Losing Weight After Pregnancy

You need to eat regularly. A starved body does not let go of what fat stores it has easily. Consult your doctor or a nutritionist.

As far as the weight loss, you need to eat regularly. Most dieticians recommend 4 to 6 small healthy meals a day. When you cut your meals your body will store what you do eat instead of using it as fuel. This makes weight loss hard and it's bad for your body.
It was hard for me to let my daughter go to daycare. I was so scared something would happen to her and I felt like a bad parent for leaving her with someone else. I found a home daycare where the people were great. I still wanted to cry for a few weeks every time I left her, but in the end it was a good experience. I did end up quitting my job for other reasons and now work from home to add a little income to the family. It's great to spend this time with her before she starts school. There are lots of options for you to consider. Just make sure whatever you choose suits your family needs.
J.

Hi A.,

I know loosing the baby weight is difficult, for one you don't really have the energy to try. My suggestion is do not skip breakfast, that is one of the most important meals because it helps your metabolism get started for the day, and also if you do skip it your body will start storing fat because it thinks it's not going to get any. Also eat small healthy snacks throughout the day in between meals, this also speeds your metabolism. Yogurt is a great snack because after it is burned up it starts to burn away all of your reserved fats. Almonds are also a great snack, they have excellent protein which is essential when you are exercising. Just remember to snack often, as long as it is healthy and DON'T skip any meals. That will just make your body store what you are trying to get rid of. Also, don't do just cardio exercises, mix in some weight training to tone up and lose inches. I know I probably sound pushy, but I know from experience. I tried for a year to loose my baby weight and then finally listened to my husband and have lost 25 pounds in the last 6 months. Just don't get discouraged and give up, stay with it and it will work! Good Luck!!

Never skip breakfast a plain peanut butter sandwhich regular peanut butter no low fat stuff on wheat bread in the morning and about 4 to 5 small things veggies and a small meat or boiled egg and on salad w/ranch spray dressing helps because if you eat just little things every few hours it keeps your bogy going and there easy to bring to work. As far as daycare goes my kids are 15,13 and 10 it doesn't matter where you leave them or what age they are the feeling never goes away now i know what my mom meant when she said you'll understand when you a mom. When you have to leave you kids you pray and turn them over to god for the day and ask them to watch them a little extra for those few hours because he watches them already around the clock for you. Good luck.

Your not going to lose the weight as quick as you want. 7 weeks is not enough time to do anything. If you eat healthy and excersize it will come off, i also hear that you are supposed to keep taking your pre-natal vitamins and that they help with the weight coming off.

First of give yourself a broke you just had your blessing least then two months ago. Second do not skip meals your body will react just the way you do not want it to. Started your day with a good breakfast to get it going. Then count carbs allow someway between 31 to 45 per meal also eat some trick some way between 15 to 20 tow or three times a day. Also excise if you or not doing so just a little walk with do fine. Push that wonderful new person in a stoller. You will enjoy the time with him or her, the fresh air and also burn calories.

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First of all I would give yourself some time to recover, and don't expect to loose the weight overnight give yourself at least 6 months to a year as a goal to return to your prebaby weight. I have 2 children (3yrs and 19 months and also had 4 miscarriages). I think the best exercise is walking I would suggest breaking out your stroller and taking a walk every day which will also help you feel better if you are a little depressed (I had postpartum depression and this is what the doctor recommended as an alternative to taking medicine)
As far as eating goes, I agree with some of the others that one or two meals a day is not healthy. In order to speed up your metabolism and keep your engery level up to deal with taking care of the little one, I would suggest several small meals a day (small breakfast, healthy snack at 10am, large lunch, healthy snack at 3pm, small dinner). I know it seems strange, but I lost 60lbs over a year's time eating and exercising this way after I had my last child. Also make sure you keep taking your vitamins. I would also consider cutting out any soda and don't use artificial sweeteners or unhealthy fat substitutes or products containing them. I use real butter and sugar in my cooking, I just limit the amount of these things I eat, and try to cook more with olive oil or canola oil and eat lots of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.

With my son I went back to work for 3 months part time after my maternity leave was over and I couldn't keep working. I am now a stay at home mother. I did find a part time job that I was at for a year in the evening so I could be home during the day with my children and my husband could watch them in the evening.

You may want to talk to your husband about your reluctance to return to work, maybe if you look at the cost of childcare, gasoline, and work expenses it would pay off to stay at home, or maybe you could change jobs and find work in the evenings or weekends. My husband and I decided even though it is very tough financially, in the long run we beleive it is the best thing for our children that we raise them and teach them our values instead of a daycare. For us this means tight budgeting and not spending money on alot of the extras. Also, don't forget that you need some time to yourself every not and then (My son goes to Mothers day out once a week for my break).

Sorry I was long winded, but you sound like you are exactly where we were when I had my son.
Hope this helps!
KT

Hi, A.! Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl! Treasure every moment, as it goes by too fast! On the weight loss question, it's actually better to keep your metabolism going by eating 4-5 smaller meals per day, then you tend to not be slowed down by feeling sleepy after a larger meal. I am a pharmacist, not a dietitician, but know this also helps keep blood sugars more steady, too. When you don't eat as often, your body slows down to adjust to those few meals. I have had success with a weight mgmt program from ARbonne, drinking protein & fiber shakes for breakfast about 4 times per week, and taking good vitamins. Plan for good healthy snacks-helps, too. I hope this is helpful to you!

I understand your feelings of sadness at the thoughts of taking your baby to daycare. I have 2 daughters and am thankful to have been home with them, sometimes full-time & sometimes part-time. I am working on being home full time, since I am now working my own business from home (or really wherever I happen to be) around their schedules. Have you ever thought of being your own boss? I would love to share what I am doing with you over the phone or email & see if it's a fit for you. If not, it's always nice to make a new friend & encourage another mom. Thanks & God bless,
A. ###-###-####

Just keep breastfeeding, and that weight will come off naturally just like it was intended to. It's a very natural process. I gained 60 lbs with my pregnancy and in a matter of months, I was back to 119. I nursed for about 1.5 years and never had a weight problem.
B. S RN CCM

This is what worked for me when I was trying to lose weight for my wedding, I hired a personal trainer and this was their recommendation. You have got to eat more frequently during the day!! Try eating six small nutritous meals. The reason why you aren't loosing weight is because your body thinks it could be "starving" because you are eating so little. This sends a message to your body that it needs to keep all the calories you are eating, it's a survival thing. Unfortunately, it keeps the calories as fat. Eating small frequent meals tricks your body. Since you always have a little something in your stomach. Try it, I would also keep a food journal and track your calories and fat. Sounds like a lot of work, but I promise it is a healthy way to loose the weight and it will stay off if you make the lifestyle change.

Hop this helps!!

As far as losing weight, eat a lot of protien often. I would eat six or eight times a day and make sure it is high protien (this will increase your matabolism) and high in fiber. As fas as day care...it will be hard at first but it gets easier. A fiend of mine suggest making your child a photo album of family members that she can take with her to day care...im in the process of doing this for my daughter.
Good luck!

If you just gave birth 7 weeks ago, don't worry about "struggling" to lose weight - nobody expects a woman to lose weight that fast after giving birth! It takes 9 months to put on the weight. Most people say it takes 9 months to lose it. I gave birth 6.5 months ago and I have been slowly and steadily losing weight since then without dieting or exercising much. Now I've just joined a gym with childcare so that should help me lose the last 15 lbs. (I gained almost 50 lbs during pregnancy). One problem I can already identify is that you are only eating one or two times a day!!! When you eat less frequently, your body thinks it may starve so it thinks it needs to conserve and horde fat. Many experts recommend eating 6 small healthy meals a day. I eat 4 meals per day. Two of those meals consist of a bowl of healthy cereal like Kashi GoLean, Total, or shredded wheat (breakfast and mid-afternoon snack). COUNT CALORIES. Keep a food journal of what you are eating. Watch portion sizes. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (raw or if you cook the veggies, steam them, don't put butter or oil on them), whole grains, low-fat and fat-free protein items such as beans, lentils, and other legumes, and of course no fried foods, fast food, or anything like that. If you must have a snack, have a bowl of cereal, carrot sticks, etc. as opposed to chips or something like that. And of course cut liquid calories like soda and too much juice. Drink mostly water when you are thirsty. I just have one glass of juice a day because it is calcium-fortified and I don't drink milk, but otherwise drink tea and water. Actually drink water a lot to help you feel fuller before each meal. Keep up the exercise. Also, if you are breast-feeding, you absolutely need to eat more than one or two meals a day!! When my baby was 7 weeks old I told someone I felt fat and they said that it was way too soon to be expecting any weight loss yet. Remember I lost a lot of weight (gradually) without making drastic changes in my diet or exercise routine. So just think it will take less time with a conscious effort to exercise and eat healthy. But it just doesn't come off this soon, it does take time. Don't get discouraged, concentrate on your baby, and before you know it you will have lost weight. Sorry I don't have any daycare advice for you as I'm a SAHM. Good luck!

Wow~7 weeks is really soon to be dieting! I applaud your dedication, but please relax! It tooks 9 months to balloon up, and it might take that long to get back to your pre-prego wieght!
First of all, you aren't doing yourself any favors by not eating regularly. Studies show that your body can go into "starvation mode" when you don't feed it, and actually tries to store fat to protect your body. It's especially dangerous if you are breastfeeding!
If you want to speed up your metabolism and lose weight, then start eating small, healthy meals 4-6 times a day. I'm glad you are working out, but be careful with that too, since your body is still trying to heal.
sounds like you are on the right track!
Congrats on your new baby--I'm sure the transition to daycare will be tough, but you will be okay as long as you are still spending lots of quality time with your daughter every day!

A.,

Congrats on that new baby girl! You probably aren't eating enough!! Amazing how that works... our bodies store up what we do eat because we aren't eating enough. I would make sure (this is for myself also) that you are eating enough proteins and fruit/veggies. Some carbs (whole grain) are good also. Stay away from sugars and diet things... if you need a treat :) eat the real thing, not something diet! Good luck and be patient with yourself and enjoy that sweet baby! I'm not sure how to deal with the daycare thing since I've not had to do that... I would be the same way.

HUGS!
K.

Several smaller meals a day is better than one or two meals a day. And like several other people have mentioned, fresh veggies and protein like meat,chicken and turkey are best (grilled or baked). It takes time.

As for daycare, it is hard for all parents. But most kids adapt quickly, especially if you choose a facility that fits your needs. One with a low turnover in staff, low child -to -teacher ratios, one that is clean and has a happy a environment. And most have online cameras now so you can check on your baby throughout the day. Daycares are regulated and monitored (if you choose a state-licensed one). Both of my girls (ages 2 and 6) have been in daycare since they were infants and my 6 year old breezed through kindergarten because she learned so much in daycare. They learn how to share, how to get along with other children and act in a group setting. The only drawback is the first year, they both stayed sick but once they built up their immunity they have since done fine. It's probably better to get it over with now versus when they start school and it's counted against them. Good luck and remember, it will probably hurt you alot worse than it will hurt her. But there are many advantages to being a SAHM and of course, that's the best thing if you can afford it. However, you aren't a bad mother if you do have to put her in daycare.

You need to eat three meals per day, aprox 300-500 calories per meal. 2 fruits, 5 veggies, 5 whole grains, 6 oz of meat, 2-3 servings of dairy and drink plenty of water. Avoid processed foods.

I have three boys and after gaining a combined 120lbs with them I managed to be 10 lbs lighter three months after giving birth to the third. I started out at 150lbs after my second and ended at 140lbs. What did I do differently the last time? I treated myself REALLY well. Skipping meals will just mess your metabolism up so stick with really good for you meals. I cut back on dairy and ramped up my protein eating lean cuts of the best meats and FRESH fruits and veggies. Think of what you are eating as your "gym" membership. Spend the money for steaks, chicken breasts, fresh fish and real, crispy produce. You are worth it! Skip the processed mac and cheese and chips and reach for pasta with a pat of butter and garlic salt or a bag of pretzels instead.

Let me tell you as the voice of experience that it just takes time for your stretched body to get back to normal. Even at a lighter weight it was still at least four months before my pre-pregnancy stuff fit and a year before that 10lb loss meant I got to buy new clothes. Hang in there and show your dd it's good to be queen! LOL!

Well first of all you JUST had a baby 7 weeks ago,lol There is no miracle cure for pregnancy wieght gain. Sounds like you are doing allthe right stuff excpet breasfeeding which sppeds it up immensly. Take your time you were prego for 9 month it will take close to that for you to be back to "normal" Also do you have to go back to work right now or will your company allow you to take a little more time off without pay to spend with her. I know how tight some households can be if you cannot afford it maybe try going to the day care with her for the first hour or so before work to ease yourself and her out,lol. Good luck I would feel the same way

WEIGHT WATCHERS works!!!

Having only 1 or two meals a day could be one of your culprits. When you starve your body, it goes into "saving mode" and will actually draw more fats and sugars from the foods you eat and store them, fearing that it will need them. More, smaller, and regularly-timed meals will turn that signal off.
Also, most processed and fast foods contain unregulated amounts of MSG, a chemical that works on a neurological level to convince the body that what you're eating is the best, most tastiest stuff there is. It's also the reason we're having a morbid obesity epidemic. And its addictive. When I was on chemotherapy for cancer, I did a lot of research and found that just about everything we comsume contains this drug - even storebought items you wouldn't suspect (soup, salad dressing, spice mixes, etc.). My doctors had overdosed me on steroids while on chemo so I gained over 40 lbs, and I really didnt have any strength to workout. As soon as I eliminated all processed food from my diet, I started losing the weight, at a rate of a pound or more a week, without exercising at all. I also feel more healthy and have more energy than I have in my whole life. If you combine the diet change with exercise, you should see up to double those results - AND have the energy to keep up with work and your new baby.
I have made the switch with my family too, and was able to take my youngest off all her allergy meds (she had horrible allergies and had to use several medications plus an inhaler). Noone in my family has been seriously sick in years. Even when the stomach flu was running rampant, they only had a tummy ache for a couple days.
If you would like any more info or some food tips, please lwt me know, I'll be happy to share them with you. I had to make the switch on a budget - I cant afford "health food stores" - so I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Crest, and have learned what to buy and what to steer away from. I've also come up with recipes for healthy, chemical-free alternatives to alot of the "cant live withouts", like ranch dressing and soup mixes. Good luck and I wish you all the best :}

I was lucky and came out of my preganancy looking much better than when I went in! Breastfeeding afterwards for nine months helped too. Now I am just trying not to put it all back on.
The main thing that I want to say is about the daycare. I took a full 3 months maturnity leave and it was still very hard to "give my baby" up ( so to speak ) to daycare. We have a wonderful christian lady who takes care of her and she gets the very best care. If I have to leave her anywhere, that's where I want her to be. I feel very good about leaving her there.
I drive a company vehicle and didn't get to take her to daycare the first day, my husband takes her. But I bawled like a big baby when he drove out of the driveway with her!! I thought I was going to fall down, but... after a few days, I was better. I just imagine that it takes time. Try not to anticipate it and enjoy the rest of your maturnity leave.
Hugs,
T. S

A.,

Our third try too was the "sticker". I gained over 30 lbs during that pregnancy but with the usual loss in the hospital (the baby, placenta, water weight, extra blood volume, etc) plus nursing, I lost all 30 lbs without trying before the 6-week check up. But then again, I was nuring every 2.5 hours and you didn't say whether you were or not. One thing that did strike me as strange though in that time was that I had no appetite. I guess I had enough body fat for a while that I didn't need the extra calories I was told I'd need.

As for returning to work...I quit working and attending college altogether once the first one was born. After trying for six years to carry a baby or concieve, there wasn't any way I was going to let someone else raise my child. My DSIL is a teacher and she was required by her district to return to work within TWO weeks or else pay a substitute out of her own pocket! Thankfully the baby was born during Thanksgiving break and she only had to pay a sub for like one week. She did do a lot of crying though, even though their daughter was being watched by her mother and she knew the baby was in good hands. I'd say make ends meet however you can if you really want to stay home. It really is very rewarding.

K.

Sweetheart,
The weight will come off in due time. But for now I encourage you to just enjoy your new miracle. It has only been 7 weeks and I'm not saying you shouldn't be concerned about getting the weight off, but just pace yourself. I will say eating 1 or 2 meals a day is working against you. Your body needs every basic food group even more so now because you have just had a baby. But if you are that concerned about your weight, eat more often, fresh veggies, lots of fruit, lots of water, 2% or less milk, baked chicken, fish, etc. Snack on yogurt, fruit, granola bars, etc.
As for your second question, that's a big adjustment that takes a lot of prayer and positive thinking. It's hard to leave our babies and go back to work. I suggest sending her to daycare about 3 days before you actually go back to work. You could send her for a few hours and go get her when you want. That will kind of ease you into this new transition and may be better than just taking her for an entire day when you begin work. It's not easy, but we do what we have to do. She will be fine and you will too -- but ease up on yourself on that weight loss thing OK?
God bless you.

A.,
Losing weight may take some time, but keep eating good foods, lots of fruits and vegs,etc (you know!).Several small meals per day are more effective in speeding up your metabolism than one or two larger meals. Walking briskly , pushing a stroller if you want,is great exercise. If you are breastfeeding, this will help, too, but keep up on your proteins. Concerning daycare, is this absolutely necessary? You're crying because of your God-given mothering instinct telling you that you are the best caregiver for your baby. Have you factored in the cost of daycare, gas, fast food, work clothes...not to mention the emotional cost to you and your baby? Those first years are so critical and you can not get them back once they are over. Some things are worth sacrificing for, and our kids are one of those things.

I'm going to skip the losing weight question- 2.5 years later and I still need to get off those last 10 lbs. Anyways, about the daycare, I was fortunate enough to work close enough to the daycare that I could go and feed my daughter at lunch, so we were only separated for 4 hours at a time. I did that until she started eating baby food. It's important to choose a daycare where you trust the caregivers- you may have to visit a few. My daughter is a people person and she loved having all the different people around. Many daycares will also let you leave a disposable camera so they can take pictures of your child and show you what she does all day.

You need to eat 3 healthy meals a day-when you eat very little during the day your body thinks you are starving it and won't allow you to lose weight. (I know this from experience) Breakfast is what gets your metabolism going in the morning don't skip it!! You may try the book "Dieting for Dummies" it helped me greatly-you learn how to calculate how many calories you can have per day to lose weight in a healthy way without any gimmicks or fad diets that only work for a short time.
As far as coping with going back to work, I can't help you. I'm able to stay home. When I first got pregnant I was planning on going back to work, but we worked some things out, cut some corners and was able to stay home-we thought we would just see what happened, thinking I might have to go back, but in 4 years I've only had to do some seasonal work and some babysitting. So you may talk with your husband and see what works for you.

Hi A., I feel your pain...but you really arent eating enough. I have a cousin who is a personnal trainer in Las Vegas. She put me on a plan, I started it as soon as my 6 wk recovery was over. Depending on your workout schedule--well this is what I did , I made sure each meal was 300 calories and always had healthy high protein snacks to sustain my appetite. Almonds, string cheese, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, tuna etc.If you want I can give you more details on what foods to eat and what exercises to help you . I lost all my weight within 6 mos. Dont worry about it . You are really young and should bounce right back to your pre-preg. weight. I didnt have my baby (first and only so far)until I was 33. Your baby is only 7 wks. As soon as you go back to work it will help you since you will be more active. Be patient and feel free to e-mail me back if you want more help (I have been going to the gym 5 days a week for about 7-8 years). Good luck. A.

It takes a while to lose the baby weight - that's just the way it is. It took 9 months to put it on so it will take time to take it off. Since you're only 21, it may not take you as long as other women who are older. It also depends on your body type and metabolism. Also, breastfeeding helps the weight come off quicker because you're burning more calories. Just give it time and be happy that you have a new, healthy baby at home.

For goodness sake, don't be so concerned about the baby weight. You just barely had her! It took nine months to have her and it will probably take that long to get back to normal. It was a year before I could fit into my jeans after having my first child, but I wasn't worried about how I looked. I was more concerned about my child. BREASTFEEDING, not only the best thing you can do for your baby if you really love her, helps with fast weight loss. As for daycare, it depends on where you put her. Some care centers are better than others.

Be kind to your body - it just did an amazing thing! At 7 weeks, you are still returning to pre-preg form. The extra blood required for preg is decreasing, all the areas that stretched are still shrinking, everything has to adjust and it takes while.

Your definitely not eating enough. My suggestion is Weight Watchers. This program really teaches you how to eat. I follow the program at home, with my moms books. She attends the meetings.
If you don't eat enough your body will hold onto the little bit you do eat and turn it to fat. This is the rule I follow most importantly: in a plate for a meal 1/2 of the plate should be vegetables and fruits and the other 1/2 should be a carb and protein.

Drink eight glasses of water a day. If you don't like water, drink Crystal Light.

Sincerely,
A.

Congratulations on the little bundle of joy=)
We tend to believe that in order to loose weight we have to quit eating, starve ourselves or try every magic pill we hear about. When in reality all we have to do is changing our habits.
A healthy female needs about 2,000 calories to maintain her weight. To loose weight then aim to consume between 1,500 and 1,800 calories per day. If you go too low your metabolism will slow down, you will not burn fat and will probbaly end up puttin on weith rather than loosing it.
Have several small meals duting the day. Aim for at least 3 meals and 2 snacks. Try to reduce or eliminate all together sweets and processed products. Drink lots of water, stay away from juice (eat the fruit instead), plenty of veggies, about 3oz of protein at a meal and 1oz at snack time... The possibilities are endless.

I had a little trouble at first, but your still early into it so DO NOT worry =] Once you get into a routine just start walking a little and cleaning house. At 7 wks your body is still working hard to get back to normal-- at about 2 1/2 months i started feeling better and getting back to how I was before. My son is 6 months old and I can say that my body is STILL changing, but I'm back to 5 lbs smaller than I was before. You'll be fine! <3 your new mommy body --its all worth it!

Dear A.,

You have to eat in order to lose weight. If you skip a meal, your body goes into stavation mode and stores fat. I lost 70 lbs. on Weight Watchers. It teaches control through porportion size. According to NBC, this is the most sensible diet and it works. You do have to stay with the program to retrain your body. You also have to MOVE. Exercise is very important. I began walking. Once I got to a mile, I gradually increased to 2, then 3 a day. Put your baby and toddler into a carriage and enjoy the outside or purchase an affordable treadmill. Losing weight is hard work but, once you have it off you will feel wonderful.

Judy D.