Losing weight after baby

[KnockedOutByMyNungaNungas]

For context: early 20's, always been quite overweight (BMI 28 at booking in appointment) but I'm tall and its distributed reasonably well so people are always shocked when I tell them what I weigh Was a size 14-16 pre-pregnancy, fluctuating between 189-196lbs.

Fast forward to 30 weeks pregnant and I'm up to 220lbs - I can't seem to control it. I've been sticking to a decent diet, some treats and tracking everything on My Fitness Pal and making sure my calorie intake balances out with my calories burned on my Fitbit Charge HR. It worked for me up til recently but the last month or so I'm gaining lots of baby weight. Probably going to have about 2st to lose after I've had the baby. I'm planning to breastfeed.

I really wanted to ask:-
How much weight do you find comes off naturally?
How long did it take until you could exercise again? I'm a big fan of HIIT workouts - squats, press ups etc at home - and yoga.
If you had a similar amount to lose, did it take a long time or was it reasonably easy?
Any tips?

[NSEA]

I'd say i lost 2/3rds of weight gained within a couple of weeks/month. The rest stuck ftill baby was about 1 then fell off despite me eating like a pig x

[NSEA]

I started the shred about 12 months after, but that was because i had a c section

[twobambinos]

The weight you are gaining might be fluid especially if you are not overindulging and that should disappear within a few weeks of giving birth.

[BendingSpoons]

Within a month or so I was down to about 4kg above my booking in weight with no effort i.e. eating cake daily, no particularly exercising, although I was breastfeeding. I am only now (1 year on) starting to shift those 4kg but that's due to not bothering, mainly due to sleep deprivation. I could have started exercising fairly early in, although don't know about the types of exercise you have mentioned specifically.

[Rockchick1984]

First pregnancy I gained nearly 5stone about a stone came off by giving birth, another came off within the first couple of weeks without me trying, and another 2 stone I had to diet and exercise to lose. The last stone didn't shift.

Second time I gained 1.5st during pregnancy but then between constant snacking (breastfeeding baby and running round after toddler didn't leave a lot of time for healthy meals) and PND I've now gained weight and weigh as much as I did towards the end of first pregnancy.

[OwlinaTree]

You've gained around 24-30lb which doesn't seem too bad to me, 26lb over a pregnancy is average according to NHS website.

Some people gain lots and lose it quick, some people gain a little and find it hard to lose afterwards. I gained loads with my dd's, not so much with my son. A good chunk came off straight away, I'm having to work for the rest! Bf helps speed it up too.

Try not to worry too much, your body is going through a lot and as long as you are not eating loads of junk and high calories stuff you will be fine. The weight will come off. Good luck with the baby.

[OwlinaTree]

Tbh I never weighed myself when pg for this very reason I didn't want to be worrying about it!

[ifyouthinkiwillsleepyoudream]

I gave birth 6 months ago and during pregnancy had put on about 30lb. I actually have no idea how much I weigh now (scared to weigh myself!) but I know I don't fit into my pre pregnancy clothes just yet. I am usually a U.K.12, and i fit into 14 now. So hopefully not much more to loose.

That said, I haven't dieted at all and loads came off naturally after the first 2 months. In fact I am eating SO much. Cakes and biscuits and snacks literally all the time - I am exhausted from sleep deprivation and I really can't help myself.

I am also breastfeeding so I suspect this helped, although at the beginning it made me really bloated (boobs were humongous) and I felt I put on lots after giving birth but in retrospect might have been mostly fluids/water retention. I panicked at the time but It went down after a few weeks.

I started exercising with gentle yoga and post natal classes after the first 10 weeks and it really helped me feel more 'myself', as well as better physically. Now I do more regular yoga etc too.

Gongrats on your pregnancy and Good luck!