I gained 50 pounds during pregnancy!

[PurpleLamb]

Yes it's true I really gained that much, and it sure is a pain to get off. I am so busy with the new baby I don't really have time or energy to diet. I can see why a lot of mothers don't lose this weight right away.
Anyone else in the same boat?

P.L.

[Katmandu]

Wow P.L. that was a lot of weight to gain in 9 months. I don't have any kids so I can't offer any advice, sorry. I'm just curious if you ended up losing weight and how you did it.

[Guinea Piggy]

oh, i can attest to that. i've been breastfeeding my little one, who is two and a half months now, and i've been losing weight consistently. i am not dieting to get rid of pregnancy weight, just making sure to eat healthy and stay between 1600-1800 calories a day. also getting lots of exercise by walking with the stroller every day and going for the occassional jog in the evening when he's sleeping.

a few weeks ago i got frustrated with my pregnancy weight gain and decided to diet like i used to do before i became pregnant. i found that my milk immediately came in less and seemed more watery. it's obvious that dieting is definitely not a good thing to do when breastfeeding. i just have to be patient and be happy with the 2-3 pounds i lose each week.

[vanessa12]

Hmm My sister lost all she gained during pregnancy by breastfeeding. I am not sure if it works for all. You could try it. Breastfeeding well technically burns calories every time moms nurse. Also drink more fluids and eat healthy.

Yes this one is true BF your baby helps lose weight. I BF my daughter up until she was 8 mos old and I lost all the weight I gained the entire pregnancy. It was so amazing. Doctors said you lose 600 cal every time you breast feed

[Guinea Piggy]

is that 600 cals a day when breastfeeding or do you mean each time? my little one eats about 10 times a day - i wish it was 600 cals each time cause then he'd be sucking away 6000 calories a day. that would be great, but alas i don't think it's the case, lol.

that's great that you lost all the pregnancy weight. i was losing a couple of pounds a week for a few weeks, but my weight has been at a standstill lately. i'm probably eating too many calories to lose more weight, but i'm worried that if i start dieting my baby won't get the nourishment he needs. i'll just have to be patient. i'm sure it will come off eventually and then i can get back to trying to lose the rest of the weight i had from before i was pregnant.

ahhh, it's a never ending cycle...

[vanessa12]

is that 600 cals a day when breastfeeding or do you mean each time? my little one eats about 10 times a day - i wish it was 600 cals each time cause then he'd be sucking away 6000 calories a day. that would be great, but alas i don't think it's the case, lol.

that's great that you lost all the pregnancy weight. i was losing a couple of pounds a week for a few weeks, but my weight has been at a standstill lately. i'm probably eating too many calories to lose more weight, but i'm worried that if i start dieting my baby won't get the nourishment he needs. i'll just have to be patient. i'm sure it will come off eventually and then i can get back to trying to lose the rest of the weight i had from before i was pregnant.

ahhh, it's a never ending cycle...

I think that would be a day. Cause if it would be each time I would have been sexy and slim by now.

[Leah Parker]

breastfeeding is a good way to lose weight especially during the first 2 months after labor. new moms should take some effort in getting back in shape fast because you will find it hard to lose weight after a year of giving birth.

[Hashimoto]

Some of the weight gained during pregnancy is fat the body stores specifically for breast feeding. Breast feeding will help you lose this fat, and in fact, will help w/ weight retention. There's been a few studies about it.

e.g. Exclusive breastfeeding and postnatal changes in m... [Niger J Clin Pract. 2009] - PubMed result
and Effect of breast-feeding on weight retention at 3 ... [Public Health Nutr. 2010] - PubMed result

Honestly, from my experience, losing weight and keeping it off isn't about dieting and just working out. It's a lifestyle choice. Diets don't really do much because you will simply stop them and then go back to old habits and then regain the weight you lost.

The advice I usually give new moms is to have a clear post pregnancy workout that involves both strength training and cardio, and to clean up their diets so that they get into the habit of eating healthy 90% of the time for a lifetime.

I have more info about this on my blog.

[Guinea Piggy]

Thank you for posting links to those articles. The results were quite interesting.

I like the advice you give to new moms and I think its an excellent approach to losing post-pregnancy weight the healthy way. Eating healthy 90% of the time for a lifetime has been my goal for almost two years now and I have had pretty good success, despite gaining weight while pregnant.

I think that the only thing I don't do very much of is strength training. I focus more on cardio, but I know I should throw some strength training in there. Do you have any suggestions of some simple strength-building exercises that I could do without having to go to the gym?

[stlibby34]

Breastfeeding it is. Also, when you're pregnant, try to eat healthily. It is not an excuse to devour on sinful foods such as cakes, ice creams, etc, etc, or you'll end up with Gestational Diabetes.

[skinnyrachel]

Yoga is a very good strength-building exercise after pregnancy. You can just buy a DVD copy, a yoga mat and you're good to start your fitness regimen the way you want. I don't like going to the gym because I'm self-conscious of the stares and I don't like the pressure of igniting a conversation because i'm introvert like that. Hope this helps.

[jadevale]

Exercise is a must. Of course, you cannot lose weight without exercising. Hence, you don’t really have to indulge in strenuous, vigorous exercise at first. You may perform easy yoga poses or some Kegel exercises at start. To learn which one best suits you, ask your doctor’s recommendation especially if you have undergone C-section.