Anyone Else That's Gone Through This?

My friend had a serious problem losing weight too so she went and saw her doctor. Come to find out, she was pregnant again and didn't know it!! Is there any chance you might be too?
Jen

If you are executing healthy diet and exercise habits -- fantastic! I am 13 months PP and the scale stopped dropping a year ago, 20 pounds above pre-preg weight. What's been really wierd lately is that I've dropped inches but not poundage! I feel more healthy even though the scale says otherwise. Please don't look at the size of clothing to determine how healthy you are. Take a closer look at the BMI index so that you are in a healthy RANGE of weight.

I went through the same thing after my second child was born. I used Weight Watchers. I lost the last 30 pounds I needed to lose, and it helped to teach me to eat healthier. Good luck!

I know exactly what you mean. It could be a lot of factors. Breastfeeding, while absolutely the best thing you can do, will shrink your abdominals at first (encouraging the uterus to contract each time let down occurs), the act of breastfeeding will, on some women, encourage the body to hang on to a few extra pounds (10-15). The body believes that at any time, food might not be available, so in the event of a worldwide famine those extra body fat pounds will be used to make milk for the baby. It's a survival thing, even if it is totally unlikely! Anyway, once you stop breastfeeding, if you are, your efforts to lose weight will likely have more effect.

You also might want to keep track of how much water you're drinking and how much sleep you're getting. These two factors are often overlooked in the pursuit of weight loss, yet are two very key factors.

Did you just hit an age milestone? I know when I turned 30 it got a lot harder to make a dent in that ever persistent body fat! You might need to bump up your activity level a bit now that your body has changed. Maybe look into a jog stroller which are effective as fitness walking strollers as well as fitness jogging. They're not too pricey and the kids love 'em!

I'm 34 now and my youngest son is 4. I'm still working out daily, dieting, and I'm still quite frustrated with the results. I'm down to the weight I was before babies, but I have a persistent pudge in the ab region that seems determined to stay there. I feel your pain girlfriend! But hang in there, be dilligent and tenacious, and you'll get there. (And when you do you'll probably get pregnant again!!! lol)

Physical and emotional stress as well as lack of sleep can disrupt your body's healing process and cause your body to "hang on" to those extra pounds. With my first pregnancy, the weight came right off, but with the second (at risk, stress, serious family health issues) I gained more during the pregnancy and it stayed on for 2 yrs no matter what I did. Keep exercising, but make sure you work some relaxation in like yoga or pilates, lots of just plain walking and carve out some time for just fun. Aerobics will eventually increase your metabolism, but it takes time. I found that my ribcage expanded permanently (34 went to 36) and hips spread a bit with the second child. But with time, muscle tone and proportion will come back. Maybe not to perfect pre-baby but you can still look and feel great. Try not to compare yourself to your friends, it's natural, but it just adds to your stress. Just be the best YOU. Love yourself, enjoy your
baby and be patient. Time and consistency will pay off. Best wishes to you and your baby!!!

I feel your pain. I am pregnant with my fourth child. I have a 10 yr old girl, and 2 & 3yr old boys. I know it sucks looking at the skinny moms, but just love yourself for who you are and forget what others think. Just keep remembering that you were blessed with a beautiful baby and just be happy in the moment.
After my daughter was born the only way I really lost the weight was when I started going out to the clubs and dancing.
I know the clubs sounds bad, but it really was for the dancing. It was fun and I loved doing it and before I knew it I was happy with my weight and looking good. Now two babies later I have more pounds on me then I would like and at times it does bother me, but it is what it is and all I can do is try to be happy in the moment and be glad I am alive even if I am not as skinny as I use to be. Keep your chin up, it will happen. L.

You might want to get your thyroid checked, sometimes pregnancy will set off a thyroid problem, either temporary (like post partum thyroiditis) or more permanent (like Hashimoto's thyroiditis). This will keep weight on.

Also, if there is a lot of stress in your life your adrenals may be fatigued, this will cause you to gain weight around your middle.

Of couse.......Its so easy for other people to say, "don't get discouraged, the weight will come off" Sometimes, I would had rather people just not said anything. I, like you, lost a lot right after my pregnancy and then, just stayed the same for many months. I got discouraged too, I thought I was eating healthy, I thought I was exercising a good amount. It wasn't until I got a jogger and got outside that I lost that last 40 pounds. Even if I just walked, (atleast thats what I would tell myself to get out the door) then, atleast it was doing something, and most of the time, I did jog once I was out there. Day after day I did that, it helped me forget about the gym and what everyone else was doing. My kids enjoyed it, and I ended up getting a lot out of it. I hope that helps. Good luck. I know how you feel.

I've had a little girl and a little boy and my hips never went back to the way they were before my baby girl. I think that once you have a child your hips are pretty much not going back to their original state! I wouldn't worry about fitting into any certain size or the jeans you had before your pregnancy. I would try to dress yourself according to your new size. Remember, you're beautiful no matter what size you are! If you are still having problems with your self image, try joing a gym or working out with friends. I recommend going to Curves! I love it! Good luck!

Worrying about weight isn't worth the stress. On both my babymy weigh started falling off ay four years. Just you be the beautiful person you are in side. I had a transplant ten years ago and gained over 100 pounds due to medicine. Just since this past Dec I started losing and I'm down 80 Pounds and i"m not dieting

If you are breastfeeding the weight does stay on a bit longer. I didn't read this until after I had weaned and then it made sense why those last 10lbs hung around! Your body needs to weigh just a bit more than your pre-pregnancy weight when breastfeeding. I know for me it all depends on the type of exercise that I do. I could power walk till the cows come home and it won't make a bit of difference but the minute I changed to running (very slow running lol!) I felt stronger and started to lose. Also, one of the best exercises I've ever done was to use The Firm workout. Holy cow! It's tough but I felt much stronger and started to feel better about my body within a couple of weeks. Good luck and remember it took 9 months to get the weight so you can't expect to lose in less time than that so you are well within normal! :)

Stress will make you fat

hi sweetie i think you need to relax stress maybe keeping your weight on . try to take time for your self and let your worrys go i know its hard but make time for yourself
jennie s

I can definitely relate...

If you haven't tried pilates, get the Mory Windsor Pilates Maximum Burn Basics dvd and follow the food plan in her book. ITs really good.

I would work out when my son was sleeping and just watch the calories I was taking in...Drink nothing but water, cut out coffee and sodas.

It has become even harder for me this time around after having my second child because I'm just way too busy and I work 30+ hours a week. And my husband complains EVERY single time I attempt to go work out.

Just hang in there and continue what you are doing...walk an extra mile everyday, add another 10 minutes to your workout, sweat it out!

You'll get there!

I felt the same way after my first! It was like at 3 months I stopped dropping weight...and all my friends were dramatically shrinking. I think some of it has to do with body type - I'm really short and athletic, not tall and weedy! Anyway at 18 months I started seeing some progress again. You know, stress can really put you in a bind as far as progress towards losing weight. Try adding some relaxation techniques to your routine...meditation, taking a walk by yourself, etc. As for your hips...I really wanted to get back into those size 2 jeans again but I just had to realize one day that my hips are no longer going to let me. That may not be your case, but I've resigned myself to being a healthy 4'11" size 4. I think the goal is to forget about the size clothes and get to where you just feel healthy, strong and happy with your body.

Hi C.,

Welcome to the south! One thing here is it's warm enough to go outside almost all the time. Fresh air, good humor, laughter are all so good for you. Did you know a half hour of laughter burns 50 calories? (learned that at my Daughter's Gavel Club, lol).

Seriously, make sure you're eating right and getting enough nutrition to keep up with the little one. Fatigue tends to keep pounds on us. A good absorbable multi-vitamin and a strong immune system will get weight off, and take it off if your body is out of balance. My husband lost 110 pounds just by taking a good multivitamin and mineral (didn't change his eating habits or his activity level).

Don't worry, your hips can go down, mine did. Everybody is different but if you want the weight off, you can get it off. As long as you are in good health and don't FEEL bad from the weight, don't stress it. Let me know if you want more information about the vitamins my husband uses (All vitamins are not alike!). I'll be glad to share.

Regards,

M.

I didn't lose all of the baby weight until I stopped breastfeeding. I had also started a vigorous exercise program at that time. Good luck!

Yes, you are not alone! The best thing I ever did to help myself de-stress and detox after pregnancy was to start getting regular massage. At least once a month I sarted going in for a full-body relaxation massage. It not only helped me feel better, but I noticed that my muscle tone began to improve. Another benefit was that my body pains lessened so that I was able to work out longer without stressing my body too much. If you are a single stay at home mom, this may not be in your budget. I go to Therapeutic Massage of Julington Creek ###-###-####). Beth will work out a payment option to help you. Best of luck and enjoy your wonderful child!

C.:
I don't know if this will make you feel better or not, but I was one of the other women with my first child and was back in a bikini when he was 6 weeks old. I didn't diet or exercise at all! After my second child, I still had 15 pounds on me at my 6 week appointment and actually tried to watch my food intake. I finally tried Weight Watchers and once I stopped nursing, it finally all came off. My doctor told me that sometimes when we are overwhelmed, nursing, tired, under stress, etc. our bodies hold on to the fat stores in case of emergency. If you have had a lot going on in your life, that could be the case. It's the whole survival mode our bodies kick into under stress. Lack of sleep can also cause a change in the hormone (cortisol-I think) that regulates hunger and the need for food. The less sleep we have, the more our body requires food. My daugther just turned 3 and I'm still holding onto 5 pounds, but I think it's age and having had 3 children in 5 years. Try something like weight watchers and really watch your carbs and try to exercise when you can. If nothing works, check with your doctor, your hormones may be out of whack and may be preventing you from losing weight. Good luck and try to not get too down on yourself:)

I haven't read any other responses yet but I can tell you that now that my little boy is 2 1/2 I am finally feeling like my old self again. It seemed to take a while for me too. And I did notice that other friends had lost more quickly than I. And we had a lot of stress with some moving around and unusual schedules for a while too. So we sound like we have had a similar experience.

I am a dance teacher and I thought that just returning back to my normal activities would take the weight off. But with a newborn you don't sleep as well and I was not able to watch my food in take as easily because the new addition to the family and inability to plan well with crazy schedules. So I had to actively make a choice to specifically watch what I ate and I actually used the South Beach plan to do it. I like this plan because it is about eating real food not frozen foods and teaches you about sugar intake and how that effects your body shape and such. The plan is not for everyone and I do not believe in staying on phase 1 for more than the recommended two weeks. Even if you read the plan and feel phase 1 is too hard, phase 2 is very reasonable and I feel a very healthy approach to eating. You might want to try it.

But you know some of us just might take longer to lose the weight. I really do feel pretty normal right now which is good. The only thing is my hips seem wider but my clothes all fit again. I think there is hope if you are consciously making choices to get you to your goal. Add that to the list of things to do -- like we need more on our list as mom's to toddlers. AGhhhhh!

Good Luck,

D.

Bringing forth a life will change your body. Not only did my hips never really go back, but my ribcage also spread from the babies pushing up against them. I have gotten down to a reasonable number, but that doesn't mean the shape is or will ever be what it used to be. As long as you are eating right and working out, you are maintaining a HEALTHY weight. That should be the goal of every person. Not a size or number. And... I've also got to get my ring resized because fingers (and feet) don't go back to skinny either. I've had 4 and I'm at 126. Give or take a couple pounds. Some of my friends look at me as if I am the "skinny" friend that loses the weight as soon as I have a baby and it's just not true. Clothing choices can hide what you have. Please don't hang on to your skinny clothes to try and force yourself into fitting back into it. If they're in good condition, sell it and use the money to get something that fits now. It will make you feel so much better than to have to look at clothes that don't work for your body anymore.
But definitely, as the other moms say, don't worry about it. You probably look fantastic and it's all just your mind obsessing over a few stubborn pounds. Have you seen the show "How to Look Good Naked"? Love it! Be confident in who you are, not how much you weigh and keep doing what you're doing with eating right and exercising. Our children deserve healthy parents. *corny ending* You Go Girl! :o)

Definitely check out www.soulsprings.com
Sara Crusade is a Mamasource business and has a great product line of low glycemic foods that will change the way you eat and "release" the fat.
There are also some great nutritional supplements and skin care products as well.
You'll be in your skinny clothes in no time and have way more energy!

Or call me at ###-###-####, if you want more info on the products. I'm using them myself with great results!

S. Davie
Winter Springs, FL

don't be so hard on yourself. when you workout is your heart at a healthy rate? do you feel good? if you are eating healthy and doing cardio and your weight isn't coming off than you at the weight your body wants to be.
it took me a year to get back to my prepregnancy weight, to the pound, but i still didn't fit into my old clothes. my hips are bigger and i now have a "pouch" over my stomach. although i am thin again i had to throw out the "skinny" jeans. it is just how it is for us moms.
relax, eat well, do some cardio, and enjoy your body for what it is now. stress is the worst thing for your body. consider yoga for relaxation and it also burns calories and builds strength and flexibility.

The ONLY thing that has worked for me, is Weight Watchers. It is the healthiest plan out there and works with your body rather than starving you down to weight, which will actually make your body try to preserve your weight.

Even talking to a dietian/nutritionist at my med clinic didn't work.

Check them out online. You can find a meeting site close to you by checking out their website. http://www.weightwatchers.com

There is hope!!! I couldn't get rid of the weight for 3 1/2 years!! I lost 40 pounds in my first 3 months and was breastfeeding the whole time! I just watched the pounds melt away and my energy increased. With the extra boost in self-confidence, my kids have a better, more fun mom than ever before.

I hope you find something that will work for you!
God Bless!
S.

I didn't think it was possible, but it was. I released 42 pounds and kept it off. My friend just released 81 pounds. Another one of us rleased 17 pounds. It's all natural and easy.

Isagenix Nutritional Body Cleansing. Got rid of the extra garbage I was carrying. And taught me THE MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH SECRET - you have to oil change your body just likeyou oil change your car!

You can see my before and after at www.HeyYouGetReal.com in the top right hand corner. If you are interested in what I did, call me.

B.
###-###-####

Keep in mind that your "skinny" friends may look good, but you don't really know what it says on their scale or if they were really able to fit back into their pre-pregnancy size, or if they went up a size and look fabulous because they are wearing a size that looks good on them instead of having that muffin look of fat spilling over because they are trying to squeeze into an old size that no longer fits. After 3 kids, I kissed good-bye to the weight I was when we were married 10+ years ago and I'm fine with never seeing it again!! I still hung on to a few favorites of my skinny clothes, but I went up a size and I (and my husband, too!) am happy with my new mommy body and I buy clothes that make me look great in my new size. My hips are just wider now-- and my bra went up a size, too-- not just the cup, but the size of my upper body. But I look at my kids and don't care. Seems like a petty thing to obsess over, so I don't bother.

C.,

It takes a while for those hormones to leave your body, like about 9 months. My suggestion is eat sensibly and exercise. Something that worked for me after I had my daughter, was a low-carb diet. After my daughter was born I was diagnosed with diabetes and it is control by diet. Once I started controlling my carb intake eating good carbs not bad ones, the weight came off rather quickly. Instead of three meals, try eating six smaller meals and drink plenty of water. If you are still breastfeeding, make sure you are eating enough so you don't dry out. I went from being a size 11 (after baby) to a size 5 in about 6 to 7 months.

Hope this helps.

C.

Thanks to all of you who wrote in!!! I've got a 3 month old and a 17 month old...and it seems harder to lose weight the second time. I know yall were encouraging C., but you were also encouraging me.

M.

It was VERY hard for me to lose my pg weight after I had my son. I gained a lot (50+) and the first half came off in a matter of weeks, but then I got stuck. And 9 months later I was sick of still wearing my maternity clothes!
I started watching what I ate and went back to the gym but it wasn't until I joined Weight Watchers and started going to weekly meetings that I didn't get the final weight off. My son was over a year old by then. But my body was not the same--my weight had definitely redistributed itself, so even though I was down on the weight not all of my old clothes fit right....
Some women just bounce back from pg than others do. It has to affect our metabolism and it certainly affects the way we treat ourselves. We put everyone else before ourself and then suffer the consequences (or feel guilty if we take time for ourselves). I found that I needed to log my food because I was eating my food along with my sons food without even realizing it--it that makes sense.

Are you still nursing? I lost the rest of my "babyweight" when my little girl stopped nursing. Don't put too much pressure on yourself and stay active. It'll come off.

Well my son is three almost four and i am finally down to pre pregnancy weight and then some!!! I started in August 2007 and have lost 28 lbs. so far with 10 more to go!!! The last ten is the hardest. I just really pushed myself, only eat 1200 calories a day and work out at least 5 times a week. When I first started I was working out 6-7 times a week. I really wanted the weight off!!! I got up to 178 and loving all 150lbs of weight right now..and not only did i lose weight i have toned up alot....you have to find what works for you and go for it....hope this inspires you and good luck with your goal!!! I know how hard it can be...trust me....it took me almost four years to lose it. Last thing....i found that doing alot of cardio helps....the more calories you burn the more you lose!!! GOOD LUCK!!!