Losing weight before trying for baby

[AKP79]

Hi ladies

I'm hoping you can help me out with a bit of advice. I have a 3 year old son and my husband and I are keen to add to the family. Before I fell pregnant with my son I was a size 10, but during the pregnancy (which was very complicated) I put on a lot of weight and I'm still 2 stone overweight. I am finding it impossible to lose any weight no matter what I do, which has been very frustrating. I exercise four times a week (spinning, kettlebells and HIIT training) and my diet is very healthy. I have always said when we have another baby I would like to be back in the 'normal' BMI before trying and that I want to really look after myself properly during the second pregnancy.

However, after six months of working my arse off, I am still where I started weight wise. So I'm left with a dilemma. I'm 36, so don't want to leave it much later before trying for another child and I'm also conscious that I don't want the gap to grow too much between our son and the next. What would you ladies do? Am I thinking about this all too much? Should I worry so much about this? I think the more I've thought about it the more I've built it up into a bigger issue. However, I am worried about getting even heavier and the impact that will have on me and a baby plus the added pressure at the end of the pregnancy potentially struggling to lose even more weight than I've got to lose now!

I know all this may sound quite superficial, but it's not coming from a superficial place and whilst I hate being overweight I am not posting because of vanity reasons. This post is purely about my health, a baby's health and a successful pregnancy and birth.

Any constructive thoughts would be appreciated.

Personally, I'd just go ahead and start TTC. At your age you can't afford to take too long. Of course you can carry on trying to lose weight while you're TTC. Then, after you've had the baby you can focus on the right exercise and eating plan for you.

Agree with tumble.

I'd go ahead with TTC. 2 stone overweight is not so much, it should not cause any issues. Especially as considering your current lifestyle, you're probably fit and healthy.
I'm a little bit heavier after DC1 than I would ideally like to be, but was actually not making massive efforts on purpose - I figure that I will put at least some weight on anyway, so will just lose the whole lot after DC2 (due this summer).

If you wait till everything is perfect to have a baby, you'll never have one. That's true of your body, your finances, your living situation, your career, and everything else.

It can take longer to conceive in your late 30s, though I didn't find that to be the case for me personally. I'm 40 (!), 16 weeks pregnant, and have a 2.5 year old DD. With this baby and with DD, it only took me a couple of months to get pregnant. It may not be like that for everybody.

Thanks ladies... I'm coming round to the same way of thinking myself. I think after a very difficult first pregnancy and birth I have been wanting to 'get all my ducks in a row' so to speak, but like you say am coming to realise that time's not massively on my side and TTC could take another six months or more!

Your weight may be the same but I bet some of that weight is from increased muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat. If you've lost inches you are on the right track.

Go for the ttc and keep up the activity. Good luck!

When I went for my first booking in appointment, at 8 weeks, I was classed as "overweight" with my BMI.
When I was weighed again at 12 week scan / bloods etc, I'd lost about half a stone! I had no sickness, I was just consciously keeping myself as healthy as poss.
I think being pregnant brings out the ultra-healthiness in folk; we stop drinking, we eat well.. Maybe you will lose some naturally in the first few months?
I have now put it all back on 18 months later :(
Don't let it stop you- good luck!

I'd carry on TTC.2 stone isn't a massive amount. I lost 1.5-2 stone in each oh due to sickness, so you never know... (joking, hyperemisis pg were the most awful times of my life).