kiwispiers
Posts 2565

Breastfeeding doesn't always help (I've been breastfeeding for almost 2 years now). Some women actually hold on to a a few kilos until they stop breastfeeding (not that its a good reason to stop). Keep in mind if it took 9 months to gain you are unlikely to lose it in less than 9 months without major effort. Within 9 months I was close to my pre-baby weight but the last few kilos have stayed.

Realistic diet and exercise, and stay off the cakes

outheredxb
Posts 369

Beebers is again totally right in my opinion. Everybody is different. Breastfeeding didn't help me at all and at the end of the day there's isn't any magic trick. You have to get to know your own body. Sometimes is a genetic thing but overall what works for me is a healthier diet and exercise. After so many years of frustration and disappointments that's my conclusion. I also believe that age plays a part in it as I believe our metabolism slows down with time but I'm not allowing that to get on my way. Understanding how my body works, that's the way I'm going..slowly but surely.

Beebers
Posts 2906

Of course you can get your "old" stomach back--maybe even a better one. You just have to want it really badly, because the daily choices you make will have to be those of a woman that has a goal of having a lean body. Several times a day, you may have to ask yourself, will this help my goal? Each day you can be one step closer, or one step further away. Your choice. And it's never too late. I have known plenty of people that were obese their entire life and turned it around in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. Secret? There is no secret. The oddest thing to me is that when they hear an answer they do not like i.e. eat lots of lean protein and green veggies, exercise, avoid cereal, bread, dairy....they will continue to ask what to do until someone tells them to take a pill, take an injection, rub a goofy cream on their bum--and they would prefer to do the latter! Everyone is different, and what works for you may not work for someone else. Some people can eat tons of junk and be rail-thin. Don't take their advice. Take the advice of someone who used to be fat, and has successfully lost weight and kept it off. Pick one nutrition plan, stick with it for as long as it takes. Could be 8 weeks, could be 8 months. but you have to want it and be disciplined. Wishing for a great body will get you nowhere or we'd all be lean and fit.

LuLee
Posts 1120

DesertBoot
Posts 232

http://theshapeofamother.com/
This website might help you realise that you're not alone and take away some of the pressure applied by people who think it's easy and perfectly normal to 'snap' right back to shape.
You have produced another human out of your body, it is never going to be same, but what a wonder it has achieved!

summerdream
Posts 997

All honest advise is going to sound b*tchy - but if I may help here goes.

At full term normal delivery the usual weight loss should be at least 5-6 kilos - Baby + water + Placenta + Umbical cord etc. LuLee, how could you only have lost 2 kilos?

I hope you don't hate me for this, but I got back to pre-pregnancy weight in 7-10 days with baby # 1 (horrible in-laws contributed to this weight loss and then again I had only gained 10 kilos in the pregnancy). With baby # 2 - I was back to shape in a month (and I had gained about 20 kilos this pregnancy) all this with no formal excercise.

Here's what I did and I think helped

Breast feeding really helps and although it does make you more hungry, try to make sure you are reading your body cues properly. For those of us who do not like drinking water, we mistake thirst as hunger. Breast feeding usually makes one more thirsty than hungry.

Breastfeed on demand if possible and don't supplement with formula. This has effect in a few ways, on demand usually means more frequent feedings, leaving your meal mid-way possibly and not supplementing with formula means more calories from your body.

I ate chocolate everyday (only because I love chocolate!) and I just learnt that chocolate has been known to increase metabolism and average BMI of chocolate eaters is lower than of non-eaters.

I didn't do low fat anything (again becase I felt like) but I have now realised that helps too as low fat food doesn't make you feel full enough and you end up consuming more calories overall

Ate small meals throughout the day (because baby wouldn't let me eat a full meal!) but I think it helped with metabolism

Had a completely useless husband (who didn't help out and hence more calories lost)

Used inefficient workmethods (this due to my ADHD partly) but I was forever walking around within the house! and I am sure it helped too.

Think Thin (Law of Attraction works for me)

These are part of my secrets that one day will go in to a best selling book

Given I eat what I want as much I want and had never had weight issues!!

Nimonemo
Posts 331

This thread is so depressing! I delivered my first one 4 weeks ago and my body is soooooooo different. I will have another one (Insh'Allah) and even a 3rd one but it looks like I will have to work very hard to keep a decent body (and I hate it, grrrrrrrr)

Anyway, every time I look at my gorgeous son I think everything is worthwhile!

Breastfeeding is helping me to loose some weight... It is not encouraging to know that gets more difficult with 2nd and 3rd pregnancies.... who has time to go to the gym with more than one baby? I find my new boy more than a full time job!

Well, I guess with a little bit of organisation during the day we should be able to get 45 minutes exercise... is that enough though?

Goldeelocks
Posts 287

elle13211
Posts 340

Goldeelocks, did you used to be b**bers?
Sorry if I'm wrong, you sound quite similar..

Goldeelocks
Posts 287

LuLee
Posts 1120

I had my third baby 5.5 months ago and look like I'm 7 months pregnant. I've only lost a couple of kilos. My stomach is what depresses me

muu
Posts 291

HesterPB
Posts 144

I will just say that after DD no 1, I did get my body back, with a bit of hard work (i.e. diet and exercise) and was happily seen in a bikini on holiday. It was the second that got me! Not only did I have no time to concentrate on my diet and exercise with two little ones, but the skin at the bottom of my stomach that had happily pinged back after no 1, looked wrinkly and loose. A few years on and it has improved, but definitely not that same. Has anyone else found that it is the second or third that did for your body?

Miss London
Posts 73

Thank you for the advice ladies. I'm not alone.

There's so much pressure these days in media with all these celeb mums that are back to normal in a week or so!

Miss London
Posts 73

suze63
Posts 1667

AnonDubai
Posts 9351

Miss London
Posts 73

Did any of you have separated stomach muscles? I've been told I have and now having physio to get them back but not seeing results!

Could this be the reason why I still look pregnant?

I am losing weight but very slowly, it's the fat around my stomach I don't like and the wrinkly skin gets me down.

Catherine Abigail
Posts 190

If anybody knows the secret, please pass it on. I never did lose the weight. The baby is 20 years old now. Time to give up hope, I guess...

louisedvs
Posts 4321

Goldeelocks
Posts 287

it's too late now I know but a big factor is not to over indulge whilst pregant...this "eating for two" nonsense is a myth...all these ladies that miraculously "bounce back", it has nothing to do with luck, it's to do with not being overweight before getting pregnant, not overeating during pregnancy and then there's no reason why you should put fat on. Once the baby fluids have gone from your belly it should be back to normal.

muu
Posts 291

My DD is 13months and am still struggling with weight though am lucky to have a flat stomach, this is my first week of dieting and exercising. will come back to the thread after a month or so if it will work. I miss my old body

SEY83
Posts 656

Please pass the secret on to me once somebody tells you!! My 2nd is now 10 months and my weight isn't budging. I'm still breastfeeding, but I'm one of those women that doesn't lose weight breastfeeding as I'm always hungry. I have now officially started my diet nad I'm hoping for results, unfortunately I don't think there's any quick fix, it's the classic exercise and diet. Some people are just very lucky and lose the weight quickly, with others it takes a lot more hard work.

My stomach has definitely retracted a lot over the last few months and I go to the gym and as a result the wrinkly skin doesn't exist anymore. I think your skin just stretches out a bit and you loses the wrinkles once the weight comes off.

Sue62
Posts 7175

I didn't...

Goldeelocks
Posts 287

move more eat less...it's nothing more complicated than that

i posted a load of exercises a few weeks back which you can do using kids as the weights lol...try those

but at the end of the day it is about hard work, commitment and watching what you eat, there is no magic formula...it's about getting up to go a run when all you want to do is lay in bed...but hey I always figured I'm not getting much sleep anyway so will it make a difference if I get 3 hours rather than 4 lol

Miss London
Posts 73

Just wondering how you ladies lost your baby weight?

I had my 2nd baby 4 months ago but I still look and feel pregnant!

Just wondering what you did and how long it took to loose the baby pouch?

I have wrinkly skin over my stomach which I didn't have after my first, will this eventually go back to normal?

Looking forward to hearing your stories.

TIA