Weight loss and breastfeeding....

[Beach Mama]

I need to lose weight desperately. After uploading pics of myself after Christmas today and seeing some that others have posted on FB etc. it has really hit me how big I am and it is making me really unhappy.

I want to know what I can and can't do as far as feeding goes. That is my number one priority and I don't want to do anything to jeopordise that, BUT I need to do something.

How much exercise can I do? I would like to start going back to the gym once Izzy is at mums one day a week? Can I do normal classes/weights/jogging etc?? I am also walking with the pram once a day with the kids but I don't feel like I am doing much if that makes sense. For some reason it just feels like walking with the kids not exercise if that makes sense. I am also going to start doing my yoga/pilates dvds for toning.

As far as dieting goes, sorry to say that I have never been on one.... I've never had to really, but I need to lose at least 10kgs. My self- control is pretty bad and I tend to eat junk out of laziness etc. I often don't eat lunch because I forget and DH and I will get takeaway if we are both too tired to cook. I used to be able to do this and not worry about gaining weight but my age and 2 kids later means I can't do it anymore.

I know weightloss is a simple case of expend more than you take in but I think I need a little helping hand ladies. I've waffled here but any help would be appreciated.,

TIA

[nelly]

Tan you have only just had a baby! It takes 9 months to put it on and I was told not to expect it to come off before then. I found that healthy eating and just walking with Jake almost everyday for about 45mins-1hr, plus we BF 12 months, all just combined and when he was about 6 months old it really started to come off. I suck at dieting too and have never really been on one, but I just made sure that if I went for coffee I had a peppermint tea intead of a hot choc and marshmallows, and sensible choices like that... doesn't mean I didn't have that hot choc occasionally tho! By the time Jake turned 1 I had lost his baby weight plus the weight from my previous pg that I was still carrying when we conceived him. I found the BF really helped burn up any extra calories you were eating or carrying, and I guess that is what your body builds it up for ~ to sustain you during the time you are feeding and the baby while it was growing. FWIW I do know and understand that horrible blobby feeling!

[Ginger]

there's no reason why you can't start going to the gym, just don't go crazy and overdo it.
before i became pg again i was seeing a pt once a week and found that really helpful. i also did lots of walking with the pram- uphills and everything.
after i've popped this bubba out, i'm going to join weight watchers as they have a special program for breastfeeding mothers and focus on healthy eating- no shakes or anything crazy like that.
best of luck with everything- just think lots of healthy, fresh, unprocessed food and lots of water and walking and you can't go wrong

eta- nelly is right though, your body has just gone through a lot- take your time, make healthy choices and i'm sure the weight will start to budge

[Beach Mama]

Thanks nelly! I know it's only been 10 weeks but I am just SO unhappy with the way I look right now. Part of it is my c/s overhang and I know that will probably never go but I have never been this big in my life.

Rainforest - I didn't know about WW and breastfeeding I might look into that too hun. We generally eat ok but I do indulge as I said when we are tired and can't be bothered -which is often at the moment!

[nelly]

I know I have the CS shelf too! Good luck! If it makes you feel better I was the lightest I have been in 5 years when Jake turned 1 - so it does move - and didn't go near a gym bcos I had a reflux baby and was in hell. Walking was my therapy and the hills were great - if you wear the baby in a pouch it also adds weight so you have more resistance. Oh and see if you have a friend who will help you do a big cook up to freeze for those lazy nights - they can baby wrangle or do the cooking.

[Beach Mama]

Thanks hun, I live near loads of hills and pushing the two of them in the P & T makes it close to 25kgs!!! Will just have to up the time I go for I guess and see how I go!

[tan32]

Hi Tan.

I too am on a wieght loss mission.
I have other medial issues which add to my problem, so i have a referall to a dietician. Weight Watchers do have a breast feeding program and you can join from 6 weeks im sure.
I am currently going to Curves when i get the chance, and have just started to do a bit more walking with the pram. Hubby just brought me one of those trailers for my bike that We can strap Lachlan in while i ride my bike with the kids to school next year. This should be fun.
Best of Luck and dont be to harsh on yourself. Your body has just done the most wonderful job in the world.

[Gigi]

i breastfed from when my child arrived, and i noticed at the eight month mark, i must have lost a significant amount of weight, cos i needed to get smaller maternity bras, and all my clothes looked ridiculously baggy on me.

no gym - i was hardly well enough to leave the house, too depressed to go anywhere thanks to PND, not well enough to stand and cook. Was not leaving the house, so not pushing the stroller around the block. the only thing i can think of was that i was breastfeeding.

i wonder how a breastfeeding mum can go to a gym, cos you get told to wear no underwires when you're breastfeeding. i coudln't imagine doing a fitness class or exercising without an underwire sports bra on (i'm a d cup).

Give yourself some time, unless you earn millions of dollars and have a fleet of assistants, you are not going to be pencil thin straight after having a bub, you body is adjusting to lots of things.

i still am not in a good space with PND, still not cooking anything, but i've started to buy stuff like bags of spinach leaves at woolworths, punnet of cherry tomatoes - so i can throw together a quick green salad in a bowl, toss olive oil and some flavours i like - so at least have some salad greens. I didn't do this before, buying this stuff seemed too pricey and indulgent, but if i don't eat something healthy, how can i keep going, and look after my DD. So even though it feels very wasteful and naughty, i am buying this stuff now.

ANother thing is keeping the kitchen full of fruit. If there is a bowl of fruit always easy to reach, when you get nibbly, it's just as easy to reach for an apple instead of crap stuff you know is only going to give you a sugar rush and then the sugar fall. THis works for me when fruit is here.

ANother thing is making sure you have a decent breakfast. i put a 800gm can of fruit in the fridge (in tupperware) so i can have that fruit over weetbix and milk. the days i don't do this, i really notice the difference. Instead of running around doing 18 things in the morning, i must make more of an effort to put the "having breakfsat thing" first.

people who start the day with a decent breakfast, can think clearer and are not desperate for a sugar rush on the way to wherever you go.

some mum's groups/playgroups are terrible for nutrition, others are great. if you have one that only offers coffee and sugar (cake, biscuits) - you need a strategy to deal with that - e.g find a different group, or ask whoever runs it, if healthier options can be offered instead.

i ate fantastically healthily while pregnant, then let it all slide after i had my child. In reality, we need that healthy diet JUST as much after baby arrives, to give us energy to breastfeed (which is super tiring) and do everything else we need to do.

be gentle to yourself, you're not a movie star, you're a real mum, don't put too much pressure on yourself.

do you have a particular thing you like to do? like swim? or ride? whatever is your fave, find out how you can do it with your baby, or find a gym with a creche, a sitter (if you are lucky enough to have relatives who will do that for you).

i've heard of Pram Keep Fit classes, where everyone in the class has a bub in a pram, and you use the pram and your baby's weight, in your exercises, no idea where these classes are, only that they exist (and sound really good).

Babies under six months, from what i read, are meant to be kept out of the sun, so bear that in mind, with whatever you choose.

If you love water, and you want your bub to go to water safety classes, maybe the both of you getting into an indoors pool, will get you both in the water, and might give you encouragement to swim laps yourself (if you like doing that, and have a sitter/creche).

i really need to take my own advice, two years on, my child still hasn't been to water safety lessons. i gotta do that for her.

[Ezz]

I gave myself until the 3 month mark to start to lose the baby weight. I had put on 24kg while pg. Then, once DS was 3 months, I started to eat healthier (no special diet, just cut out cake, chocolate, junk foods, etc) & went for a walk with the pram most days (maybe 3-5 times a week). Also, I have been breastfeeding the whole time. I have lost 22kg of the 24kg. But it probably took 6-9 months for it to all come off.

Walking with the pram does give you some great exercise - especially if you choose a hilly route - and you will have the added bonus of 2 kids!!

Going to WW sounds like a good idea if you want more help with the eating side of things.

Good luck Tan! Don't stress if it takes a while - you've just had a baby!! (I look back on those photos of the first few months and think "yuck" - but I also know it came off eventually!).

[Gabi]

Urgh! I find it just so hard to maintain a good diet. I think it's because my son's caloric intake increases over time and I don't accommodate for it, so he'll go through a growth spurt and I'll be trying to eat what I was eating before but suddenly I'll need more energy and I'll crave the easy and unhealthy things because I'm not getting enough of the good stuff anymore.

I want my body back!

[Beach Mama]

Gabi - sounds like me too hun. I know I need extra calories while feeding but I just get so lazy. Someone was telling me the other day that with Izzy it wasn't until after 6mths that I felt a bit more like myself again but that is cold comfort right now. I really think it's the whole c/s ledge thing. I don't think that will ever go regardless of what I do and that depresses me - I mean WHERE on earth do my pants and skirts sit? Under it accentuates it and over it cuts me into a few more rolls. My kids are gorgeous and I love them so much but why does pregnancy have to mess with my body so much!!! Don't even talk to me about people like Heidi Klum on Xmas Eve like my sister did, yes yes I KNOW she's had 3 kids but she has millions to spend on surgery, cremes, personal trainers etc. Nobody looks that fab after 6 weeks without help Im sorry! No not jealous at all!

[Pandora]

Tan, Im not sure if you want a DIY approach or an actual program, but WW has a point program thats for breastfeeding mums. Thats what Im planning to do once bub is 6 weeks old and my dr OKs it.

[Gabi]

That's the problem isn't it!?! We compare ourselves to women in magazines who go through all sorts of ridiculous things in order to get their bodies back, things that we could never do! I'm sure that we would look great if we weren't caring for young children, were getting a full night's sleep, had someone to manage our diet and design an exercise routine for us, someone to choose our clothes, clean our houses, cook our meals, not to mention having some fabulous knickers to hold us in! Anyone could look fabulous at 6 weeks PP with all that help! I've heard that some women in Hollywood even induce early to keep their weight gain low and their muscles less stretched!

[MrsFabuloso]

Hi Tan,

I am feeling the same as you hun, so so heavy and just sooo uncomfortable in my skin.
I have decided today is THE DAY!!!
Last night I wrote out some rules for myself:

-More water (Drink 2lt of water, more for the filling up factor than to hydrate, LOL!)
-2-3 serves fruit, 3-5serves veggies a day, every day
-Have a glass of water when hungry between meals (then wait 15mins to see if I'm really hungry or if I can distract myself)
-NO added sugar (even in coffee/tea, only from 2-3pcs fruit)
-3 meals 2 snacks
-No spending extra money on food (eg: if we go out, I will bring my own food, no buying chocolate/junky snacks)
-Write it down (I am going to do a food diary for a while to get myself under control and see whre my bad times are, though I think I know!!)
-Limit processed foods (I have been eating alot of convenience stuff like muesli bars, cerial, bread and though not bad in themselves really, I should be eating fruit and veggies)
-Walk AT LEAST 20mins 5 times a week (I have been carrying Lily in my ergo and pushing Liam in the single pram, or pushing them both in the double pram. I find if I use the carrier, my legs are sorer like I've been doing squats, but if I push them in the pram, I get more puffed out, so a mixture for me is good!)

And that's it for now. I don't want to overwhelm myself with too many specifics just yet and I think these things are pretty basic for me. It's stuff I used to always do before having kids and I have just let them slip, so I want to get back into the old habbits!
HTH.

Good Luck

[Gabi]

lilias, that's awesome! I think I'll do the same.

[Beach Mama]

Thanks Kellie!!! I am going to print that out and stick it on the fridge!! Getting excited now plus Im joining the thread on here as well to keep me accountable!