Weightloss and exercise post baby

[Sammiejane]

Im hearing you on being the heaviest ever. Summer last year was sooo hard

I found that around the time that MJ was 5 months old the weight started to come off easier.
I am almost at pre pg weight (but dont look it, i have the suspicous looking tyre that has wedged itself under my skin!)

I try and go for an hour's walk 3 times a week, sometimes more and only recently i have set my alarm to get up before MJ and DH and i do a pilates DVD or hop on the wii fit for 30 mins.

Try not to drop your intake like the other girls have said as your BM will suffer...
Its not like when you are pg where the baby will take what it needs, if your dont eat or drink enough your supply will be affected.

Rememebr the weight goes on in 9 months, so dont expect it to come off quickly ... 9months on 9 months off - thats my rule

[SammyRo]

Yep, I too am the heaviest ever - I've put on 15 kilos since our wedding in march 07. I am 166cm and weighed in at 93kg last week - i was horrified! I had gone dress shopping the weekend before for a bridesmaid dress for a wedding we are in in Jan and was at least 2 sizes bigger, so that was the kcik up the butt I needed.
That week, I joined Weightwatchers online and so far, so good. I've been doing it for 2 weeks now. They have a special allowance for breastfeeding mums - so if you do the points plan, you get an extra 7 points (or it could be 9, can't remember!) and some days, I struggle to eat all the points - which they stress you must do if you are breastfeeding. Because its online, I log in in the morning and plan my meals for the day - they have heaps of foods stored on there so you don't have to work anything out yourself, they also have recipes as well, and then as the day progresses, I add in any snacks. You can earn bonus points if you exercise as well. I'm finding it pretty easy to stick to, and seem to eat plenty. I've done it before and i find its a great way as it makes you think about portion sizes and healthy choices.

[MrsFabuloso]

Wow, thanks ladies!!

I have officially started today, LOL! I am finding time hard to come by at the moment, so exercise isn't at the top of my list just yet, but I am eating healthy foods. I am just eating when hungry at the moment and stopping when full and drinking lots of water, so I don't know how many kj's or whatever I'm having. We'll see how we go this way first.
I weighed my self yesterday and I'm down another 2kg's and that's just with cutting out chocolate and dairy (amongst other things for DS, he gets colicky when I eat them), so I guess I'm on the right path...

SammyRo, I have done weight watchers before and they are great, I've lost 8kgs with them before. But it's too expensive at the moment for us. I just can't afford it, but I have some of their recipe books and mags, so I will use their recipes.

Good Luck to all of you who are trying to lose weight, it's a long hard journey, but so worth it in the end!!

[magisana]

Wow, I feel so much better reading all of your posts! I've just had my third baby 3 weeks ago via a c-section and I have to say I am getting a little stressed over the whole body image! I know it's silly and I shouldn't but I just can't help it. I've had 2 natural births and never had this pouch over hang thing! I am really concerned about it as the rest of my stomach has returned reasonably flat except for the lower part. This is my first C-Section and I was wondering if there are any other mums who have the same and have been able to get there stomach to return. Also I went into this pregnancy carrying an extra 10kgs from Bub 2, so technically I've only gained 5 kgs this 3rd pregnancy but I am so uncomfortable and my legs look like jelly there so full of cellulite! I weigh 75kgs and I want to get down to 55kg, slowly of course. I've been debating about whether to join weight watchers or calorie king and buy there software as I feel that I really need to monitor that I am not overeating or not eating enough. Can anyone please give me some advice... sorry about the big spiel, I am just so glad that I've found other mums who seem to have the same probs as me and that Iam not alone. By the way I am fully breastfeeding and I've found in the past I tend to find it harder to lose weight, but maybe that's all in my mind, as Iam a natural stresser.

Also what do you think about doing pilates for toning the body up and strengthening the core muscles and general all over body toning. Anyone seen the Malibu Pilates Chair as I am considering buying this for my future exercise, I am planning on walking to get my fitness up first, but I've been told to wait til I've seen the doc, due to a large amount of blood loss at the time of birth. I know I can't do it yet as I am still recovering from the C-Section and will admit I am still very tender, I just want to start planning so this time I have a goal that I can aim to achieve. Thanks for listening ladies.

[Curly]

I was still getting around in my maternity jeans 3 months after DS was born and it was so depressing. But suddenly the weight just did start to come off.

What probably helped is that I was exclusively breastfeeding and found through a process of elimination that I could not have 1 square of chocolate without giving DS wind. Icecream had the same effect. Couldn't have caffeine, he woudn't settle to sleep. Processed food - more wind, hard to settle. I probably had the best diet I had ever had. No alcohol whatsoever. Nothing like having a choice between sleep or a certain food...sleep won every time.

Eat well, utilise the pram! Go for lots of walks. Good for you and bub to get out in the fresh air. When you are feeling stronger, if your baby is a good sleeper, maybe try some free weight exercise during a nap. A pilates or yoga class on the weekend when Daddy is around to look after baby?

[MrsFabuloso]

Magisana,
I wouldn't worry just yet about your weight, especially after a c/s. I knwo it's hard not to, I can't help myself either. But you won't really be able to do all that much physically for another few weeks yet. You need to take care of yourself physically, a c/s is major surgery. And also having lost alot of blood, you won't have alot of energy to burn, you need it all to look after bub. You can eat well, but I wouldn't be limiting my food yet if I were you again cause you need all that energy to recover.
I can't say I know how you feel since I haven't had a c/s, but I do have a terrible body image at the moment and really don't like my post pregnancy body, but I don't think exercise is going to get rid of the baby belly, on a miracle, or plastic surgery will do that!
Good luck, but take it easy

ETA, Curly, I'm the same- no chocolate, dairy, processed food, take away all for the sake of sleep and bub's health......I'm losing weight just cause I can't eat anythign yummy, LOL! (I'm down to 84.3kgs, yay!!!!)