EWW!! Baby Belly Fat!!

well you had a baby 4.5 months ago...give yourself another couple of months and it will be gone!!!

One thing is if you do go for a walk, you would have more energy, exercise naturally increases your metabolism, even a quick walk around the block would help. Then you could drink more water and that can help boost your energy....and start to take off that baby belly....

I don't exercise, but not because I don't have energy to do so, but because I don't want to. I could find a million other things to do with my time than exercise...I do take my kids for a walk 4 days a week, and our walks are all under a half hour...it also gives us something to do!

Well, breastfeeding is good for using extra calories from mom and therefore helping mom to loose extra weight if mom is eating sensibly to begin with. However, if you aren't already breastfeeding, can't start now. The biggest thing with weight gain/loss is more calories out than in - so even if you can't get "healthy food", just make sure you are eating less calories than you're using up, and you'll loose weight. (Weight Watchers has good info about that.) If losing weight isn't specifically the issue, rather your "belly", keep in mind that things stretched out need to tighten up again - have you tried sit ups and similiar belly excercises, perhaps videos you can do at home without "going for a run"? They say it takes 3 years for your body to return to normal after a birth. And some of us have found that even if our weight returns to pre-pregnancy, our shape never does. Good luck to you - you're young - the chances of your body returning with a little effort on your end are good! Hope you're enjoying your newborn!

So many moms want to feed their baby with a bottle now, but that's why a lot of them keep their weight also. Breastfeeding sheds the weight naturally, so if you are doing that, just be patient. Usually is gone by 6 months when they start into solids because your body no longer needs the fat reserves to make that type of milk. It changes. If you are not nursing, you will most likely have leftover weight, so it is like anything else. Salads, low fat meals, cut calories. Take walks in the mall with the stroller. The snugglies work great too because then you are carrying their weight too. Last summer when mine was newborn we went camping and hiked with the snuggly. That was fun (Taylor's Falls) and it burns over 1000 calories in just a few hours! No magic pills, it is extra weight you gained in pregnancy and unfortunately have to work at losing it.

I'm in the same boat as you. Unfortunately the only way to lose it is to work for it. My problem is that before my kids I was very small and never had to exercise or watch what I eat so I'm just not sure what to do as fas as diet and exercise go but I'm slowly figuring it out. Good luck to you, I know how frustrating it is.

C.-
I posted a reply for Charity on Sat. May 10 if you can find it.
I'm a med. prof. and wellness coach- the coaching came from getting help myself after having full term twins at 40 and being left with a kangaroo pouch. I'm now in a bikini- so don't give up.
Core exercises great.
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I hear ya! I've got a 10 mo. old son and have lost all the pregnancy weight but the belly's still squishy. I've recently read that posture and pulling your stomach in tight (as if you're tightening a corset) helps get to the deep muscles in your abs that are completely stretched out during pregnancy. So, when driving in the car, typing on the computer or cooking in the kitchen, I'm sucking in as deep as I can! They say to feel like you're pulling you belly button to your backbone. Good luck.

I have one thing to say

9 months up 9 months down! of course my oldest is almost seven and I have yet to see my pre-pregnancy clothes : )

Didn't see anyone mention this, so thought I'd chip in my $.02.

Weight training is a very positive way to help boost your metabolism, gain muscle, lose fat, and (most importantly) feel good. If you do not have $$ for a gym membership, smaller dumbells are not too expensive -- and if even that is too much to afford, fill some old socks with rocks or sand, and purchase some larger canned goods and start with those. Look online (for free) for some great exercises. Be sure to include abs in your workout, but also know that you cannot "target" and area of your body to train -- just work on more muscle all over for best results.

Also, diet is VITAL -- this means no fast food, soda, junk like chips, etc. -- try to eat as much as poss. at home (things you make yourself so you can watch fat content, etc.). This is not expensive -- buy some whole grain rice, sliced turkey on whole grain bread w/ mustard instead of mayo, baked chicken is also one of my favs as it is cheap, yummy, can be made to taste different every time with different seasonings, and is SUPER EASY to make (40 or so min at 350 degrees in the oven and it's done!).

Finally, remember that genetics play a part in it all, too. If you are more likely to put fat on the belly, well, that's just where it's going to go until you get your overall body fat % down... I only say this as I have a genetic pre-dispositon to put fat in that very location!! Sucks. Also, I had an 11 lb. baby boy (23 1/2 inches!) -- a HUGE baby and I am a small (5'3") person. I was also 36 years old, so as you can imagine, it has been VERY hard to lose the tummy pudge. I have gotten into much better shape as of late, but, probably because of my age (and the fact that I needed a C-Sec), may actually need surgury if I want to get rid the yucky, wrinkely overhang that was once my tummy. I think most of the fat is gone -- but it just sort of hangs there now. Looks TERRIBLE. Thank goodness no one can tell unless they see me completely naked.

Well, anyway, those are my thoughts. Give yourself time and with a little work (it really is not that hard when you put your mind to it), you will look terrific once again!!! You are young, so I'm sure you will be back catching the guy's eyes in no time!

Good Luck!

Healthy food is not always expensive. I buy 1 lb bags of brown rice for about $1.00. Cook it up and get four breakfasts out of it. I reheat it and add milk and honey. Bananas are inexpensive. Oatmeal works too. Focus on what you can do and don't worry about what you can't do. Take care of yourself and get plenty of sleep if that is possible with a 4 1/2 month old baby! Getting enough sleep increases your energy so you feel more like going for a walk or something. Be patient and and forgiving of yourself. Don't give up!

If you don't have money for healthy food then you don't have money to waste on pills.

More water, light exercise and time are all you do at the moment. If this is important to you you will find time for exercise, even doing laundry is a workout.

Drink lots of water. It helped me!

Pilates is also low impact (doesnt take alot to do it) but the results are amazing. You can buy a video for less than 20 bucks and they have a 15 minute workout - You'll feel it the next day, but its worth it.