Feeling Ugly and Fat...

I jumped rope to lose my "baby fat". I lost 10 pounds pretty fast that way.
I started with 4 30-second continuous jumps with 30-second breaks in between each jump.
I got up to a 12 or 13-minute continuous jump within a month or two.
It is great to do when your baby can't move around.
I just jumped in the same room as my baby girl while she started at the rope spinning around.

I wonder if your OB can check your abdominal muscles to see if they split at all during your pregnancy. A friend of mine had to get her abdominal muscles rejoined in the front.

Hi, L.~
I run a Stroller Fitness Program called One Fit Mama. We help Mom lose their baby weight, and other benefits include battling the baby blues and being a healthy role model for your children! When you exercise with us, you get to bring your kids with you, and get to meet other Moms who are dealing with the same issues you are. I'd love for you to visit our website: www.onefitmama.com. Please feel free to come out and try a class out for free, and contact me directly if you have any questions!
Hang in there -- regaining your self-esteem after the birth of a baby is difficult, especially when we see so many celebrity moms out there who look like they've never even been pregnant! Keep in mind that these women have trainers, chefs, nannies, housekeepers, and more! If you can't make it to our classes, find some time everyday to take your child(ren) for a long walk, and that may help your motivation and your outlook!

Best,
T.

I HEAR YOU! My daughter is 13 months, and it's only this past month that I feel like I am somewhat back to my old self...still getting used to the idea that some areas have fallen/expanded beyond repair. I try to exercise, but with working, the baby, and my husband working more hours, I don't really do it regularly. I really think it's just time that your body needs to heal.. and of course, we should all exercise, but with two young children and a loving husband, your day is pretty full.... hang in there, you'll get your body back.....

How proud you should be of yourself to be going to the gym already! I had my first (and only) child when I was 35 and didn't start exercising till almost a whole year later!!! You are awesome. I do remember it took me at least 5 months before I felt normal again. When I did start exercising I used my On Demand channel from comcast and went to the exercise portion. I started off by walking each day to Leslie Sansone and then I moved to yoga and finally to Jillian A. from "The Biggest Loser", she had some 20 minute videos that kicked my butt!!! I also started to eat power bars for lunch instead of a big lunch, I like the Kashi go lean variety (and I also like their cereal, keeps me full for a long time). Also talk to your doctor to make sure that this isn't a form of postpartum depression, which I did have and went on medicine for. Good Luck!!!

Gosh do I know how you feel.....However, 2 months is not a very long time to lose the weight that took you 9 months to put on. I am told that with each pregnancy it takes longer to lose the weight. Not what either one of us wants to hear! I hear you when you say you go to the gym if you can get away!! I too have had problems with that with 2 boys (6 months and 2 years). I also work fulltime. Some suggestions that may or may not work for you. Try a baby boot camp or a mommy and me class where you can take the kids with you and incorporate them into you workout.Or try to shcedule a class that you have to attend and ask you husband to stay with the kids for that time. I had to start going to the gym at 5:30am before the kids woke up. It is a struggle to get up and my husband is very helpful in the am.....But I am able to fit in more gym time this way and then can use the afternoons to play at the park with the kids (more exercise). Good luck and try not to be so hard on yourself.....Take your time.....

Definitely see your OB to make sure your tender belly is just healing. Then, depending on your fitness and energy levels, you could try walking. Walking will get you out in the fresh air and it's something you can do with your children. It will also help you shed pounds while making you feel better mentally.

Losing 10 pounds will certainly help your mood, but by itself it will not make you happy again. Please try not to make your weight the source of your happiness or unhappiness.

Good luck.

Without question call your doctor and make an appointment regarding the tenderness in your belly. If you are still looking 5 months pregnant and have tenderness, it is possible you developed an umbilical hernia during this recent pregnancy. Irregardless, get it checked out.

In regards to loosing weight, the quickest and easiest way to loose weight and keep it off is through healthy heating habits. Try eating high protein/low fat foods. Eat smaller portions and eat at least 5 times a day. An example would be an egg white omlette with veggies (no cheese) for breakfast around 7 or 8 (whenever you are up and the kids are situated), a half cup of fat free cottage cheese around 10, a can of tuna (try mustard instead of mayo) with a cup of veggies for lunch around 12, a cup of yogurt at 3, a whole baked chicken breast seasoned to taste with a cup of veggies for dinner, and if you are still hungry before bed you can have another high protein snack before bed. Eat the veggies fresh or steamed, no butter or oil. Within 2 months you will see MAJOR results, particularly in your clothes, as long as you are strict about eating throughout the day. Obviously, if you want to tone however, you will need to exercise, but all you really need is about 30 min of resistive training 3 times a week. You can do it once the kids are in bed (pushups, tricep dips from a chair, squats, lunges etc). If you really stick to this you won't need to do much cardio if any at all, unless you want to strengthen your aerobic capacity.

Unfortunately loosing weight and toning up take tons of dedication but don't forget that you are worth it and you will feel so much better about yourself immediately just knowing you have started the process. Good luck!

Hi L., I think most of us have probably felt the way you do...you don't mind being big when your pregnant because you're too happy to care but once the baby comes and you realize what's left it's hard not to be depressed. But don't give up, you can do it. I was determined to lose the weight after I had my son and I fit in exercise whenever I could. By the time my son was one I had my body back. You can do it too. It takes consistency and determination...you can't give up.

If you feel like you can't get to the gym as much as you'd like you should check out Baby Boot Camp. Their classes are for moms and babies/toddlers, some locations are even great for preschoolers. They have indoor, outdoor, morning, evening and weekend classes. You'll get to meet other moms in the same situation and get a great workout, all while bonding with your baby. And your first class is FREE. It's a national franchise so there are classes all over the place. Check out www.babybootcamp.com to see if they have a class near you.

Whatever you do...don't give up. It takes time to put the weight on and it's going to take time to get it off. Also, don't do too much too fast..I did and ended up injuring my hip. I had pain for a year.

Know that you are not alone! Try to get some sleep (I know, it's nearly impossible). I always felt better about myself when I got some sleep after my second one was born. While it's nice out going for a walk (with kids in the stroller) and moving helped me lose the baby weight the first time around. I somehow couldn't find the time the second time around. Remember, it took you 9 months to put it on, give yourself at least nine months to get it off.

Best of luck!

Don't be so hard on yourself! You just had a baby 8 weeks ago!!!. I gave my self a good few months to fall into motherhood with my second child under 2 1/2 and when I was ready (at about 10 weeks post baby) I joined weight watchers online. I've lost 15 pounds and have 8 more to go. There are so many snacks the WW makes now that it makes it easy for me because that is definitely my downfall!!! It was hard at the beginning, but I felt so fat that I was really strict. My husband joined with me to be supportive and we counted points together. He lost 10 lbs too!!

Good luck and give yourself a break!