Best way to get back into shape after having baby?

[ohmygolli]

I’m talking… the waist trainers, shapewear, exercises, what to eat when still breastfeeding?
give me all your tips!

If I were you I’d…. just enjoy your baby.

I hear you. And I will. But I rally suffered last time with dealing with my body. I cried for weeks every time I’d undressed or showered!

i have a close wedding 3-4 months after giving birth and I can’t afford to buy new stuff to fit into for it so this is another reason I’m asking.

I’d second enjoy your baby and don’t stress but also actual advice - stay active during pregnancy and not eating too much; I say that as my first pregnancy I ate normally and barely gained weight. second I ate every sugary thing going and gained more weight.
Brestfeesding helped and also just lots of walking which I mainly did for my baby to sleep!
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The exercise you can do will be dependent on your birth/state of health etc. There are postpartum midwife led fitness classes out there!
Don’t eat crap. You don’t need it. Healthy food, water, plenty of fresh air. The myth ‘I will lose it running around after the baby’ is a myth. Tiring as they are, more than a marathon, they can’t outrun you yet so you won’t burn calories doing that!
No sticky fizzy drinks or takeaways. Get parter onside too.
Good luck

I wasn't breastfeeding and started trying to loose the weight when she was 8 weeks. By the time she was 5 months I had lost 2 stone. I know I'm not going to have any more children now so really wanted to get back to my pre baby weight before DC1.

I went to a class 3 times a week (45 mins) and walked with the pram as much as I could. I had a natural birth with no stitches so I was physically able to do this. I also stuck to a low carb diet and drank 2-3 litres of water a day. Never really felt hungry.

She's 9 months now and I've kept it off. I don't go to the gym or diet any more but I'm still walking a lot in the evenings with my friend when kids are in bed. Good luck xx

Another vote for enjoying your little one - breastfeeding worked for me but also chasing after them once they Are on the move . They - and I can not stress this enough - do not stop moving! We just didn’t use any screen time so from the moment she was up we were active .

Don't put on too much weight during pregnancy in the first place is the best strategy. You only need to gain 11kg or so and most of that is the baby and fluid. Anything much above this is excessive - if you monitor your weight and remind yourself of that it helps. You only need additional calories in the last trimester and even then it's only 200 per day (eg two slices of toast). I gained 10kg and was back to my usual weight and in my normal clothes 7-10 days post birth. It was probably a month or so before I felt comfortable in something tighter fitting due to muscle tone needing to re-restablish.

When they arrive enjoy your baby but start getting out walking when you're able to - good for your MH too. None of the fad stuff works, just regular exercise and a healthy diet. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. See if there are baby groups with a mum fitness angle (there are lots round me) which you could join after 6 weeks. Have an agreement with your OH re meal prep, focus on unprocessed whole foods, make sure you eat well but healthy. It's perfectly do-able if you want to but equally it's fine to prioritise other things with a newborn and just treat yourself to a nice dress in a bigger size!

I’m currently pregnant and focusing on staying fit while pregnant, walking to work and trying to maintain my muscle tone by lifting weights (doing pregnancy safe versions of workouts and very much not intensive). My hope is that after baby if I have kept the muscle there I will find it much easier to bounce back vs after 9 sedentary months.

Oh and also making sure I’m on top of supplements, so calcium, vit D and iron. And eating heaps of protein during pregnancy, 1.2-1.5 grams protein per kg of my body weight. Ensuring my body has all required nutrients and building blocks for making a new human and keeping my own things functioning at the same time.

Breastfeeding and walking lots with baby naturally made me lose weight. I would avoid trying to diet - you need calories and healthy fats and proteins when breastfeeding! Stock up on healthy snacks that support breastfeeding that you can eat 1 handed 😂and drink plenty of fluid

I swear by Pilates, @ohmygolli - but only when your body is ready. Give yourself a few weeks to heal physically before you start; during that time, focus on nutrition.

Honestly though - enjoy this time with your new baby, just buy flattering clothes that you feel confident and happy in. I really think that's key - a beautiful dress and a big smile!

I found breastfeeding, drinking a tonne of water and out walking with the pram all over was all I needed. When I felt up to it after a few months, I went swimming twice per week, more just for ‘me time’ than anything else!

It also really helps to batch cook a lot of food and freeze it before so you’re not tempted to eat on the go or get takeaways. The last thing you feel like doing with the a newborn is cooking.

I do really get sad at the amount of pressure social media and modern life puts on new mums to ‘snap’ back into shape after birth. I remember feeling like I was failing because I wasn’t back into my pre baby jeans 3 months after birth. Looking back, I let it consume me and in reality, it was just normal! Hoping to be a bit more realistic and patient this time but who knows?!

Breastfeeding did the absolute opposite for me! Put on so much weight

Extremely helpful responses, thank you!

Same here
No hunger like breastfeeding hunger!
I was like a bottomless pit 😂
Just try and prioritise rest and sleep initially, then exercise, then finally diet last (obviously don't eat shite all day, eat healthy, but cut yourself some slack don't try and eat barely anything with a newborn)

Walking and high protein snacks is my plan post-8 weeks.

I had to do Body balance, yoga and Pilates after the birth of my two. I started getting lots of twinges in odd places and cracking hips/ pelvis. It was the only thing that sorted it and stopped back pain and sciatica too. I carried my baby on my hip a lot so that was definitely part of the problem!
Anyway, it got me back into shape, strong and sorted the twinges

Taking baby out for a walk every afternoon in the pram. You can chat away to baby and walk for miles. Get in your 10k+ steps - I used to go food shopping, you can stash a lot under the pram.
All that fresh air also helps baby sleep at night too.