Skip to content
  • Register
    • We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

    Losing weight after pregnancy - what do you consider your starting weight?

    Posts: 74 Member
    edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
    I know I was 216 while pregnant, now I'm down to 140, but due to the weight of the baby and fluids I feel like saying that I've lost 76 pounds since I've started my health and fitness journey isn't completely accurate. So I'm just wondering what other mothers consider to be their starting weight? Not a big deal, but I feel a little guilty claiming it. :'(

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Replies

    • Unknown
      Unknown
      This content has been removed.
    • Posts: 586 Member
      You lost 76 pounds of fluid and baby? The fluids and placenta only weigh 3-4 pounds on average, and a large baby is still only 10 pounds.

      Like, I went into birth at 290, and I want to say I came out maybe 275, 280. (I don't honestly remember. I just remember the starting weight because it was on a chart I looked at a few times.)
    • Posts: 908 Member
      I counted my starting weight as what I weighed when I started actively trying to lose the weight. Each time it was a different weight and a different time frame.
    • Posts: 14,261 Member
      I would just say that I was down 76 pounds from my pregnancy weight. No need to feel guilty and no need to call it cheating.
    • Posts: 9,603 Member
      I'd use whatever I weighed the day after I had the baby. If you don't know it, you can call the doctor's office and ask.
    • Posts: 224 Member
      I used what I weighed when I started losing weight. i was 190 when I went into labor, and then when i started actively working out about a month after he was born I was 175. Now I'm 155. So I consider that I've lost 20lbs.
    • Posts: 3,203 Member
      I'd start from whatever you weighed after birth. I agree with you about the cheating. :smile: I've even seen women use a pregnant photo as their "before" which just seems odd to me.
    • Posts: 120 Member
      I put my starting weight as the weight I was one week AFTER I delivered. Maybe that's because I didn't weigh myself at the hospital right after I gave birth. So, one week after I delivered I was 107 pounds and that's my starting weight.
    • Posts: 74 Member
      I think I was around 200 about a week after I came home, so that's where I'll start. Thanks for the input guys!
    • Posts: 1,996 Member
      I consider my starting weight what I weighed 2 weeks after delivery when I stopped dropping weight dramatically. I had terrible night sweats for the first few weeks and lost a bunch more water weight. I gained about 45 lbs with my first baby and within the first 2 weeks postpartum was down 25.
    • Posts: 650 Member
      I suppose, technically, it's accurate to say you lost 76 pounds of weight as long as you make it clear that you didn't lose 76 pounds of fat. Whatever makes you feel better, but it is rather misleading.

      I counted my start weight after I had the baby and after all my fluid retention was gone. I was 230ish when I gave birth and 220 when my body started balancing back out. 215 when I started MFP and now I'm down to 186.5. So I would say that I've lost 33.5 pounds of fat since having my babies.

    This discussion has been closed.

    Welcome!

    It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
    Sign In
    Register

    Quick Links

    Categories