Exercise After a C-section

Hi. I have a 7 year old and a 1 year old. I tried several diets and none of them worked with my schedule, life style. I tried Atkins, and it worked, but was expensive becuase I would have to buy additional things for me to eat. I have found something that is working. Inceasing the amount of protien in my diet and going for a 20-30 minute walk 3 times a week. I've been doing this since Aug. and have lost 35 lbs. My husband couldn't be happier.

Its a pretty simple plan. I have a protien bar either for breakfast or between breakfast and lunch and then a protien shake for mid-day. I try and choose salad over french fries, doesn't always work. I have whatever my family is eating.

Its along the lines of Atkins/low-carb, but I don't restrict my food choices and I don't count carbs.

I didn't have a c-section, but I found pilaties was the best after my baby! It really helped strengthen everything. It was also great because I was doing something, but I didn't put the strain on my body that cardio seemed to put on me and I could work my way back to cardio activites.

I've had great success with something called the Trim Body System. Prior to getting pregnant, in one month I was able to lose 15lbs (probably why I got pregnant). Anyway, last October I gave birth to my twins and had gained an extra flabby 25lbs. So, I decided to give this system a try again and was able to lose the weight. The great thing about this system is that it teached you how to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is somewhat similar to the South Beach, but uses exercise and supplements along with it. Check out the website www.trimbodysystem.com. If you are interested in purchasing this system, just let me know and I can help you out.

If you want to start out slowly and gently, you might think about yoga. I have been going to a Mommy and Me class with my daughter since she was 6 months old. Since then I had a son and am pregnant again. I continued in the class through my pregnancy and am still doing it. My son was 2 weeks and 1 day late. I went to class the morning of the day I was to be induced! I took 6 weeks off after my son and then returned with both children. I did not have c-sections, but there are plenty of moms that come to class that have. The teacher is great at modifying for special needs and it's a nice way to slowly get back into exercising in a fun way. The older kids (my daughter and teacher's daughter are the oldest at just 3) play and snack while little ones rest on blankets and look around or sleep. There are segments where we use the children as weights basically to build strength and enteract with them. There are tons of opportunities to make contact with little oens during the entire practice as you hold them in poses or talk to them as they lay next to you. The older ones don't have an interest in that though. The school I go to is called "schoolhouse yoga" and has a website - www.schoolhouseyoga.com . It is in the srip district on smallman and 24th.

H.

Oops! I just sent you a personal message about exercise but I didn't realize you didn't live around me (I'm new to Mamasource and still figuring things out). Anyway, as for diets, my husband and I have been eating the Mirkin diet. The things is, my 18 month old actually loves the food I cook so I don't have to make a lot of separate meals. The info and recipes are free on this website.

http://www.drmirkin.com/
http://www.drmirkin.com/goodfood/index.html
http://www.drmirkin.com/goodfood/recipes.html

I also highly recommend Weight Watchers. It's actually scientifically studied.

Good luck!

Hi K.,

As silly as this sounds you may want to try a beginners belly dancing video to workout to. Yor little ones will love to dance to the vidio with you and it will be great exercise. I have a 9 week old and she was my second c-section. My 16 month old and I spend 1/2 hour every day dancing away. I am not loosing super quick because I am a stress eater, but I am learning to eat what I want but in smaller quanities. Since I started Dancing with my son (5 weeks post partum) I have lost 15lbs. Not alot in that time, but a great start. Soon I will try working up to an hour of dancing with Patrick, I know he can handle it and I think soon I will be able to also.

good luck in all you try
R.

Hi K.,
If you are looking for a good weight managment plan, try "Cinch". It is a plan by Shaklee. It is backed by doctors/nutritionists and designed to help you shed the inches and fat, preserve your muscle, and boost your metabolism. I used the plan myself after having 2 children and have shed 52 pounds. This inch loss program is awesome. Check out my website for an overview. Let me know if you want to hear more.
www.cinchplan.com/jackie_vernell_hill

I would make sure that your doctor approves any exercise before you begin.

There are a lot of websites with diet and exercise information that is free. Try www.sparkpeople.com.

Hi K. :)
I had all of my children vaginally, so I do not know the "required" amount of healing time, etc with a c-section.
However, walking is a GREAT thing. I had surgery (tubes tied, ablation, laparoscopy, etc) not too long ago and while I was recovering, I walked. It helped a lot. I started just going going around the block and by the time I was ready to start working out again, I was walking 2 miles.
Just a thought :)
Have a great day!

Definitly low impact...avoid extrem excersise. I would at least. I was a fitness instructor/manager of curves in my srea, and we advised woman to do low impact until they reached 9 weeks of post partom. If i were in your situation, I would do alot of ball excersises...leg work, and arms, and most importantly dieting...I would try "Jay Robb" program/diet....It is working so well for me...I cant even tell you how great i feel and look with just doing it now for only 5 days..I have lost 6 lbs...I can tell already in my clothes...I would research it first, because it is not for everyone, but it is for me...it is nothing like i have ever done before...

I would ask the doctor about the exercise.

As for the diet, I would HIGHLY recommend Weight Watchers. I have done the online program and had success 2 different times! If you are busy like I am, I never had time to go to classes but you can manage it online by tracking your food intake as well as the exercise. There is also a terrific support group in their message boards so you aren't alone in your journey. Any question you have, you can ask and get an answer, much like mamasource.

Good luck!

Hi K.,

I'm 25 years old with two girls (3 and 11 months). I delivered both of my children by c-section. As soon as I could I started to work out to lose the baby weight. I found if I worked out on the treadmill or the eliptical for 45 minutes at a time and did it 5 times a week along with circut training 2 to 3 times a week the weight really seemed to just melt away. I, like you had a hard time watching what I ate; I love food. But intil I lost the weight I had no choice but to watch everything that went into my mouth. Now that I've lost the weight I eat what I want and I exercise to just maintain my weight. We'll good luck :)

I had a c section following the birth of my first son in December 2005. At my 6 week check up, my OB told me I could resume low impact exercise(she recommended swimming, walking or something like that)but told me not to do any ab work(sit ups, crunches and the like) for another 4-6 week to give the area time to heal. Once I was given the OK, I went back to weight watchers, which has helped me loose all the baby weight(50 lbs) plus another 15, so I am well on my way to what I was. I have tried a lot of other diets, weight watchers is what works for me. I am also trying to get some exercise in. When the weather is nice, I take my son for a walk or do some moderate impact aerobics. Good luck! You can do it! Steph

Have you made contact with ICAN yet? They have a lot of resources on their site. http://www.ican-online.org/

Even if you don't need to, you could pump and just start a nice big freezer stash or donate to a bm bank. I found that helped speed up weight loss. The more milk you make, the more calories you burn. ;)

I have had two kids in three years...both of which i had c-sections. to help me lose the weight after my second daughter I joined weight watchers...I was also a nursing mom so that helped. To get my exercise in I would put my daughter in a sling and we would walk. My mom would go with me and she pushed my other daughter in her stroller. We went 4-5 times a week and 3-4 miles in about in hour. The weight dropped and I lost big inches in my waist, hips and thighs..If you can't walk you could try to do pilates...get videos concentrated on your lower body and upper arms until your incision heals enough to work on your tummy....

Hi K.!

I've lost & re-gained the same 35 pounds a few times now. The only way I've really come up with is to take baby-steps & change the obvious (but not always difficult) things that you're eating in combination w/ a treadmill 3 or 4 times a week. For example, I gave up sugar in my coffee for splenda, gave up soda all together & adopted water, lots & lots of water. Changed from white bread to whole wheat, from lunch meat to tunafish sandwiches w/ light mayo. I started cooking with a lot more fresh veggies & brown rice & my kids adjusted to it just fine. The one thing I did learn the hard way is if I'm really craving something, I let myself have it, otherwise I'm miserable & end up going off the deep end. Moderation is always key for me. Good luck!!!

HI K., congrats on your 3rd baby! Please check out BuffMother.com She's a mother of 4 including twins by c-section and looks AMAZING. Read her story and how she did it. I'm part of the Rally Room and it's a group of the most wonderful and encouraging women you'll ever find on the internet. It's my sanctuary and my secret to keeping the weight off. You don't want a new diet, you want a LIFESTYLE change so that you can leave a health legacy to your children and instill good eating habits into them now while they're still young. :o) I hope you check it out!
~A.~