Have you given up on your weight since having children?

[Plonkton]

I've got a stubborn 2 stone to lose, before children I was a size 10, 5 times a week gym goer. Now I'm a fat mess that has just given up. I feel like this is me now for life. I'm single so don't have anyone to impress! Have you accepted your post children body for what it is?

no way- I'm 54 I have 6, oldest is 22, youngest 13. I fought and am keeping fighting.
How old are your kids?

Oh yes I could have written this myself! Before baby was size 10 and now size 14 struggling to loose 2 stone but think I got too comfortable ☹️

She's 3. I'm a single parent who works full time also, I work 9 hour shifts. My problem is I have a very sedentary job.. And my life is so busy, the thought of getting up at 5am to exercise before work or at 8.30pm just makes me want to cry. I used to enjoy going to classes 5 times a week pre baby, but now can't be afforded that opportunity with being a single parent. I enjoyed doing les Mills on demand at home, but going through peaks and troughs with it at the moment.

Unless you're planning on running several miles a day, 95% of the battle with weight comes from diet.

I've accepted I don't have time to exercise whilst looking after my children so I now track all my calories instead. I'm losing weight super slowly (2 pounds a month) by deliberately only eating in a slight deficit, having calculated my TDEE.

Even though I'm only 5 pounds down I'm already feeling more like myself again, and because I'm happy to take it slow I don't feel hungry or anything, it just takes more planning.

I've had two children in two years and I very much plan on getting my body back, but just slowly and gently!

No, as soon as as I could I exercised again. To me, it’s important to be healthy and model good habits to the children. It’s also something for me to enjoy and a bit of adult time.

No, I’m way thinner than before I had DS — there seems to be more running around between work, child stuff, house stuff, social life. I don’t drive, though, so everything’s on foot or bicycle.

Absolutely not, although it was more difficult to shift the weight second time round.

OP I can totally understand why the motivation is lacking early morning and late evening. But after a break I always think the thought of doing exercise is way worse than the reality. Could you afford a gym that has a crèche that you could use on the weekend?

I do model good habits on my child. We eat together and all meals are cooked from scratch and healthy. She eats all kinds of fruit and vegetables.. We are also very active and go outdoors a lot, she's very fit and strong. It's just my own time where I neglect myself... After I put her down to sleep I could exercise but I'm so shattered from work and running around after her that I just plonk of the sofa.

Unless you're planning on running several miles a day, 95% of the battle with weight comes from diet.

This is true, but I find the more I exercise the healthier I eat. A lazy week usually coincides with a bad eating week too.

No far from but gym 5 times a week is pretty selfish option with kids!

No not at all, in fact having my children made me want to stay healthier so I can be a better mum and be there for them when they need it. I quickly lost my pregnancy weight by walking instead of taking the car (I would walk nearly 2 hours a day on maternity leave) good diet and plenty of water, no juice or alcohol.

You don't have to resign yourself to carrying the extra weight forever. Now may be a difficult time to commit to regular exercise, and focusing on your diet/doing without food treats can be an additional stress you don't need if your life is full on, but you will be in a position to do these things in the near future.

After I put her down to sleep I could exercise but I'm so shattered from work and running around after her that I just plonk of the sofa.

It can be so hard to shift this thought but so many people say exercise makes them more energised overall. It’s like a barrier, if you can just get over the initial hurdle you will feel so much more motivated.

My eldest is nearly 18 and I have three. There are times when I just didn’t have the headspace to think about my weight and I’d always get fatter than I was comfortable with. There are also times when I’ve been really on it and have got back to my pre child weight. Sometimes it’s about survival so don’t beat yourself up. I feel better about myself when I’m thinner and always promise I won’t let weight go back up but sometimes life gets in the way.

No, but I was an overweight teen/20-something and lost it with great effort.

So I did put on weight with both children but lost it quickly after births, I was lucky but also BFed, exercised, and ate sensibly.

I do occasionally put an extra half a stone on and I get so cross with myself that I get back on MFP, log my calories and exercise and it soon comes off again. I run and cycle with my littlest and often walk to school or back home, to collect the older one.

I have been healthy BMI since I lost it all in my 20s, I'm determined not to be unhealthy like I was before.

It is hard and requires regular monitoring, for me. But I firstly want to show good habits to my kids, diet wise and exercise, and secondly I genuinely would rather make a bit of effort and stay healthy for my own sake.

Yes and no.
Before having DS I was a size 12 and a healthy BMI. I piled the weight on when pregnant and after he was born, then lost most of it when he was about 3 and stayed like that for another two years. Then I got pregnant with DD, piled the weight again and really struggled to shift it. I found it easier when she started school, then the pandemic happened. The last 18mths my weight has been very up and down. I’m now mid 40s and peri menopausal but over the last few months the weight has started to come off, it’s been down to cutting back on sugar and some carbs and also having more time to exercise and focus on myself.

@Jangle33

No far from but gym 5 times a week is pretty selfish option with kids!

Yes, how very dare a mere woman take an hour in the day for herself. Doesn't she know that once DC arrive, you are nothing more than a mummy martyr?

Are you working 9hr shifts 5 days a week? Do you get a break? Where is your DD when you're working?
Does she see her father at all?
What exercise do you enjoy?

I am a single parent and work full time in a sedentary job.
Though my children are older it's only been in the last year that I've been able to leave DS2 alone while I exercise.

I was clearing out clothes today and got rid of all size 8s. So in a way yes I think I’ll never go back to that size but I’m trying to get fit and toned. I’d be happy to be around a 12 if I could get more toned.

I think where its just my daughter and I, I don't get much free time to myself. Weekends are always full on. I don't want to accept my body is this forever.. Stubborn baby weight.. I had a healthy pregnancy and breastfed and the weight dropped during that time. I found after I stopped breastfeeding I got comfortable and started putting weight on.

I had my first baby at the end of last year and gave myself six months to not worry. Ive now lost a stone and want to carry on. I was determined to get back to feeling like me. Also I don't want to go into a second pregnancy already overweight.

My daughter goes to a specialist nursery that has extended hours.. The field I work in requires shift work, but I don't finish any later than 5pm.. I do start as early as 7am though. Her father has no involvement in her life. Its just her and me. I do enjoy exercise. I love it.. Once I get my mojo I love it.. It's just getting past the hurdle.

@Plonkton if you lack time it would be easier to focus on cleaning up your diet and portion size and you would definitely lose weight.

I lost all the baby weight within 3 months both times. Then slowly gained it again once they were 18 months+ and I was exhausted working FT and having non-sleeping SN DS1.

I lost weight and took up swimming again when they were 4 and 7. Before I'd had a couple of attempts but couldn't get anything to stick.

I had twins 18- months ago. I was size 10 before pregnancy. During pregnancy, I only put on 1.5 stone, so quickly went back to normal once I gave birth.
BUT
then a combination of hitting menopause, lockdown, going back to a very busy full-time job, single mum, meant I've put on 2 stone! I don't recognize myself and can't squeeze into any clothes except leggings.
I've literally no time to exercise between 6:30am and 10pm, so only get to go for long walks at the weekend.

But this thread has motivated me. I'm not going to accept the weight gain is forever! I'll try to cut down on carbs and food, since I can't exercise.