Post-Partum Weightloss

*SIGH* So I don't know if I'm still considered post-partum since my son is almost 10 months old but the weight seems to be glued to my body. I have tried and tried since last October to lose some pounds but it's just not coming off.

I would like to know what other recent mama's have done to lose their baby weight. How much did you gain during pregnancy and how much do you need to lose?

I gained 35lbs which brought me to 178 during my 9th month. I'm currently at 161 and I would like to drop about 20-30 pounds.

Replies

  • McRib23
    McRib23 Posts: 1
    I have a 9 month old and I can relate. I just joined today so I have no advice but good luck!
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    I gained 28 pounds with my second. I've lost 70 since having her 8 1/2 months ago with counting calories and breastfeeding.
  • aloha311
    aloha311 Posts: 118 Member
    Right there with you. My youngest 2 are only 13 months apart. I have lost all the weight from my 2 month old and am now starting to lose the weight from my 15 month old. Take it a day and a time. =)
  • MrsNelson0904
    MrsNelson0904 Posts: 122 Member
    I was really counting on breast feeding but it never worked out for me. My milk supply was very low and I had to supplement a lot. It was more stressful that I wanted it to be. Eventually my milk just dried up on its own. I credit the first 18 pounds lost to the breastfeeding but now I'm on my own.
  • aloha311
    aloha311 Posts: 118 Member
    I was really counting on breast feeding but it never worked out for me. My milk supply was very low and I had to supplement a lot. It was more stressful that I wanted it to be. Eventually my milk just dried up on its own. I credit the first 18 pounds lost to the breastfeeding but now I'm on my own.

    I'm one of the weird people who hold onto weight when breastfeeding. I Have never lost any weight while breastfeeding. =(
  • Dhemeyer
    Dhemeyer Posts: 157 Member
    My little one is nearly 3, and only in the last year has my weight loss been consistant. I gained between 30-40 lbs during my pregnancy. For the first 2 years I tried a number of things, sometimes they worked and other times they didn't. However it wasn't until I started working out, eating a balanced diet, and counting my cals did my weight start to come off and stay off.
    It can be such a frustrating and confusing process, that's for sure. I had help from a Beachbody coach (also a momma) and I used a few Beachbody fitness programs (because getting to the gym was impossibel) and the nutrition guides that accompanied these programs (to help me learn how to eat properly). This is what worked for me. Keep chipping away, asking for advice, and forming a support system that helps you stay accountable. You really can get there.
    Best wishes!
  • avocado12
    avocado12 Posts: 197 Member
    My son turned 2 last week and I am 9lbs away from pre pregnancy weight .... and it's taken me 2 years of gaining, loosing, faffing about. Only in the last 6 months have I really knuckled down, so it probably could have taken me less time!

    My start weight was 196lbs, and I am currently 155lbs. My goal weight is 146lbs, and my height is 5'4. The majority of my weight loss was due to Weight Watchers, but more recently MFP.
  • avocado12
    avocado12 Posts: 197 Member
    I never lost any weight either through the 14 months of breastfeeding I did .. gutted!
  • MrsNelson0904
    MrsNelson0904 Posts: 122 Member
    Thanks for all your replies ladies.
  • briannadunn
    briannadunn Posts: 841 Member
    It is a long journey but I lost over 120 with my first and then over 100 with my second and over 50 with my twins in which my weight stalled because I was on birth control and now I have lost 30 pounds so far. It has taken me 2 years with the first 4 everytime and the 5th it has only been 5 months since he was born. I lost the first 3 times doing weight watchers and not eating back my exercise points and now I am doing the same. I am eating 1800 calories and not eating back my exercise .
  • jenn0113
    jenn0113 Posts: 25
    When I had my son I gained 65 lbs total between fertility meds and pregnancy weight. Afterward, I only lost about 20-25 lbs from delivery and maybe breastfeeding. After a year or two I joined MFP and lost the rest of the weight by logging calories and walking and doing Zumba 1-2/week. I was so excited to finally be back to my pre-pregnancy weight! Then, 3 months later I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was pregnant again. :)

    So now I am back on MFP and logging calories and walking when I can, taking stairs and doing any extra activity I can fit in my schedule. I gained 53 lbs during pregnancy the second time and I have 18 more lbs to lose. (I'm 5'4). I credit all my success to MFP.
  • maddymama
    maddymama Posts: 1,183 Member
    What is your exercise/nutrition plan right now? Why do *you* think it isn't working?

    I know for me, a large part of my weightloss is associated with sleep-- the more I sleep the less I crave bad food during the day.

    I lost 40 lbs after my second child, with a combination of watching calorie intake, 30DS, and running the C25K with my little one in the jogging stroller. Exercising daily worked for me.
  • MrsNelson0904
    MrsNelson0904 Posts: 122 Member
    I'm so glad to know that I'm not on my own. I lost all my weight so quickly after my first son was born and this second pregnancy was completely different. I would love to add you all as buddies if that's ok?
  • cmccorma
    cmccorma Posts: 203 Member
    My baby is 8 and a half months old. I gained 20 during pregnancy, due to gaining about 15 pre-pregnancy and then being on a gestational diabetes diet during the pregnancy. At 3 months post partum I joined MFP and counted calories only for 3 months. The last two and a half I joined a boot camp class 3 times a week. I ended pregnancy at 198, started MFP at 173, and am now 147 with about 17 pounds to go. I am very happy to say that I am down 30 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight! Just stick to MFP and it will work!
  • MrsNelson0904
    MrsNelson0904 Posts: 122 Member
    What is your exercise/nutrition plan right now? Why do *you* think it isn't working?

    I know for me, a large part of my weightloss is associated with sleep-- the more I sleep the less I crave bad food during the day.

    I lost 40 lbs after my second child, with a combination of watching calorie intake, 30DS, and running the C25K with my little one in the jogging stroller. Exercising daily worked for me.

    I've just recently started both of those exercise plans so I'm hoping it helps kick start things. I know my diet has been a big part of my lack of weightloss but I'm trying to change that.
  • danessa1
    danessa1 Posts: 31 Member
    I have 2 girls, 3 and 1 1/2. The weight fell off after my first with breastfeeding. However, I still have 12 pounds from my second that will not budge. So I understand completely. I'm excercising and eating well,but my body just isn't letting go of the weight. : (
  • browneyedhunni85
    browneyedhunni85 Posts: 3 Member
    I had my son at the end of March and I'm struggling with the same thing. I gained about 50 lbs during pregnancy. I still have about 20-25 lbs before I'm where I was when I got pregnant. I've discovered that MFP has really helped me. I don't BF anymore either.
  • louwhoski
    louwhoski Posts: 1 Member
    I never lost weight with my first two breastfeeding. The most I gained during pregnancy was 15lbs and I always seemed to keep 5lbs pp. With my 3rd I have lost weight. I pump only. She also has a milk allergy so I contribute that to my weight loss. I just joined MFP. I love how it works so far. Don't give up! It will get better.
  • chicadejmu
    chicadejmu Posts: 171 Member
    I'm so glad to know that I'm not on my own. I lost all my weight so quickly after my first son was born and this second pregnancy was completely different. I would love to add you all as buddies if that's ok?

    I'm on here because I never lost the weight after my 2nd one either. I had my babies too close together and my body never had a chance to recover from the first pregnancy. Up until now I just haven't committed to really making the effort to watch calories and exercise consistently.

    My suggestion is to make sure that you're taking a multivitamin to restore depleted vitamin stores in your body. Make sure you are eating enough calories. Try to make sure it's healthy calories including whole grains, fruits and vegetables. And of course, try to exercise several times a week for at least 30 minutes. That's easier said than done with 2 kiddos at home... Stick with it and you'll get there. I'm determined to this time!
  • I lost all 23 lbs I gained plus an extra 10 in the 3 months after, but at the 5 month mark for Iz, I had gained back 25 lbs. I found out I had post partum thyroiditis. Which now I have permanent hypothyroidism and that can make you gain weight and make it hard to lose it. I also breastfed for the first 9 months and that helped for a little while, but then I gained all that weight quickly. I had been working hard to lose the weight for 3 months prior to joining MFP, but nothing worked until I got here.

    Just be diligent in logging and exercising. Drink A LOT of water. That has helped me cleanse a bit and keeps me full so I avoid the snacking. And remember, DO NOT weigh yourself everyday. This only creates discouragement. Get a jogging stroller, it has worked wonders for me.

    You can do it!
  • deannajf4
    deannajf4 Posts: 223 Member
    I never lost during breastfeeding either!! I have 4 kids, and was always prego wtih the next when I weaned the older, and despite being prego, I'd always drop 10 lbs once I weaned! I heard it has to do with your body holding on to a bit of reserve so that milk can always be made even if there's a famine or something and you don't eat...interesting... but not helpful if you're trying to drop the pregnancy weight!! :)
  • mfpseven
    mfpseven Posts: 421 Member
    I know how you feel I loved losing right after now it's slowing down , I had to up my calories a bit for my milk supply and it's keeping my at the same weight. I'm less than a month in so next month I will start actually dieting and working out more
  • deannajf4
    deannajf4 Posts: 223 Member
    I gained 60+ pounds with each of my 4 pregnancies, and only lost about 20 pounds or so of baby/fluid etc... I did weight watchers after my second baby and lost almost 30lbs before becoming prego again. After my 3rd baby, I started running and counting calories and lost about 30lbs again - then got prego again. I had my last baby this spring and I've joined a class at 6am 3 days a week - it's all body weight type exercises and it hurts lol!! I'm also counting calories here...In a couple of weeks, my goal is to start running again 3 days a week to round out my exercise schedule to 6 days/week. I'm really hopeful to get it all off this time since I'm not going to be prego again and I don't want left over fat lingering through the years!! Finally, I'm joining a class this fall at my church called First Place for Health. I'm really excited about it because I feel like it willl fill the missing link in my weight loss journey - the part where even though I'm able to muster up the will power to limit my calories while trying to loose weight, my mind still craves and sucumbs to the temptation of food. This class helps you shift your focus away from idolizing food to putting Christ first in your life.
  • abbylg1983
    abbylg1983 Posts: 177 Member
    I was 120 before getting pregnant, and went up to 155. I did not breastfeed- I had an emergency c-section at 39 weeks and my body was not ready for labor- my milk never did come in. I probably only lost about 10 pounds immediately after the birth (I also had a very small baby). The weight loss was soooo slow. I remember crying on the floor in frustration that the weight would not go away. It was especially sucky because I was barely eating. To this day I don't know what caused the weight to hang on.

    I went back to work at 10 weeks and that helped a lot. I dropped a fair amount of weight the first 6 weeks of being back at work, and got within 5 pounds of my pre pregnancy weight. In January when it looked like the remaining 5 pounds wasn't going anywhere I joined myfitnesspal. I went down to 1200 calories per day and ran on the treadmill most days. Took me about 5-6 weeks to lose the rest of the weight. Then I started strength training and trying to eat more paleo/primal. I've lost another 7 pounds since February and quit tracking. I am stalled though so trying to get back in the habit of logging but I don't like to do that.

    I do pushups, pullups, squats and lunges, and those four exercises have done a lot for me (although I still have progress to make). I limited my fruit intake at first, but that got too hard. I probably eat 3-4 servings of fruit per day and shoot for 5-6 servings of vegetables. I try and get at least 20 g of protein per meal (although I prefer closer to 30) and eat nuts (pistachios and almonds) every day. I don't eat much bread, pizza, or potatoes anymore, and cut way back on cereal. I developed a sweet tooth while pregnant and I am still fighting that.

    My baby is now 11 months old, and I'd like to lose a little more weight. The weight itself is not my end goal- I just want to like how I look in the mirror. I think losing another 5-10 pounds of fat would be ideal.
  • I cut my calorie intake to 1200 daily and worked out and got back to smaller than my pre pregnancy weight in a month and have kept it off by increasing the intake slightly,still working out and not going above 1500
  • raquelfisher7
    raquelfisher7 Posts: 21 Member
    My last baby just turned one and I'm about the same weight I was at when I was full term .... holy crap that was a horrible realization! Thanks a lot babies! I didn't gain much with either baby but I tend to hang on to the weight, although I did have a little bit of weight loss with breastfeeding each girl.

    I'm on the right path now and I'm logging (around 1200) and working out 5x/week and I just feel better. I don't feel like I'm on a diet, I eat normal food, just less of it. Chicken and fish are pretty low in calories and you can eat quite a bit of vegetables with little caloric impact. It's just a matter of retraining your brain : )

    I'm a SAHM so joining a gym with childcare was a huge motivator! I enjoy the break from the girls and I get to do something for myself which makes me more relaxed with my children and feel like a better person and Mom.

    I hope you have support at home and here on MFP! You're welcome to add me, I think it's great to have support from other mothers, no one knows what we go through like one another : )
  • kel82885
    kel82885 Posts: 29 Member
    I have a 3 year old boy and 5 month old boy. I breast feed both and am still currently feeding. Both times I put on around 20kgs. I lost the first 10kg very quickly then have to work hard to continue to lose the rest. I have started walking and trying to take 10,000 steps per day and eat around 1800 calories a day because I'm still feeding which uses around 500 calories. I'm eating smaller portions 5 times a day and. cutting back on sugar and processed foods. I have lost 1kg a week for the last 5 weeks doing this.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    My son was 18 months old when I finally lost every pound (and then some). I bf until 1 year old, didn't lose much of anything. As soon as I stopped and really started watching my calories, those 30 pounds flew off my body in 5-6 months. I was eating much less, and exercising more. I really think it takes time!
  • simplycorey
    simplycorey Posts: 721 Member
    I gained about 17lbs on birth control before I got pregnant and then 30lbs during my pregnancy with my last, who is now 2.5. I was able to lose weight by exercising regularly (started with The Biggest Loser Challenge on Wii/Kinect, then did Jillian Michael's 30DS and Insanity) with a heart rate monitor and counting calories. I actually got down to 2lbs below my goal but I've been a slacker the last couple months and I am now 2lbs over. I am starting back up with calorie counting and Insanity to lose the few pounds I gained back and tone up a little more.
  • suziepoo1984
    suziepoo1984 Posts: 915 Member
    I gained 35 pounds with pregnancy and i started overweight..I gained only(see Only) 35 pounds as i had gestational diabetes, dont know what would happen otherwise..ha ha

    Anyway, i lost all the pregnancy weight within the first 3 months due to stress..Stress went away and i gained 20 pounds post partum...yikes!! I thought i was eating healthy, breastfeeding and still gaining like 2 pounds a week, something must be wrong with me. Got all the blood work back normal and realised i was the one that was wrong. So got into MFP, logged everything honestly, exercised and have lost 24 pounds since and back to pre-pregnancy weight. My baby is now 14 months old.

    If you are already doing everything right, some people do hold on to some fat while breastfeeding and should drop right after you stop. But dont quote me on this, i have just read about this :)

    And good luck to you:flowerforyou: