How Did You Do It?

Hi A.,
I have two children now. A daughter, age 5 and a son, age 4 months. With both of my children I lost my baby weight pretty quickly by breastfeeding.
My next door neighbor had a baby soon after I had my first and she enrolled in a tennis class to lose her weight. We both also went out for walks with the children.
I hope this helps you.

In my opinion weight watchers is the way to go! You don't even have to go to meetings, just buy the online package. I've been on it 3 different times and always lost the 10-15 lbs I've been trying to lose. I just lost 13.5 lbs in 14 weeks... I'm down to 143, and with any luck I'll keep going! :)

Okay, first of all, it took 9 months to put it on, don't worry too much. I am still trying to loose my baby weight from both my kids. I take a mile and a half walk every night pulling my 2 kids in our wagon. I am slowly loosing weight. Try pilates. They are slow pace and relaxing but work really well. Also, if you are a couch potato like me, try to work out durring comercials. I jog in place durring that empty time and I bought a 5 lb set of rubber Rebok dumb bells to use when I do crunches. Place the dumb bell between your ankles while you are doing them and it adds to your work out. I am one of those people who hates the gym and i don't like fancy equipment. I do push ups on my counter edge while I am doing dinner and in the morning when I get up before I do anything I do my stairs up and down 20 times to get the blood pumping. I bought ankle weights but they were so uncomfortable I only used them once. Make sure you are taking enough calories if you are breast feeding, but if not cut back to about 1600 a day and eat lots of fruit and veggies. there are very few diet pills that actually work so don't waste your money. Unless you will be loosing over 3 lbs a week, it is a waste. With a sensible diet and 45 minutes of cardio a day you can loose 2-2.5 lbs a week on your own. You shouldn't loose more than that or it will be unsafe. 45 minutes of cardio doesn't have to be all in one shot either. 3-15 minute brisk walks a day counts. Also, babies love music and dancing, so don't be afraid to turn up the Ozzy and jam. Babies also love watching Mommies make fools of themselves. And they won't remember it to use it against you later. If you would like more ideas, feel free to PM me. I know a lot about this stuff, but have a hard time implementing my knowledge into my life. I'm kinda lazy. I wanted to loose a bunch of weight while my hubby was deployed, and procrastinated for 5 months. He will be back in 2 months and now i am trying to drop weight like my life depends on it. Bad me. Good Luck!

Don't be so hard on yourself! It took nine months for you to gain all that weight and it will take at least that long to get it off. Four months is not that long of a time (although sometimes it may seem like an eternity) after the birth of a child. It also probably doesn't help that you look at yourself everyday...that makes changes or weight loss harder to notice. My son is nine months old and I am finally back to pre-baby weight (although admittedly much more flabby), and I am 34. I think breast feeding helped. It is important to 1) give yourself time and be patient with yourself...you've just gone through a MAJOR life change, and 2)do fun activities...the weather is getting better, making it easier to be more active.

4 months is still early. Without doing much at all, most of my baby weight was gone by the time my baby was about 9 months old. (I nursed and I don't know how much that had to do with it). That said -- I still have a total jelly belly that I need to work on, but I have enough friends that were back in bikinis to know that it is possible.

It is actually funny -- my best friend told me that her two-piece days were over (when her daughter was about 9 months old) and that even though she had lost the weight, she had such a belly she couldn't imagine wearing a 2-piece. Well a year later, she was in a string bikini. She said cardio and pilates did the trick for her.

5 months after my son was born, I lost 25 lbs. in 6 weeks on the Extreme Fat Smash Diet by Dr. Ian Smith. It consists of eating 4 small meals w/ 2 100 calorie snacks a day. It gives you 3 weeks of dialy menus and exercises. You repeat the weeks until you get to your desired weight. I think with any diet, you can be successful if you are dedicated. This is a healthy way to take off the weight FAST! They key is eating often & exercising to boost your metabolism. The meals are basically lots of protein and fiber (yogurt, salads, brown rice, beans & veggies)If your serious about losing weight, the book is only $12 and it's worth a shot. Good Luck!!

A previous poster who said to start at 1200 calories is WRONG--that's practically starving for an average woman, if you go any amount below that your metabolism will slow down.
And if you're nursing, then cutting your calories will just compromise your supply.

--Cut white sugar, white flour, and packaged/processed foods.
--Drink more water than any other drink.
--Eat fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains (more of the wet ones like barley, brown rice, and quinoa...less dry whole grains like whole wheat bread and crackers) and lean meats and you'll do fine.
--Make sure you're eating moderate amounts of healthy fats like salmon, avocado, nuts, and olive oil.
--Exercise for fun--find something you really enjoy so you stick to it.

Good luck!

Hello....

Are you nursing? I lost all my baby weight and then some within 2 months of nursing. Just watch what you eat and try some exercising. It will also depend on how much you gained during your pregnancy....it will happen...give it time!
Good luck and congratz!

I don't know if you are working or at home, but if you have time in your schedule, Stroller Strides is a great way to get back in shape with your baby. It is an excercise class where you can take your baby. The web address is www.strollerstrides.com

Good Luck!
D.

Hi A.,

If you are breast feeding, you will lose the weight quickly.

If you have gotten on BC pills, you will retain your weight.

I would suggest you get yourself a personal trainer and a diet plan from your local hospital's nutritionist. 1200 calories would be a start.

Good luck. Hope this helps. D.

A.,
WHOO HOO! Congrats on your new baby!! How exciting for you. Enjoy every moment with her because they grow so fast!
The bottom line in losing weight is to burn off more than you're taking in. Don't forget it took you 9 months to gain that extra weight so give it some time to come off.
If you really would like some help with the weight loss I would highly recommend Arbonne's Figure 8 Weight Loss program. I have a friend of mine who has been doing the program for 2 months and has had tremendous success with it. She has lost 28 lbs so far!! Now- she also is exercising as well. That is really key! If you're interested in learning more about it please contact me. Good luck and love on that baby for me.

M. C.
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____@____.com

A.,

I know how you feel...I still feel a little pudgy after I had my son last June. However, breastfeeding and swimming took care of most of it. I took Trevin on alot of walks and when Trevin was six months put him in the pool. There is a DVD called Mommy and Baby Fitness Video. You can find it at Target. I loved it!! Trevin does too. It has you work out with your baby and you get a nice work out that isnt to hard but also helps you get your heart rate up while enjoying your new baby. Out of all the things I did, that was my favorite by far!! OH! another plus is they have a busy mom's work out on the video and some extra stuff for you to try to get your belly and stuff in shape again. But the best thing is, Trevin and I would do this before his nap time and by the end of the work out I could go put him in bed and then either finish the work out or go get stuff done. Its great.
Swimming was something that built my cardio better and was better on getting everthing back where it was. Then when I could bring Trevin in I just played. But Im a first time mom too and if I cant do without Trevin, man I really dont want to do it. So the work out video at Target was awesome and then I didnt have other people watching me and I could just focus on Trevin and I. (Sometimes his daddy did it with us!)

Hope I have helped you. Sorry about the bad spelling and the novel. But let me know how things go for you!! Good luck!!

I'm a Mom of 2 boys. I started doing easy jogging with the kids in a stroller. I had a jogging stroller for the first one. The motion often lulled the kids to sleep. I'd start small...1 or 2 miles. Then built up from there to about 5 miles. It took the weight right off. And it really firms the belly. Walking is also great if running isn't your thing. Now that the weather is turning so nice, about nap time, put your baby in the stroller and go for a 5 mile walk.
Good Luck!
J.

Hi A.,
I, too, had a baby in November and I am feeling the exact same way. It is such a challenge to get dressed everyday beacuse I am back at work. I have lost all but 10 pounds of my "baby weight", and I gained around 42 pounds. I am nursing, which is a huge help and that is really the only thing that I am doing. I eat more now then when I was pregnant! My stomach looks like an empty sack though. My doctor swears that the last 10 pounds will come off when I quit nursing and the stomach and hips just take a while to go back to normal. Remember, it took us 9 months to gain all the weight; we have to give ourselves around the same amount of time to lose it. When I am feeling really down about myself and my body, I just look at my baby girl and think..."she's worth it." Keep your chin up. Try and get some exercise and go buy yourself something sexy...even if you don't feel sexy!

Run. Hold your core tight so that you have good form. This also will strengthen your abs. I wasn't a runner but started after baby number 3. Any cardio after 45 minutes is strictly fat burning - so says my husband who is in stellar shape. Good luck.

Look it takes time to get your body back! A blessing is the right thing take that and don't worry to much. Eat a health diet and excersize. I did weight watchers and saw a huge improvement each time! I would use it then stop but if you stick with it it will work wonders. Also pray ask God what he want and tell him what you want and say if it's your will it will be done.

Please don't be too hard on yourself - you have a 4 month old and it took me a lot longer than I thought to lose my baby weight, too. I nursed my son for a year and lost some of the weight but was very frustrated that the last 10-12 lbs. would not budge (even though I knew I was burning tons of calories!) Anyway, when I stopped nursing, I decided I would try and train for a 5K race to have a different kind of goal (instead of fitting into my old jeans which never worked for me before) and I did an online food journal for about 2 months (I used myfooddiary.com..there's a fee but someone recently told me that there are tons of free ones out there too, like fitday.com, etc.) I was not a runner by any stretch of the imagination, but having a race as a goal helped me stay motivated towards being stronger to run a race instead of picking my appearance apart in the mirror at the gym while I was on the elliptical machine which was what I was doing before. The food diary helped me get a sense of what I was really eating (m&m's at 3 in the afternoon and several cookies..whoops) and it reminded me to choose foods with more staying power so I could have the energy to run. Pretty soon the running became a habit and the habit became an addiction. So much so that over the past two years after finishing that first 5K - i kept adding new race goals (another 5K, a 10K, a half marathon) and this past November I ran my first full marathon. I'm still not sure who this new person is that's responding to your question..but I hope she hangs around for a awhile:) Anyway, anything is possible! You are a mom now and there is no limit to your strength and what you can do. Hope this helps:) p.s. I still eat m&m's in the afternoon and a few cookies..as long as I get my runs in and have enough energy to be a good mom to my son, i've earned a few treats now and then:)

Oh the misconceptions I had about baby weight. I was tiny before and now well... not. Yes breastfeeding helps but that only burns about 300 calories a day so don't let others tell you otherwise. And yes some weight will stick around and your body will change etc. But I just felt icky after I had my first, and to feel good you wanna look good. So I went on Netflix and looked up baby and me excercise dvds, also belly dancing dvds are fun. Recently I joined a gym now that my daughters old enough for childcare and a personal trainer told me of course eating healthy but I have got to do sit ups and crunches. Two things I alost enjoy doing as much as cleaning a clogged toilet( yes I hate sit ups and crunches). That is the quickets way to lose a "baby fat middle"..
Ialso used to put my youngest in te stroller and just walk and walk walk walk. I never did buy a jogging stroller, but thats an option.
Keep us posted on your progress!
Pammy

I've lost 35 lbs on Weight Watchers. It is a really great program, supportive, great food selections. My husband loves all the different healthy foods I make and it sets a great example for your child. Best of luck, it will come off it just takes a little time.

Body for Life is the best weight loss/fitness plan that I have come across. Check out the following websites:

www.bodyforlife.com
www.bodyforlife-tracker.com

NO PROBLEM, Girl. If you are not still nursing, go to
www.firstfitness.com This program TRULY retrains your body to burn fat and not store it. With the use of Phase I and Phase II the average weight loss is 30 lbs.

This is not a diet for diet's sake, it is a 10-day and then 28-Day body tune up that incorporates detox and a true metabolic reset.

Research it and let me know if you have any questions. I lost 13 lbs. in 10 days with this and a total of 76 lbs. and have kept it for 5 years now. I can't sing it's praises loud enough.

My daughter is now 6 months old. I have just recently got to my pregnancy weight, minus a few extra pounds. Remember, what you are eating can make a big difference in your weight loss.
Eating "healthier" foods in small portions, 5 to 6 times throughout the day will make the difference. 30 minutes of walking once a day can also help. I still sort of have my "muffin top" belly. Sadly, there not a whole lot you can do about that. Crunches may help. This is the sacrifice of being a mother. Celebrate it! I'm sure you look beautiful. It's not always our husbands job to make us feel better about our bodies. It is ours, first and foremost. Hope is of some help.

God bless!

Congratulations on the best shock in the world!

Here's what I did:

I set a goal to walk 10 miles a week for 10 weeks. Plunk the baby in the stroller and get out there. It sounds intimidating, but it's not. It allows you a couple of days off because of fatigue or rain. Just walk 1 mile and then go back home, and you're done for the day.

Now, all that being said, some of the belly is from the stretched skin from the extra weight and it won't go away without surgery. That's a tough reality to accept at 23, but you wouldn't trade the baby for it! Just think of it as a battle wound!

Your body is changing so much during the first postnatal year, it's hard to expect significant weight loss. If anything, you'll probably see fluctuations. Are you breastfeeding? That will take your weight up and down depending on the nutrients you need to supply her.

The best guarantee for you to get to and KEEP your weight at the level it was before is to eat your fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Sorry, there is no shortcut. Exercise is also crucial for the state of your mind as well as your body and your baby could benefit from the fresh air too!

My daughter is now 16months old and I'm just NOW back to prepregnancy weight. Although I won't kid you... I miss the prenatal indulgences ;}

~L.
www.notaboutfood.com
www.accesspilates.com

Hey girlie,

Well when u find out please let me know! Been workin out every tues and thurs for the past 2 months (only days I get) and yeah I feel good..until I see the belly, or should I say extra skin. And ya I know there is some fat but my abs r strong underneath...just really want that skin to retract! TTYL

First of all, my little boy is 6 months old, and I just made it back to my pre-pregnancy weight, so like you, I was a little concerned at 4 months that I would never make it back. Just a bit of a reminder: the more you gain, the longer it takes to lose. Also, most doctors will tell you that it took you nine months to gain the weight, so you really have nine months to lose it.

But, the most important bit of information: if you are breastfeeding, your tummy will be the last thing to go. I've heard from lots of my friends that this is true, and our theory is that because you're breastfeeding, you still have lots of the pregnancy hormones in your system--more so than someone who is bottle feeding. Because of those hormones, your body retains the pooch of fat just over your uterus, as if it still had a baby to protect. That's why the tummy is the first to show weight and the last to lose it. Again, that's just our theory, but it seems to make sense, and it gave us some peace about our bodies.

Hello I know this may sound crazy but use some clear sandwich wrap buy the roll kind. While at home and working or just chilling keep on for a couple of hours a day, My grandaughter is 10 months and my daughter is smaller than she was before she had my granddaughter. Still watch what you eat and try some exercising.