was using MFP as an excuse to eat more!!! "oh gotta get to 1700cals today!!!" "Hmmm 1800 shouldn't hurt today" Sounds crazy!!! I know!!! BUT according to today, I do better not logging.

My thoughts - you were consistently over in March, but April you were consistently on goal however, you also started weight lifting/increased intensity at the beginning of April and didn't see any weight loss. That could easily be attributed to water retention in the muscles due to glycogen stores which would mask any losses in fat on the scale. I know when I started lifting heavy again I went up a few lbs in weight and stayed there for at least a month. I didn't even see much of a change in measurements, however, I also took pictures. I could see a difference in the spots I couldn't measure, like the area between my waist and hips, arms, face, etc.

I would keep with the heavy lifting as you are doing. I would also suggest continuing to log but thats up to you.
Also keep in mind you have a modest deficit, which is good, so the weight isn't going to drop off quickly.

ETA - give it a few more weeks, then re-evaluate.

herblackwings39

I haven't looked at your diary so this may not apply to you. Do you weigh and measure your food? I found that my estimations of servings were usually way off one way or the other. Sometimes my half cup of mashed potatoes was closer to a quarter cup or a whole cup depending on my day. Now I use a kitchen scale. I also track everything, except vitamins...though I should probably add them.

I don't believe that your metabolism is messed up, but with less than 20 lbs to lose it might take awhile to see results.

BarbaraCarr1981

I haven't looked at your diary so this may not apply to you. Do you weigh and measure your food? I found that my estimations of servings were usually way off one way or the other. Sometimes my half cup of mashed potatoes was closer to a quarter cup or a whole cup depending on my day. Now I use a kitchen scale. I also track everything, except vitamins...though I should probably add them.

I don't believe that your metabolism is messed up, but with less than 20 lbs to lose it might take awhile to see results.

But it shouldn't take long to lose under 20lbs. I've lost 15lbs in 3 months before, therefore, it's possible..... BUT something is different this time... the only different thing i can think of is spending lots of time logging and freaking out if I go over and heavy lifting. Im only 2 years older than the time when i lost the 15lbs in 3 months so wth eh

brooke0206

Make sure you are drinking enough water also. Not saying that alone would be the answer your situation but it will help to to flush any toxins out. I wouldnt get too discouraged, i have a great friend who trains with a trainer 5 days a week and also goes to boot camps as well and she was stuck at 156 for 3 months and she has a 16 year old daughter, no recent pregnancy. Once you get to the point that you dont have as much to lose it is much harder to lose... good luck!

3dogsrunning

I haven't looked at your diary so this may not apply to you. Do you weigh and measure your food? I found that my estimations of servings were usually way off one way or the other. Sometimes my half cup of mashed potatoes was closer to a quarter cup or a whole cup depending on my day. Now I use a kitchen scale. I also track everything, except vitamins...though I should probably add them.

I don't believe that your metabolism is messed up, but with less than 20 lbs to lose it might take awhile to see results.

But it shouldn't take long to lose under 20lbs. I've lost 15lbs in 3 months before, therefore, it's possible..... BUT something is different this time... the only different thing i can think of is spending lots of time logging and freaking out if I go over and heavy lifting. Im only 2 years older than the time when i lost the 15lbs in 3 months so wth eh

You said you have a 300 calorie deficit since February ( If I read correctly). That's less than a lb a week is all I meant. That also doesn't give you a whole lot of room for error if you aren't weighing and measuring accurately. Looking back, I think you were on goal fairly consistently in Feb. In March, there were 15 days you have logged that were at least 500 calories over goal, which would put you over TDEE, many of them were more than that.
Plus like I mentioned, initially it isn't uncommon to see a weight increase with heavy lifting. It is what scares a lot of people away. It will even out and the scale will begin to move but there are far more benefits to it. That started in April, which is the same month that you were consistently on target but that may be masking any progress.

BarbaraCarr1981

Yep, just gonna stay consistant and see what happens BUT I can guarantee u that I will have some slip ups! Like on the wedding im invited to in June for sure. I will dance lots though. lol Weeehoooo!

BarbaraCarr1981

And Im gonna just eat every day like I ate today! Way under goal! So incase I measure wrong, Im still good to go. And it will kinda be like calorie cycling. I can't wait to reach a place where im happy with what I see. Excited!!!!

Morninglory81

Are you breast feeding? I just stopped and now my body is letting me get rid of weight. Just a thought.

BarbaraCarr1981

Are you breast feeding? I just stopped and now my body is letting me get rid of weight. Just a thought.

Nope, no breast feeding.