Post-Baby - getting back into exercise

[redbedheadd]

Are there any new mums who would like to join me in some fitness support?

My DS is 4 months. I had a pregnancy from hell with severe PGP, was housebound by the end. Pre-pregnancy was in the best fitness health of my life, over the course of the pregnancy my body just hurt more and more. Ended up with a c section and I'm trying to start the process of getting fit again and it is bloody hard! I've gone up three dress sizes... trying not to weigh myself but I can imagine it's about 3 stone heavier.

I'm exhausted from walking fast. Trying to do 8000 steps a day and two dynamic yoga classes a week.... I feel so demoralised. Going away in Oct and I really want to feel confident by then in my body. Anyone fancy doing a motivation thread? How are your post-baby journeys going??

[LilyMumsnet]

We're moving this to weight loss chat for the OP.

[Embracethechaos]

Hello! I didn't weigh myself in pregnancy but did a few months post natal and I've got from 55 to 70kg! I've not tried hard on my body tbh but want to. I just checked Google and a walk 8-15k steps most days but no other excersize. I walked a lot with the buggy and my job is active now I work 3 days. Starting a jazzersize class today.

[redbedheadd]

That's great! Sounds fun!! I've started back at yoga two days a week and I try to walk for 2 hours a day with the pram. My Fitbit seems a bit inaccurate on steps when I'm pushing the pram so I just aim for time now. I'm still so achy in my pelvis from the pregnancy - it's a hard graft

[RubySlippers77]

Hi OP - have you tried putting the Fitbit in your pocket when you push the pram? Mine doesn't register either when I have it on my wrist (found that out the hard way!).

I lost all my baby weight after the DTs (now 3.5) but have put it all back on to be honest I think I lost it too quickly, and was too hard on myself with the exercise. I have terrible diastasis recti now and am working on that, but that's not unexpected after a (heavy) twin pregnancy and terrible birth, I just have to be careful.

3 stone to lose here too - hopefully we can spur each other on!

[redbedheadd]

Hey Rubyslipper oh wow you have twins!

I should be more patient but it's not one of my strengths!!

The only thing with the Fitbit in the pocket is it doesn't log heart rate then and I find that useful.

Do you manage to get to any workout classes?

[Sallyknowsnot]

Hi I’ve had a c section 14 months ago and still struggling to get rid of my baggy wobbly horrible lower tummy
No matter what I do it just won’t budge and it’s really getting me down! I exercise three times a week whenever I can and try to cut sugar
Please help! Any tips very welcome

[pandatracks]

Hello! I have gone up two dress sizes and have about 2.5 stone I'd like to lose. Currently 4 weeks post partum so just starting to reintroduce longer walks (with baby in carrier). Cut back on sugar and now trying to only eat when I'm really hungry. I'm hoping up be back to my normal size in 4-6 months... really feel very fat. I've never been overweight before (although usually on the higher end of healthy weight).

[redbedheadd]

It's difficult because when you have a bit of time to yourself sometimes the last thing you want to do is exercise 😂

At least we are in summer now so lots of sunny pram walks!

[RubySlippers77]

Oh blimey yes redbedheadd! To be fair here any time I get to myself is so flipping rare that I usually have to spend it cleaning!!

I've signed up to the Mutu system ages ago and am hoping that can improve my jelly like stomach. It did reduce when I got back to a normal weight but still didn't snap back in the way I was hoping

I don't know if anyone is BF? I didn't but if you do remember to make allowances for that, and please be kind on yourselves!

Oh and oddly enough my Fitbit does seem to register heart rate in my pocket?! Maybe it's just making things up.....

[redbedheadd]

So depressing that when we have a spare minute we do cleaning isn't it?!

Pilates is great for your stomach - have you tried that?

Yes I'm BF, I do think that helps with weight loss as metabolism feels pretty fired up!

[Embracethechaos]

HI, I'm breastfeeding, was going to ask. I was expecting it to help with weight loss but think it contributed to weight gain, esspecially after birth. I was also reluctant to start dieting while breastfeeding. I am not planning to stop any time soon but are down to 3 day feeds and one night. She used to feed all the time, my go to thing if the winged and I liked the idea of a little liposucker, unfortunatly the wrong place, she has looked for nipples on my stomach! I really enjoyed jazzersize and I didn't feel as unfit as I was expecting to. weighed myself today and am 69kg, lost 1kg, 14 to go.

[RubySlippers77]

I think you do have to be careful with weight loss when BF (hence why WW and SW allow you extras) but in general sensible weight loss must be a good thing!

I'd love to try Pilates/ yoga but just don't have the opportunity to find a class, DP works shifts which makes it tricky to commit to anything. I'd prefer to do that with an instructor (as I'm clueless about it) rather than trying to learn it from a DVD - whereas the 30 Day Shred was a great help! Once we're back off hols I'm going to plan out some exercise sessions. My friend gets married next July and I'll have to fit into a posh frock, it's starting to feel not very far away!!

[Monsterinmypocket]

Hi everyone. I see some people have mentioned breastfeeding and weight loss plateau/gain. I'm definitely in the plateau category. I would like to lose a about 20lb, but would be happy with a stone. Am a size 14 (I'm short) and would like to go down to a 10. I haven't really dieted, as worried about supply issues, but have been eating well and walking when I can. I would have thought some would come off with the additional demand for calories to make milk. I recall similar frustrations with DC1. I bf for years with him, but the weight started to come off around the 4m mark. I kept a little on, but was rather scrawny before anyway!

I was expecting to lose after period returned, but not a lb off! I'm struggling to find time for proper exercise and I don't have a decent bra to contain my breastfeeding boobs! I was considering weightwatchers, but I think it's just a waste of money if my body is determined to hold on to the lbs.

Not sure what to do. My son is 11wks and he was weighed yesterday and his weight gain has gone down a centile. I feel quite unhappy about how I look, but I don't want to deny my son breast milk since my first had it for well over 2 years! I'm thinking of waiting til the 4 month mark and seeing what happens then. Anyone have any tips? I'm pretty sure the issue is hormonal, so I might pop to a health food store to see if there is anything that is hormone balancing but does not reduce supply, but I'm reluctant to take anything like this while bf.

[redbedheadd]

I think with BF you just need to eat good nutritious meals and allow yourself healthy snacks if you need them. I try to eat porridge with fruit in the morning, big salad or some pasta for lunch and homemade curry/chicken and veg/salmon and veg etc for dinner. No way could I go low carb as it's so tiring with my 4 month old but I'm trying to cut down on the cake and biscuits- I allow myself 3 small treats a week.

I am continuing to lose weight I think, I'm trying not to get obsessed with the scales. I'm still a size 16 was a 10 before... I don't know what else I can do without ending up exhausted. I walk lots, do two yogas a week. I can't do evenings really as we are still establishing bed time.

I have zero motivation to work out when DS is asleep 😩

[Embracethechaos]

Sounds like your doing great red. How's everyone doing?

[RubySlippers77]

I'm just back from holiday..... must make time for meal planning once all the washing is done and everything put away!!

How is everyone else?