Will I ever get my pre-pregancy body back?

[Coolbreezee]

Today I ran a 10k race. I did better than I expected with a time of 50:57. Quite a bit slower than my pre-pregancy days but I've only been running for the last 3 months after around a year off. I was so happy until I saw the race photos...

I'm not joking. I looked like a heffalump, with huge boobs and a resting bitch face (inside I was having a great time!). My hair was a mess and my baggy t shirt was so unflattering.

I used to be a size 6, athletic build. Now I am a size 10 with 32GG breasts (one several cup sizes bigger than the other). I eat healthy, last month I ran 150 miles. I walk 20k + steps every day. I feel fit and healthy. But the weight is just sticking to me. I am eating more than normal if I'm honest but not a crazy amount. I lost a few kgs by going on a 1200 cal diet, which was fine but is just not sustainable with my exercise and breastfeeding. DD is 8 months. I thought I'd be back in my pre-pregancy jeans by I'm not even close.

Day to day I don't really mind my body, it's done an amazing thing but whenever I see a photo I am absolutely disgusted.

I want to get back into shape, but honestly I am struggling to loose the weight. I know it's all diet. I only eat healthy food (obviously too much of it) but at the same time I'm listening to my hunger cues. I'm eating because my body is asking for it not because I'm bored or stressed or anything like that.

Pleas tell me it's just part of the process, or am I deluding myself. Should I be working harder to diet and lose weight. At first I was all for lets take the pressure off and focus on DD but now I'm getting frustrated and want my body back.

I was so frustrated with the weight as I was also eating well, exercising well etc but it was the breastfeeding and lack of sleep for me. About 10 months another BF was dropped, I started to sometimes get a full night of sleep and suddenly everything just toned back up and I was actually stronger and faster that pre baby. Sadly didn't last and now struggling with perimenopausal weight but think that is also linked with poor sleep. I guess in summary maybe not totally the same body but definitely can get body back

I'm just the other side of menopause now. I haven't had weight gain, but lots of joint shit, sleep issues, general aches and crap in the last few years.
I sometimes felt like I think people who don't enjoy running must feel - heavy legged, drained and soooo much effort.

The old me is returning now - still got some joint issues, but I feel more bouncy and buzzy.

It's tough being a woman!

I lost 12 lbs IN A WEEK when I stopped BF. and I was only feeding him x2 a day at 10 months. My body clings to fat when BF and drops it when I stop. Happened x3 now and will happen with this baby too I bet

If you can run 10k there is absolutely no need to talk about yourself like this. Please treat yourself with kindness. You have got a bit older, your body has been thru childbirth.. of course it's not going to look exactly the same as it used to. But if you are fit and healthy.. which it very much sounds like you are.. then this is not something to waste your time thinking about. A size 10 is NNOTa 'heffalump' please stop. Appreciate the wonderful things your body can do.. it sounds like you've put in so much hard work.. be proud of yourself. There aren't many people out there who do 20k steps a day and can run 10k. That's considered very active. Well above average. You should be proud of yourself.
And I bet you actually look amazing too.. perhaps you just aren't as thin as you used to be. But being extremely thin isn't the true marker of health or even beauty

OP, no one looks good after a 10k race, even olympic athletes. You are doing great, and are feeding your child. Please don't worry.

Well done on running the 10k! 💪💪💪
8 months is still very early days and it's likely also due to the breastfeeding. I found my body held on to extra weight but once I stopped the weight came off and I wasn't doing anything different.

You're a single Mum, you have an 8 month old, you're breastfeeding and you're able to run a 10k race, that's pretty awesome! Practise some self love 🙂 Nobody looks good on some random photos snapped by a photographer at weird angles after running for 50mins. If you were dangerously underweight in your early 20s then you probably have a tendency to struggle to see your body the way other people do. Size 6 is really very slim and may not be sustainable in the long-term, because as we get older, fat clings to us more, and that's ok. Also you're breastfeeding, your body needs more calories right now. I have two kids and they're 7 and 9, I weigh 6kgs more than before I had kids and I don't really care, I'm very physically active and eat well and it's been 10 years after all... enjoy your running and work on loving your body.

If your boobs are all over the place you need a much better sports bra - they should be held in place solid as a rock for running.

Your boobs are bigger because they're working, things will change when you stop (not necessarily back to pre-baby, but different to now).

Give it another 4 months so you're at least a year post partum. It sounds like you're doing amazingly well. Breastfeeding makes such a difference to how many calories you need. One the baby is really properly settled into weaning I bet your figure will come back. Do you do strength training as well?

So impressed with your running times! Good luck and be kind to yourself x

Sorry, I see now that you do do weights x

Breastfeeding for me has made the weight cling to me. I lost weight calorie counting but I was still eating 2000 calories and losing 1 to 2lbs a week. I found a website that works out how many calories you should be eating when breastfeeding and that really helped. You need to keep your calories up when breastfeeding and exercising.
My little one is 16 months now (and still a boob monster), I’m back in a size 8 (I was a size 6 before) but I still feel huge. I do CrossFit 3/4 times a week and am lifting a lot, loads of cardio and walk 15000 steps and it’s still not falling off but coming off slowly, too slowly for my liking. Like other people have said though, my shape is different. The gym do videos quite often and I try not to look but I scrutinise them and look at how big my arms look, my stomach, my face and just feel horrific afterwards.
I also have two 6 year olds (twins and struggled to breastfeed so ended up on formula) and the weight came off so easily in comparison.
I just wanted to reply for support, I get it. It’s hard but keep the calories up for your little one whilst breastfeeding!

My advice would be not to stress about it at this point, it’s still early days! Wish I hadn’t spent so much thought on it. Sounds like you know and are practicing healthy eating and you’re doing exercise consistently so that’s the hardest part to get going. I found that it took the best part of 2 years for my body to feel like mine again. I initially lost quite a bit of weight though breast feeding but in the end, it was when I stopped breastfeeding (around 18 months) that the last of the weight just naturally evened out. That also tied in getting a bit more consistent sleep as well (had a terrible sleeper). Can’t underestimate the impact of hormones and sleep. In all honesty, my body shape has changed - wider hips
and ribs etc. but I am back in pre pregnancy clothes/size, just needed to figure how to dress to my new body shape. I enjoy exercise even more now and focus has changed from aesthetics to an appreciation of what my body can do. You’ll get there, it just takes time

OP if you have the same doctor again, you could frame it as you’re struggling with hormonal life event based body changes and the last time this happened I.e. puberty you had thought patterns that led to disordered eating, and you can sense those thoughts starting again. There’s no judgement in saying that, you are asking for help and being self aware.

Well done on the race. It’s not about the end photo, we know that for months you were disciplined trained and managed the other parts of your life and commitments to a tee to get it done, especially as a single mum to a under 1yo! That’s amazing.