Another postpartum weight loss thread

[evgreen]

:redface:

9 months on, 9 months off, right? WRONG! LO is 9 months in two weeks and I still have 15lbs to lose of the 35lbs which I gained during pregnancy. I've been breastfeeding, watching what I eat and going to the gym 3-4 times per week and running 5k each time. Although the exercise has toned up my body (no more bulging belly), this stubborn weight just doesn't want to budge.

I have this nagging feeling that I'm just one of those mommies that won't lose the weight until my LO is completely weaned (not sure when that will be??) and I have this fear that the weight won't disappear even after I wean!

Anyone else have trouble holding onto weight while breastfeeding? Did it magically melt off when you weaned or did it take a lot of effort?

 

[Cherina]

I think everyone's different, for some people breastfeeding makes them lose weight for others it doesn't work like that. Also, as we get older our bodies age and change whether or not we have children.
Sounds like you're taking good care of yourself and getting back in shape, it could be that the extra 15lb you're carrying is more muscle than you had before. If you do want to get a leaner shape you could try running longer distances (although I know it's difficult to find the time!)

 

[lesliefu]

Mine magically came off with breast feeding but it's different for everyone. From what your workout schedule sounds like, it seems like you're burning fat and gaining muscle instead. Muscle weight is HiGHER than that of fat so your overall body weight could literally go UP if you work out and do weights cause youre burning fat and gaining muscle. What you really should look into doing is seeing if your BMI (body mass index I believe) is within the appropriate range and if not working towards that goal. If you don't want muscle mass and just burn fat then do more cardio workouts and you will get less muscle build up (still get some) and majority will be fat reduction. Hope this makes sense. Just don't want you to get worried about the wrong numbers.

 

[evgreen]

The most weight I've ever gained from working out is 4lbs (pre-pregnancy). So even taking that into account, there's another 10-11lbs of body fat still sitting around. I guess it's not that bad, but I'd REALLY like to fit into all my old clothes again *sigh*.

 

[mummymoo]

I gained weight right after stopping breast feeding so I had to be extra extra careful after I stopped. I agree with everyone else that no two epople are alike so you may drop the weight once you stop breast feeding.......good luck

 

[pixelelf]

ive recently been hooked onto http://www.bodyrock.tv/ just watching the workout makes me sweat! it's a series of very intense workout sets that's just 12mins. i do run everyday but find it monotonous after awhile. so i try to do 30min of running with 12 mins of body rock every other day. every other day because my core muscles ache the day after i do the workouts :S

they've a new host lisa marie - i cant keep up with her. but you can search on youtube the last trainer, Zuzana. she breaks the workout down to more manageable bits.

 

[evgreen]

I've watched body rock vids before! I'm really into trying the burpees workouts to build my core. I'll give it a try tonight...heard lots of good things about cross fit training too.

 

[thanka2]

My daughter is 15 months-old and I have lost a single ounce in the past year. I'm still really overweight. With my son, when I was breastfeeding him, my body clung to all the extra padding but once I stopped about 3 or 4 months later the weight came off more easily. I still had to work out (run) and eat well but there was at least some hope. I am still breastfeeding my daughter so I think the hormones affect things. However, I have toned up and slimmed down and am going down in sizes--just not in weight. Most people couldn't guess by looking at me that my actual weight is as high as it is. So, for me, I've stopped weighing myself. It's counter-productive and doesn't even give a true indication of a person's health or even their size and shape.

 

[Gracey]

I hear you! I gained way more than I thought I would in pregnancy -- 40 lbs, and I am not a large build.
My LO is 10 months and I've lost 30 lbs, with 10 lbs to go. So depressing.
BFing didn't seem to do it for me - Yes, it burns calories. But whether that translates into weight loss depends on each woman and how she reacts to hormones, water retention, bigger appetite, etc. (I think the BF weight loss thing is just a myth to encourage people to do it!)
I BF exclusively for 5 months and partly up to 9 months. When I weaned completely, I suddenly had to pee all the time! It was amazing how much water weight I carried through BFing. When I weaned, my ankles went back to their normal size.

As for those last 10 lbs -- well, I've been bad. I signed up for Weight Watchers online, but have been naughty about tracking food and eating well these past two weeks. I've also slacked off on exercise.
I'm just so tired -- working FT with no live-in helper -- that I just don't have the energy to push myself to do that extra hour of yoga or go for a long walk.

 

[evgreen]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. My sister in law is one of those mommies that lost all her baby weight in 9 months AND then some. We were pregnant at the same time so it's hard not to compare myself with her. I hope much of this is water weight. I'm same as thanka...I've dropped from a US size 6 to a 4 since working out but have not lost weight (I used to be a size 0-2!)