Getting Baby Weight Off!

Its sounds like every body is different. I gained 30 pounds with my son. I lost 20 right away, and didn't lose another pound (in fact think I actually gained a pound or 2) until he was 5 months old. Over the next 3 months, I lost the next 5, and was happy with my weight. I ate healthy and exercised the same amount--I think my body just wasn't ready to lose it yet.

Yup, been there. I got an awesome workout DVD (something I'd never done before) called Jillian Micheals 30 Day Shred. It was advertised as a 20 min. workout, graduated in 3 levels of difficulty, which I thought sounded do-able with a 1 yr. old at home. I did the workout every single day, drank a lot more water, and ate more vegies and less processed food (standards relaxed on weekends). I lost 14 pounds and went down a size and got stronger in the process.

I wound up joining Weight Watchers to get the last bit off. It took me awhile, but it works. And it promotes healthier eating habits.

L. I fill your pain. My baby girl is 10 weeks and I have only lost ten pounds however, I gained 50 plus during my pregnancy. I am currenly breastfeeding and exercising 3 or 4 times a week at the gym and no weight is coming off. I feel so depressed about it. I can not fit any of my clothes and hate what I see in the mirror every day. I can not fit any of my clothes and have went from a sz 4/6 to a 14. Everyone says it will come off but its like okay when...I understand that it took 9 months to gain the weight but so not use to seeing myself like this. I don't know if I should add a few more days of exercising or what. I am thinking about joining weight watchers cause they give they have a plan for mothers who are breastfeeding. I am hoping that will give me a boost.

You've got a lot of great advice so I'll just tell you what happened to me with both of my kids. I gained 30 pounds with both kids, lost 15 right off the top like you, then lost another 8 by the time I returned to work (5 months in my case, both times). I tried very hard with diet and exercise to get those "last 7" off before I went back to work. Didn't happen. Both times, as soon as I stopped breastfeeding those last 7 pounds came off in about 4 weeks. It's as if my body didn't want to let go of those last pounds. Of course I didn't really make the connection until I had my second child and was faced with the exact same 7 pounds I couldn't get off the first time.

I'm not suggesting that you stop breastfeeding - quite the opposite - I breastfed for a year with both of my kids. I'm just saying that everyone's body is different and you might find that you're one that is going to hold on to a little extra for a little longer. I know it kind of stinks, but it's worth it - having kids is worth all that we moms go through physically and emotionally.

The first year of your baby's life is such a discovery for both you and your family. I'd recommend that you keep following your healthy eating plan and exercising, but don't be too h*** o* yourself - as we all seem to have been told at one time or another - "nine months up and nine months down."

I am 33 and have had 3 kids. I was always the same weight when starting prego...gained 35 lbs....by the time each child was 12 months old and I was weaning...I had dropped all 35 lbs plus about 5 more..so always 5 lbs LESS than when my pregnancy first started! BUT...then everytime..I'd wean and get back on birth control around 12 months...and I'd gain back that 5 plus 5 more from the birth control..and then a few months into the birth control routine..I'd level back out and be right back at my original weight.

Same thing..three times in a row.

But, you are ONLY 7 WEEKS!!..If you continue to EAT WELL, be ACTIVE (like stroller walking, etc..no couch potato), and BREAST FEED ENTIRELY...you will definitely lose ALL THE WEIGHT...and maybe a bit more.

Congrats on your little guy!! Wow, 15 pounds in 7 weeks, you're lucky (compared to me, but then again, I gained WAY too much!) :O) In my experience, I lost more weight when I stopped nursing than when I was nursing. All I can think is that my body needed the extra calories while nursing to keep up, but once I stopped, I dropped the last bit of weight I needed to. Also, by that time, my daughter was sleeping better (me too) and I was feeling much more like my old self, so I was able to work out more "normally" for me. That's how it went the first time around.... I'm still looking to lose those last 10 pounds from having my son (and he's 3.5 years!!)
Good luck to you!

~K.

I lost the rest of my weight and more once I stopped breast feeding. You need that extra weight while breast feeding, so don't worry about it. It is for the health of your baby and that is what matters most. You will get your body back! Congrats on your newborn!

I gained 50 lbs. with both of my kids. First 25 lbs. flew off without any work. Last bit took FOREVER. I am just about done losing the final 15 lbs, three years after having our second child (only took about 10 months with our first child to lose it all). I talked to my doctor and he put me on a 1,500 calorie diet (it all comes down to calories when losing weight) in combination with my existing gym schedule. I found that skipping weight training and focusing 100% on cardio kicked the weight loss into gear.

You may be lucky. Some women don't do a thing and the weight just comes off. If you're younger, that also can give you a huge advantage because you still have a good metabolism.

Good luck!

I had the same experience. The first 10 pounds came off and as for the rest (some 25 pounds), it took quite a bit of work to take them off. Both exercise and watching my diet. Weight Watchers plans worked for me. It allows 32 points for breastfeeding moms and I found it to be sufficient. Coupled with everyday short but intense exercise(15min) I lost most of the weight in the first year. Still am working on the last 8 lb. Good luck,it takes perseverance to lose weight but actually it both helps to exercise and it makes you feel good when you accomplish your goal!

RELAX Woman
I'm sorry if this is harsh but don't worry about your weight RIGHT NOW worry about being with your baby boy your a mom now the weight will come off
Mom of
4 GREAT HEALTHY Children

You've already had some good advice here, but I noticed someone had said their doc had put them on a low calorie diet to lose the last of the weight. I just wanted to point out that she did that more than a year after the birth. Since you are only at 7 weeks and still nursing you should not reduce your calories. The first chunk of weight comes off really quickly because a lot of it is connected directly to the baby. Once your body is back to 'normal' (about 6 weeks) the weight loss will slow down, but that doesn't mean that it has stopped.

Continue to eat healthy foods, get plenty of rest and be patient with your body. The rest of the weight should come off without too much effort. Remember pushing a stroller in the fresh air burns up calories! :o)

Welcome to the club! It took 9 mths or so to put that weight on, so it's definitely not going to fall off in 6 or 7 weeks. Yes, there are the "blessed few" who walk out of the hospital in their pre-baby jeans, but truly, you are blessed to only need to lose an additional 15 lbs. And those are & always will be the most difficult lbs to shed.

I was told over & over how those 15 lbs would "fall off" once I stopped nursing, or once my little guy started crawling, or once he started walking (since I would surely be getting enough exercise "chasing" after him). So I waited. And I eventually stopped nursing. And I chased. And the weight was still there, 2 years after I gave birth.

That's when I got tired of seeing pics of myself still looking thick in the middle, the arms & the face, as though I had recently given birth...UGH. I took the plunge & joined a gym. Nothing much happened until I got on a treadmill several times a week & got my heartrate up to 160 for a good 30 minutes. 4 months later, I weighed less than when I got married, which I truly believed was never even possible again!! I was so mad at myself that I hadn't taken action earlier.

So, I've now got a 4-mth old & yep, those 15 lbs are back - and I only gained a total of 20 lbs during the pregnancy. Only this time I'm taking action much earlier, knowing that a healthy diet & regular exercise are the key to being fit & trim - at least for me. I would assume some form of exercise is going to be the way for you as well. I also have seen great sucess from friends who have joined Weight Watchers, even for those last 15 to 20 lbs.

My suggestion: take action NOW, regardless of how long you plan to nurse or when your little one starts to crawl. It just gets more difficult to establish a routine the older the child gets, so start something now & see what happens!

Good luck!

Hi,
pretty much like you said the first 15 falls off and then you have to work at it. Breast feeding does not burn more then about 300 extra cals and you really can't do any extreme dieting while brest feedings so just reduce calories to about 2000 a day and increase excerise. It will take awhile, a pound equals about 3500 cals.

Unfortunately, our bodies continue to hold a certain amount of "extra" fat while we are breastfeeding. This is a built in protection for your baby in the event that your body does not get the nutrition it needs from long ago during times of famine. You may drop a few more pounds while you breastfeed, but you certainly won't get it all off without exercise and adjustment to eating habits. However, it is not safe for you or your baby to diet while you breastfeed. Please maintain good nutrition and try taking your little one out for a jog to get a few pounds off in the meantime. When you're done breastfeeding you can work in earnest to get the rest of the "baby weight" off. It is so worth your new bundle of joy!

I am just now getting my excess baby weight off after 14 years now that I know we will not be having another one! Take care and enjoy this period in your life.

This happened to me. The weight melted off in the first 8 weeks then BAM it halted completely. Then I had to work really hard to get the rest off with exercise (cardio and weights at home). I also have to watch what I eat. I had less time to eat in the first 2 months so I ate a lot less. I'm sure you will get it off just come up with a plan: how you can get exercise in (DVD at home) and eat a sensible diet. Good luck!

I have 5 kids and I know how you feel.

I think you just need to be more patient. You just had your baby 7 weeks ago. And it will take some time for your body to adjust itself again.
The breast feeding helps sometimes, but also you are storing food for your baby. I think the most important for you is to relax and not think about your weight for a little longer. Just make sure to eat healthy foods and go on a nice walk everyday with your baby.
That is good for you and your baby too.
Do not despair, it will change.

If you're nursing and your body seems to be 'holding' on to a few extra lbs, don't rush or push yoruself too hard to loose it all right away. Rapid weight loss can negetively effect your milk production. For me (and for my mom) my body has been holding onto about 10lbs - and when I push too hard (i.e. my normal pre-baby workout) my milk production goes down. I'm nursign less now so I've kicked up the workouts and seen an improvement.
Remember your hormone levels aren't back to normal - and they won't be until after you're done nursing.

Wow - you've got lots of responses, and I usually just read - not respond, but I felt compelled to respond to your post. I think I could have written your post when I was 7 wks PP too. I know how you feel - it's hard to be overweight when your no longer carrying a baby - but like others have said, you are only 7 wks PP - way too soon to be worried about it. Im now about 8mo. PP and I, like you, was frustrated at 2 mo. PP, so stopped weighing myself. I am just now beginning to feel somewhat "normal". I do work hard. Currently I am training for a 1/2 marathon. Diet is my downfault :). All in all - don't worry - it'll come off.

Just make good food choises, drink lots of water and walk when you can. When we give it too much thought it seems it stays longer. I gained 60 pounds, by my 6 week check up I lost 20. Now I am scared to get on the scale. But eventually it would be nice to see a number going down.
Keep thinking positive and it will happen!
:-)W.

I had the same experience. I lost tons of weight right away but then I stalled with 13 more to lose. By 6 months, though, I had lost all but 7 pounds, and my last pound finally came off when he was 10 months old. The rate of weight loss definitely slowed down, but it all came off eventually. I exercised a little, mostly just walking with occasional jogging. I really think it was the breastfeeding that did most of the work. It wasn't that hard at all. (And I didn't have to quit breastfeeding to lose the last few). If you want to lose it faster, you will have to work out. My best friend lost all her weight in 6 months and she looks fantastic but she runs 8 miles several times a week. Good luck and enjoy your baby!

L.,

Congratulations on your little one. First, you need to relax a bit. You are ONLY seven weeks post-partum. You should be focusing on your baby and your sleep!

Second, if you are looking for a FANTASTIC work out, check out www.babybootcamp.com. It's stroller fitness! You bring your child in a stroller and get a 55 or 75 minute work out. I am a franchise owner in the Sacramento area but know there are a ton of locations near you. Each class incorporates cardio, abs, strength and stretching. Your first class is always free so you have nothing to lose!

J. W.

Hi L.,
Yeah, those 'don't worry-- it will all come off with breastfeeding' people crack me up! Congrats on the first 15, BTW-- you should never forget to pat yourself on the back as often as possible, IMO! Anyway, I am still working on the last bit myself, and find that sticking religiously to the 'one hour of exercise a day' that doctors now recommend has been very helpful. I count everything-- walking the kids to school and back, a walk to the library, a bike ride, a run-- but I make sure I get an hour a day. Since it's every day instead of just X times a week, there's no putting it off to tomorrow, and that helps. Good luck!

Iodine is a key in metabolism because it supports the thyroid.

Chlorine in tap water encourages middle budge. Chlorine kills iodine stores. get a filter on your tap.

Avoid soy,msg, and processed foods.

I was 35 when I had my first baby. The weight came off pretty easy overall but it was 9 months before I was into all my prepregnancy clothes. Be patient! It has only been 7 weeks. Your body went through some huge changes and is still recovering. Worry about taking care of yourself, your new baby and your husband. If you are eating properly and moving enough, the weight should come off in time. Someone mentioned that they lost weight after stopping breast-feeding. Makes sense that your body would hold onto some pounds as a reserve.

Hi,
Getting the baby weight off is not an easy task (and harder the second time around, thats for sure!)
I gained 50lbs with my son and just recently shed the last few pounds. I hate working out so the gym was something I knew I wouldn't commit to. I lost my weight by watching what I ate (I don't eat processed carbs or anything white like rice) and I limit my sweets. I also try to walk 4-5 times a week, early in the morning. I put the baby in the stroller and walk about a mile before my coffee. It not only gets me some fresh air and exercise, but it also "clears my head" and gets me ready for the day.
Good luck and in no time you will be bikini ready!!
Take Care!!

I gained 48 lbs with my twins. The first 31 lbs came off within 3 weeks! And then nothing at all for a full month. And, it took me 5 - 6 months to get the final 15 lbs off. Breastfeeding helps with the initial weight loss, but what I found -- and what was confirmed by other moms -- is that your body tends to hold onto the last 10 lbs until you *stop* breastfeeding.

A trick that helped for me was only to weigh myself once a week and then write it down. That way, even if I only lost a half a pound a week, I could at least see progress -- hey 2 lbs this month!

I also drank a lot of green tea initially to help get rid of all the excess fluids that I was carrying. I think that's why I lost so much in the very beginning.

Good luck. You can do it. Just keep making small changes and stick to it ... a walk everyday, eliminate your morning bagel, or whatever. Small changes make a difference month by month.

I was in your boat after my first child, but I had 50 pounds that wouldn't come off! Weight Watchers helped me.

I gained over 50 pounds with my pregnancy and lost it all plus five in five months. I just breastfed and walked. It took awhile, it didn't melt off, but I did it. Give it a few more months. I'm sure it will come off in no time!

I've lost all my pregnancy weight and belly fat by drinking mummy magic weight loss tea.

My body hung on to the last of the weight until I quit breast-feeding - then I dropped 20lbs in a few months. The last bit of flab required 2 months on Nutri-System and working out. My hair fell out in big chunks on Nutri-System so I don't really reccomend it - my Dr. told me it's because of all the soy in the food. A friend of mine dropped about 50lbs. on the South Beach diet - it seems much healthier than the processed diet foods.
Working out will tone you up and get you back into you cute clothes the fastest - plus you need to get in shape for when your baby learns to walk so you can keep up with the little speed demon! They are faster than they look!

with my first child i gained a total of 55 lbs. i lost 35 within the first month. it took one year to loose the rest (and readjust where that weight was located) i just had my second 3 weeks ago and gained 45 lbs. i am 7 lbs away from my original weight and i am wondering if that is all located in my breasts. i think every pregnacy and person is different. my suggestion..do not diet but add a 30 minute walk into your daily routine and up the workouts from there until you are happy with your look.

I am in exactly your same boat now with my second one! I plateaued at 15 lbs above where I want to be, and now I'm starting to kick myself into gear. It's hard, esp. with being hungry all the time b/c of breastfeeding--but we can do it!
The thing is, take it one day at a time, and make sure you are getting exercise and eating right. It's not about dieting, it's about feeling good, whatever that means to you.
And of course, enjoy that baby!

Whew! Congratulations on your baby! Be patient with yourself - remember it took 9 months to put it on... it will take a little time to take it off; breastfeeding does help; I was my skinniest when I was nursing my second child. Drink plenty of fluids and enjoy the process
R.