Post-pregnancy weight loss - other new moms?

THE STRUGGLE is REAL! I am the mom of three. My youngest is 18 months and I still have 20 of the 45 I gained with her to lose. It seems like for the last year or so I have been in the "take 5lbs off, put 5lbs on" rut! I need to be consistent but it is so hard.

Wow! You've done amazing so far--great job! I didn't even begin to TRY to lose my baby weight until my son was about 15 months old-so just this past April I started on my journey. Before I was preggo, I clocked in somewhere around 196 and then at the end of my pregnancy I was 221 and then I hovered around 204-5 until I seriously began losing weight (I am now 167). For me, waiting until my son became more independent and wasn't breastfeeding, has definitely helped. It's kind of like I had a whole year to mentally prepare myself, lol. Plus, it doesn't hurt that my son loooooves to go to the gym now that he's older--definitely my little motivator!

I lost 80 lbs with MFP before having my first baby. With the first I gained 50 lbs! I just had me second. Luckily I did gain any extra weight with my second. Now I'm trying to lose all of my extra weight from the first! Maybe more when I achieve this first goal!

What a great thread! I'm in the same boat as well. Just started back with myfitnesspal yesterday because I'm now 6 weeks postpartum and wanting to make sure I'm making the right choices for losing weight while breastfeeding.

I am at 202 and need to get down about 40 pounds.

My baby is a huge motivation for working on my health!

I was around 175-180 before I got pregnant with my 1st 4+ years ago. Gained 25lbs. Lost none of the weight. Got pregnant with my 1 year old and gained another 40lbs. I've finally gotten off my butt and have lost 10lbs so far. I'm glad to see other mommies are in the same boat trying to find the balance between babies and weightless.

My comment was blunt, but meant to be supportive as well.

I am not saying it applies to you; but I have known so many women who sincerely thought that somehow, the fat gained during pregnancy was a special kind of fat or something, as if it was not just caused by eating too much (I am NOT taking about the "normal" weight gain directly and exclusively caused by the pregnancy. But we know that's not 60 pounds + ....). We all know these women talking about their "baby fat", when really the kid is now 5 years-old ...

And so what? Where's the harm of thinking that way, you may ask? The harm is that they would think that THEY cannot lose the fat, because, you know, it's "baby fat". And they think it's harder for them, and even when the little angels are in grade 5, they still think that because they are moms, they can't lose that weight.

And it's sad, because we know it is not true. I am a HUGE advocate for putting the finger on the actual problem and calling a spade a spade. Why? Because when we fail to identify the root cause, we usually fail at finding a solution. For example: you say it's harder for you to lose weight now, because as a mom you have less time for working out. Ok. Then, the reason is not "being a mom". The reason is, in your case, "not exercising as much as you used to". Why? "Because I have less time". Why ? " Because I have a young baby". You see where I am going with this? Don't focus on the baby. He or she will always be there (if not in your home, in your heart :-). Focus on the "cause closest to your problem", and see how you can working it out.

Anyway. My (long) two cents. Take care, and good luck.

futuremrsmcginnis wrote: »

I'm also in with you. I'm nursing and worried cutting calories or working out and not eating enough will lower my supply. I have a 1 month old I have 30 pounds to lose

I'm nursing too! I just add 500 calories to the recommended amount and that's worked quite well. Losing weight, but no supply problems. Make sure you're drinking LOTS of water too with bfing and working out.

Also nursing. Add 500 to your calorie intake and eat ALL your exercise calories. Personally I don't cut calories when nursing and focus on exercise. It's more important for me to keep up my supply. I just try to make smarter choices in food.

There are days I can't stop eating because she's going through a growth spurt, or because I'm on my period (which affects supply) and she's nursing like crazy. I don't count calories because when I "have" to eat more to maintain supply it feels so defeating. I log, I just don't get super crazy, and obey hunger cues. Right now the past few days I'm all about a good 2500 calories a day because she is teething with a growth spurt. I've maintained my weight postpartum for 3 years with #1 (nursing) and now 10 months with #2, so I'm confident in my own approach. Doesn't work for everyone I am sure. Everyone's supply is different when breastfeeding.

My baby is almost three months and I lost 32lbs of my pregnancy weight but now I'm stuck and I really want out. I hate to be seen and my husband always tries to show me off and brag about me to everyone he knows. I want to be proud of that and not try to hide...

I have a January 2015 baby too! He was a New Years baby. I lost 35 lbs on mfp before getting pregnant, from 212 to 177. Got pregnant with baby number 4 and put the weight back on. Started back with mfp at 212 again on February 1st when baby was 1 month old. Nursing full time ! I've since lost 60 pounds, down to 152! I have 15 pounds to go to meet my goal. I'm really pleased with my progress. Good luck everyone!

caitlinbeltran216 wrote: »

I think we all appreciate your point of view Isabelle_1929, but for new moms it's not just time that is an issue. There are a ton of other factors in a new mom's or seasoned mom's, weight loss journey that you didn't consider. We not only have to care for our baby, we have to take care of and manage everyone elses lives, as well. Moms are pretty much the bomb at multitasking and accomplishing a million things in a day that rarely have anything to do with them. So it's not that easy to make time for yourself when you're not number one anymore. The fact that these moms are kicking booty and taking names, is a great inspiration to other moms who may be afraid or unmotivated to begin their own weight loss journey and they should be celebrated, not made to feel inferior. Unfortunately, I personally found your response to be a little insensitive to moms who may be having a tough time losing weight. We're all here for a reason and that reason should be to encourage other moms to keep up the good work and determination. I wish you well on your own journey!

Sorry. Just thought you had liked to hear from someone who has been on the very same boat, but was able to disembark - with a different mind set. I think it's cool sometime to hear about various experiences.

Never mind. Good luck to all (sincerely).