Post-pregnancy weight loss - other new moms?

StephTheBookworm
StephTheBookworm Posts: 177 Member
edited November 23 in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone!

Any other new mamas out there who are trying to lose their pregnancy or baby weight? I'd love to make some new friends who are in the same boat!

I lost 118 pounds before my pregnancy. From 2012-2013, I went from 270 pounds to 152.

Then I got pregnant and gained A LOT of weight back. At the end of my pregnancy, I was up to 232.

My son was born in January 2015, and I'm working on losing the weight again. I'm currently back down to around 198. I'm working to get back to my lowest weight of 152 and then keep losing. My goal weight is actually around 130-140, but I hadn't quite reached it before getting pregnant.

I'm doing my best but struggling to find the time and energy to be as active as I once was... I am working on it though! :) I'm happy with the progress I've made so far but know I have a long way to go. My son is now my number one priority, but fitness and health are still important to me too.

Please feel free to reach out!
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Replies

  • Nur5eshelley
    Nur5eshelley Posts: 10 Member
    My son is 7 weeks old. Prior to becoming pregnant I wasn't happy with my weight. I'm now determined to lose this weight once and for all. After his birth I ended up around 215, currently I'm 202. My first goal is to get to 170. Feel free to add me, we can motivate each other :)
  • StephTheBookworm
    StephTheBookworm Posts: 177 Member
    Good luck to you! It sounds like you are making great progress so far. Congrats on the little one too!! :)
  • I was about 215 when I got pregnant with my first baby. After I was about 280....yes...280. Then I lost about 15 lbs and a year later got pregnant with my son. I didn't gain much...but did gain after his birth. My starting weight is 279..... going to lose weight!!! I have always been heavy...but I'm not always going to be! Feel free to add me
  • StephTheBookworm
    StephTheBookworm Posts: 177 Member
    You will get there! My starting weight was close to yours. Keep on fighting!
  • squishy1224
    squishy1224 Posts: 47 Member
    Yes have a 3 month old and I'm trying to lose 50 pounds. Started at 183. I feel hungry a lot and I'm afraid to cut too many calories while breastfeeding so this could be challenging... but determined
  • mindykb
    mindykb Posts: 1 Member
    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.
  • ds6099
    ds6099 Posts: 98 Member
    I'm a new mom of 6 month old twins. And a full time job. I could use motivation too! I gained 66 lbs when pregnant and lost only part of it. But I feel blessed!
  • StephTheBookworm
    StephTheBookworm Posts: 177 Member
    Thanks for all your comments! It's nice to know we aren't alone. Yes, I'm a working mom too so time is hard to come by at the moment. Keep on pushing though... I've found that my baby is a great motivator. I want to be healthy for him!
  • futuremrsmcginnis
    futuremrsmcginnis Posts: 6 Member
    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
  • MrsCaitlinBeltran
    MrsCaitlinBeltran Posts: 241 Member
    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! :)
  • PandaBWA
    PandaBWA Posts: 58 Member
    I was 180 before baby #1, 190 after, and now 180 again after baby #2. Working on getting it all off. I was lucky in not gaining a bunch with the pregnancies, but I need to get my butt in gear!
  • thrashersara88
    thrashersara88 Posts: 27 Member
    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!
  • thrashersara88
    thrashersara88 Posts: 27 Member
    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
    That's a tricky one! My baby is one month and I'm trying to find the right balance so I can continue BF. Good luck to ya!
  • BarryWatnick
    BarryWatnick Posts: 1 Member
    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!
  • YummyMummyXox
    YummyMummyXox Posts: 17 Member
    You basically described my problem lol! I lost 100lbs back in 2012/13 then I fell pregnant early last year and gained about 50-60lbs back. I've lost 17lbs of it so far. My daughter is 10 months now so I'm trying to be healthy and slim for her sake :)
  • StephTheBookworm
    StephTheBookworm Posts: 177 Member
    Thanks everyone for your replies! It's definitely harder to lose weight after having babies, but it is do-able! The 34 I've lost in the 7 months since giving birth have been SO hard and slow in coming off... but slow progress is still progress.

    Keep on working hard, ladies! We will all get there. :)
  • Isabelle_1929
    Isabelle_1929 Posts: 233 Member
    Thanks everyone for your replies! It's definitely harder to lose weight after having babies, but it is do-able! The 34 I've lost in the 7 months since giving birth have been SO hard and slow in coming off... but slow progress is still progress.

    Keep on working hard, ladies! We will all get there. :)

    It does not have to be.
  • torontomommy
    torontomommy Posts: 12 Member
    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.
  • StephTheBookworm
    StephTheBookworm Posts: 177 Member
    Isabelle, this post is to be supportive to other new moms. As someone who lost 118 pounds before having a baby, it IS much harder to lose after having a baby. I have MUCH less time and energy to work out now. I still make time for it, but it's difficult to do so with being a working mom to an infant. I AM losing weight and it IS possible to, but to say it's as easy as it was to do before babies would be a lie.

    To all the other moms, as I said before, keep on working at it! Our health and fitness is very important so keep on pushing and doing your best. :)
  • Isabelle_1929
    Isabelle_1929 Posts: 233 Member
    edited August 2015
    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.
  • MrsCaitlinBeltran
    MrsCaitlinBeltran Posts: 241 Member
    edited August 2015
    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!
  • squishy1224
    squishy1224 Posts: 47 Member
    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.
  • ARC1603
    ARC1603 Posts: 113 Member
    I had my second baby three and a half months ago. I'm already back to my pre pregnancy weight. I now working on the weight I put on between my pregnancies.

    Personally I've found it easier than I expected to lose my pregnancy weight both times, mainly because I'm always on the go with the boys, doing housework and generally just on my feet lots. I put almost two stone on when I went back to work when my eldest was six months old and went from walking everywhere with him in the pram to get him to nap to sitting down nine hours a day!

    It's tough with having kids though because I find with having so little time to myself and so little energy when they go to bed, I don't want to exercise and I resented cutting back on my chocolate for a while because it was the only thing I had that was mine! It's getting easier now my baby goes to bed at the same time as his brother, I do get evenings to myself again and he's sleeping through until 4/5am so I actually get a decent sleep too!
  • PandaBWA
    PandaBWA Posts: 58 Member
    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. :)
  • shera426
    shera426 Posts: 227 Member
    I need some mom friends too. I have 4 kids 11,9,2, 4 mo. and work full time. I have been working out the last few weeks, and trying to get in 10,000 steps a day w/ my fitbit i'm making sure I log everyday and staying accountable feel free to add me too :smile:
  • krissyrangel
    krissyrangel Posts: 1 Member
    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...
  • Emilycto
    Emilycto Posts: 6 Member
    I'm nursing my ten month baby and I'm starving all of the time. I have 35 pounds to lose but I'm finding it hard to keep on track especially when we have a bad night and I'm exhausted. Feel free to add me and we can motivate each other to stay on track!
  • victoria_1024
    victoria_1024 Posts: 915 Member
    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!
  • fidangul
    fidangul Posts: 673 Member
    I lost about 45kgs (99lbs) 2011/12 before I fell pregnant to my daughter(had her2013). I put on a normal amount of weight whilst pregnant but once she was born it was like I was starving especially when nursing her. I have no idea why. I fell pregnant again when she was about 7/8months old and had my son 2014. He's now 10montgs old.

    I satrted my weighloss in May when my son just turned 6months and have since lost 20.5kgs (45lbs). I have about 25.5kgs (56lbs) left for my target.

    I would like to say to all of you mums that are managing to lose weight whilst nursing their infants: what an achievement. I failed and couldn't do anything about my weight untill my baby stopped. So I take my hat of to you.

    Feel free to add.
  • Isabelle_1929
    Isabelle_1929 Posts: 233 Member
    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).
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